Money Saving Duo

Discovering how to live a glorious life on less

Kati Mora

Want to Save Money Fast and Jumpstart Your Emergency Fund? Here’s How to Save $1,000 in 30 Days

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Are you trying to save money fast? Saving a $1,000 for your emergency fund is a good goal to shoot for. Whether you are able to make big changes or small, here are some of our top tips to help you spend less and save $1,000 in 30 days:

An image with text that says "How to Save $1,000 in 30 Days" over a hand dropping coins into a jar

Start by looking at your budget

Before you can reach any of your money goals, its important to make sure you look at your budget. Don’t have a budget? Then your goal is to set one. Budgets may seem scary if you aren’t use to having one, but they are a really great tool to help you maximize how you use your money.

Not Sure How to Budget? Start With These Four Simple Steps

Once you have your budget set up, look at where you might be able to cut back spending. Are there any unnecessary expenses that are either eating away at your savings or preventing you from putting money into savings? If so, determine how much you are willing to cut back on those expenses and total those up. Put that amount towards your $1,000 goal.

Once you have cut back on those unnecessary expenses, look for other categories you may be able to spend less in by making some simple changes in your daily routine. You may be surprised at how many of these small changes add up.

For example: If you spend any money on food that you don’t make at home, this could be an area where you could save quite a bit if you are willing to give it a try. Instead of dining in at restaurants or ordering takeout, consider making meals at home and packing leftovers when you can. You don’t have to be the world’s greatest chef to make this work for you – stick with simple recipes and add the money you save to your emergency fund. And who knows, you may find that that this is a habit that sticks.

Cancel the memberships you never use and rethink the ones you do

Every few months, our family takes a look at what memberships we have – especially our streaming memberships – and cut whichever ones we aren’t using as much as we used to. If you are looking to save $1,000 in 30 days, this might be something worth doing if you haven’t considered doing so or haven’t done in awhile. Other examples of memberships to reevaluate include:

  • Gym memberships. If you have a gym membership and haven’t gone in awhile, cancel it.
  • Magazine subscriptions. Cancel magazine subscriptions and other publications that aren’t essential to your life.
  • If you haven’t cut cable yet, now might be a great time to do that. Switch over to streaming and you’ll save whether you choose a free streaming platform or one with a monthly subscription. Just remember, to keep it in budget.
  • Subscription boxes. Whether you cancel or delay your subscription box, this could be another way to save money if you are currently receiving these on a regular basis.
  • Cell phones and Internet. Do you really need the plan you have or can you shop around for a better price? This may be a way to save a little extra money each month.
  • Insurance policies. When is the last time you shopped around for insurance? Sometimes when you shop around, you can find better prices without sacrificing on coverage. If its been awhile since you’ve done this, this might be a great time to start asking around.

Don’t buy more groceries than you need; eat out less and have meals you can make quickly and cheaply at home.

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re shopping for groceries. You may find yourself picking up extra items, thinking you’ll use them later in the week or month. But if you don’t actually use those items, they’ll just go bad and end up costing money!

It’s better to plan your meals ahead of time and only buy what you need for those meals–no more, no less. If there are certain ingredients that would be useful in other recipes but aren’t needed right now (such as garlic or spices), add those things onto a separate list so that you remember to buy them later on down the road when needed again by another meal you are planning to make.

Be smart about shopping for groceries and essentials like toilet paper, paper towels and detergent.

If you’re like most people, your grocery bills can add up quickly. The good news is there are plenty of ways to save money on groceries:

  • Make a list and stick to it. This is an incredibly helpful way to stay in budget when shopping for grocery and household essentials.
  • Use cash back apps on your phone. We have a whole list of apps that we use to save money when grocery shopping. Many of them allow us to cash out through our PayPal account while others let us cash out for gift cards we can use for later purchases. Either way, this can be a helpful way to put more money aside for your emergency fund.

Consider what assets you can let go of

Saving is great, but sometimes its still not enough to kick start your emergency fund – especially if you don’t have much wiggle room in your budget to begin with. If this is you, it may be time to consider letting go of some of your personal belongings that you are comfortable parting with. Can you sell them on Facebook marketplace or host a garage sale? Selling items that are still in relatively good condition can be a great way to jumpstart your emergency fund.

Start a side hustle or consider whether its time to ask for a raise

Another way to bring more money into your account on a regular basis is to either start a side hustle or consider whether its time to ask for a raise. Both options can potentially bring in more money on a regular basis to your account and you can set this aside towards your emergency fund. Side hustles are great if you just need a short term infusion of cash – like if you’re trying to quickly put aside an extra $1,000 in 30 days. Asking for a raise may result in more money coming in on a more consistent basis and if you haven’t asked for one in awhile, maybe now is the time.

You can save money fast by making small changes

You can save money fast by making small changes to your spending habits. For example, canceling the membership you never use or adding cash back apps on your phone are easy ways to make more room in your budget for funds you can put towards your emergency fund. Don’t have a lot of margin to begin with? Consider selling some of your personal items you are comfortable letting go of or starting a side hustle that works with your schedule. Any of these steps can help you work towards putting money aside for something unexpected.

Conclusion

You don’t have to be an expert to save money fast. Identify ways you can reduce what you spend and reallocate that money to your emergency fund. If that’s not enough to reach $1,000 in 30 days, you may need to look at ways to bring more money in. This could include picking up a side hustle or selling some of your personal items you are ready to say goodbye to. Either way, these steps can help you reach your goal of saving $1,000 in 30 days, and have a better idea of how much money comes in and goes out each month–which means you can start saving even more!

Make Mom Smile Without Spending a Fortune: ‍ Low Cost Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

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As Mother’s Day approaches, you may be finding yourself scrambling to find the perfect gift to show our appreciation for the amazing mom (or moms!) in your life. However, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on gifts to show mom you care. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of low-cost gift ideas that will make your mom smile without breaking the bank.

Kati and the boys on a Sunday at church.

Why Low Cost Gifts Matter

While it’s easy to think that the cost of a gift is proportional to how much you care, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts are the ones that cost very little. In fact, a low-cost gift can be even more special because it shows that you put thought and effort into finding something that your mom would love, even on a tight budget.

Additionally, with the current economic climate, many families may not have the financial means to spend a lot of money on gifts. By choosing a low-cost gift, you can still show your mom how much you care without adding to any financial stress.

Budget-Friendly Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Although it may seem like you need to spend a lot to show mom you care, we’re pretty sure no mom wants you to go into debt or break your money saving goals to celebrate her. In fact, there are many ways you can show mom you care regardless of budget. Need a little inspiration? From thoughtful, no-cost gifts to a few of our favorite ideas costing $30 or less, we’ve got your back this Mother’s Day season.

Kati with the girls as she volunteers at the Daddy Daughter Dance.

DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

  • Homemade coupon book: Create a personalized coupon book filled with things like breakfast in bed, a day of cleaning, or a special movie night that mom can “cash in” whenever she’d like.
  • Hand-painted vase: Purchase a cheap glass vase and use acrylic paints to create a one-of-a-kind design.
  • Handwritten recipe book: Collect your family’s favorite recipes and handwrite them into a notebook or recipe card set for your mom to cherish.

Thoughtful Yet Inexpensive Mother’s Day Gifts

  • Handwritten letter: Write a heartfelt letter to your mom expressing your love and gratitude.
  • Virtual experience: Plan a virtual movie or game night with your mom to spend quality time together, even if you can’t be in the same place.
  • Charitable donation: Make a donation to a charity that your mom cares about in her name.

Mother’s Day Gifts Under $30

If you have a bit more wiggle room in your budget, consider these gift ideas under $30:

  • Tea sampler: For the tea-loving mom, purchase a sampler set of loose-leaf teas for her to enjoy.
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  • A beautiful puzzle: For the mom who loves to problem-solve, purchase a beautiful puzzle for her to work on. There are many gorgeous artworks to choose from these days, so you are sure to find one that she’ll love.
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Mother’s Day Gifts Under $20

For those on an even tighter budget, these gifts under $20 are sure to make your mom feel loved:

  • A candle featuring mom’s favorite scent: Let your mom create her own personal oasis with a gorgeous candle that features her favorite scent! Many can be found for under or around $20, like this one from Voluspa.
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  • Portable Coffee or Tea Mug: Whether you get mom the tea sampler as mentioned above OR just this mug, what we love about it is its flexibility. It comes with everything you need for coffee or tea and can keep mom caffeinated all morning long.
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Mother’s Day Gifts Under $10

Believe it or not, you can still find meaningful gifts for your mom under $10. Consider these options:

  • Bath bomb set: Purchase a set of bath bombs for a relaxing and indulgent gift.
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  • Succulent plant: A small succulent plant is a great way to add some greenery to your mom’s space without spending a lot of money. Plus, you might find a funny succulent plant pot like this one below for under $10 as well!
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Free Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Sometimes, the best gifts are the ones that don’t cost anything at all. Here are a few ideas for free Mother’s Day gifts:

  • Quality time: Plan a day of activities with your mom, such as a hike or picnic.
  • Acts of service: Offer to do chores or run errands for your mom to give her a break.
  • Homemade meal: Cook your mom’s favorite meal or bake her favorite dessert.
  • Words of affirmation: Consider writing a poem or creating a homemade card to tell mom how much you love her. If you have little ones, this can be a great way for them to get in on the gift giving as well.

How to Make the Most of Your Gift on Mother’s Day

No matter what gift you choose, there are a few things you can do to make sure your mom feels extra special on Mother’s Day:

  • Add a personal touch: Include a handwritten note to make your gift feel extra thoughtful.
  • Spend quality time: Whether in person or virtually, make time to spend with your mom on Mother’s Day to show her how much you care.
  • Show your appreciation: Make sure to express your gratitude and appreciation for all that your mom does for you.

Wrap Up Your Gift With Love

No matter what gift you choose, remember that the most important thing is to show your mom how much you love and appreciate her. With these low-cost gift ideas, you can make your mom smile without spending a fortune.

Conclusion

Mother’s Day is a special time to celebrate the amazing mothers in our lives. While it’s easy to get caught up in the commercialism of the holiday, remember that the most meaningful gifts are often the ones that cost very little. By choosing a low-cost gift and adding a personal touch, you can show your mom how much you care without adding to any financial stress. Happy Mother’s Day!

Budget Friendly Fall Fun For Families

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Now that fall is officially here, you may be looking for ways to keep your family entertained without spending a lot of money. We’ve got you covered! Here are some of our favorite family-friendly activities that will cost you very little, if anything at all.

  1. Head to your local library and pick up some new books that are fall-themed to read together.
  2. Go on a nature walk in your neighborhood or local park and take pictures of falling leaves, bugs, and anything else you find interesting along the way—then bring those pictures home and make a collage or photo book about your adventure!
  3. Visit a local apple orchard or pumpkin patch. Let your kids pick out their favorite pumpkin or enjoy a glass of apple cider.
  4. Carve pumpkins – the ones your kids picked up at the pumpkin patch! And don’t forget to roast the seeds too.
  5. Print out fall-themed activity sheets and have an ‘art night.’
  6. Check out your local bike trails.
  7. Attend community events hosted throughout your town.
  8. Visit a local farmers’ market and pick up some fresh produce. It’s a great way to support local farmers while getting some exercise at the same time.
  9. Have an adventure day! Set aside one day this fall where everyone goes off on their own to explore something new—a museum, an art gallery, or even just another part of town that hasn’t been explored before. It’ll be fun for everyone involved!

What are your favorite ways to enjoy the fall season? Share in the comments.

8 Ways to Save Money on Gas for Your Car

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With gas prices on the rise, you may be looking for ways to save on fuel. Discover a few top recommendations we’ve received to help make every dollar at the pump stretch its furthest.

Our family last summer on a camping adventure!

If you want to save money on gas, here are a few simple ways to get started:

Scope out the best price at the pump and get cash back on each fill up. One of my favorite cash back apps, Checkout 51, offers you great deals not only on groceries and prescriptions, but gas too! Pull up the gas tab and you’ll see the price of gas in your area and the amount per gallon in cash back you’ll get. We typically get ~$0.10-$0.15 per gallon, sometimes up to $0.25, in cash back through this app and can withdraw it by either PayPal or check once a $20 balance in cash back is hit.

Be a more relaxed driver. This one might take some practice, but is another great way to save on the number of trips you’ll need to make to the pump. In fact, the US Department of Energy indicates that if you ‘hit the breaks’ on aggressive driving – hard breaking, quick accelerating and speeding – you can reduce your gas mileage by 15-30% at highway speeds and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic. That’s an equivalent gas savings of $0.36-$0.44 per gallon. Need some help, newer cars have a helpful gas mileage feature on their dashboard console.

Not sure what speed you should go? The most fuel efficient speeds have been found to be between 55 and 65 mph.

Check Your Tires. It may not seem like routinely checking your tires would impact your gas use; however, maintaining proper tire pressure will make an impact on the frequency of your fill ups. Underinflated tires can actually increase consumption by up to 3%.

Clean out your car. If your family is like mine, it doesn’t take very long for things to accumulate inside our vehicle. Those items not only clutter up the inside, but add to to overall weight of the vehicle. The more weight, the harder your car has to work and thus the more gas it has to use. Get rid of the heavy stuff just sitting there.

Park further away. No one likes parking further away. Especially in Michigan, in winter. But if you are able to find a spot more quickly by parking a little further away, do it! Not only will this use less fuel than if you spend your time circling around a parking lot or a street looking for a spot, but walking a little further is good for your body too.

Carpool when you can. This one may not be realistic for every family – I know its not for mine; however, it is when I think about some of the work trips that I take. When possible, I try to carpool with others from my office if we have a meeting outside the office we need to attend together.

Work from home if you can. Again, this one might not be realistic for everyone; but if your work allows you to work from home even just occasionally, this can help you save on gas too.

Join a Fuel Rewards Program. Another way to save a little money on gas fill ups is to join a fuel rewards program. Many gas stations offer them. For example, we save $0.05 per gallon at Marathon gas stations through their fuel rewards program. If you shop at a certain brand of gas stations more often than others, this can be another way to save a little more when you fill up on gas.

Hope this helps you save a few bucks at the pump. Have any additional ways you save? Share them in the comments.

Visiting Orlando, FL? Creative Ways to Save $$ On Travel

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Our family just recently traveled to Orlando, FL and if you are looking to plan your next visit to the family-friendly Florida city, we have a few tips to help you do so more affordably.

Our family at Disney World during our trip to Orlando

Visit Universal Studios City Walk at night or Disney Springs for FREE!

Did you know that you can visit the Universal Studios City Walk for free in the evenings? Or Disney Springs at no cost? Even parking is free! This is a fun way to get a taste of either park. We enjoyed taking in all the sites and window shopping while there.

Use your reciprocal membership at the Sea Life Aquarium and get 50% off

If you’ve been reading our blog for awhile, you are probably already aware that we are big fans of reciprocal memberships. These truly are the best way to get the biggest bang for your buck no matter where you go. If you have a zoo membership, check to see if it gives you access to the Sea Life aquarium through a reciprocal membership. If so, you’ll get 50% off the admission price.

PLUS, we were even able to apply it to the already discounted two-attraction deal that was being offered. We got into both the Sea Life Aquarium and Madam Tussaud’s wax museum for under $25 a person.

Stay at a hotel or an Air BNB location with a kitchen and save on meals

Orlando has a wide variety of accommodations to choose from, but we highly recommend selecting a location that includes a kitchen or kitchenette. We chose to stay at a Air BNB rental that was big enough for our family and Aaron’s parents who traveled with us. We were so grateful that it included a full kitchen so that we could pick up groceries for breakfasts and lunches. This saved us a ton of money and our guts (at least for those of us 30 and up!) thanked us for it too.

Download restaurant apps to get exclusive app savings and coupons

When you do go out to eat, be sure to look for restaurant apps you can download to your phone. We saved half off at Uno’s Pizzeria and got exclusive savings at Popeye’s too. Mind you, we ate at plenty of local restaurants too, but mixed it up a little bit with a few most cost-effective options as well.

Use the Checkout 51 cash back app to save on gas

Although we flew to Orlando, we had to drive to the airport and utilized a rental car to get around to all our excursions. To save on gas, we used one of our favorite apps – Checkout 51. Its pretty common for us to get anywhere from $0.05 to $0.15 off per gallon through this app.

Pack reusable $1 water bottles to fill up at the parks

We traveled to Florida in June, so it was pretty hot when we visited the Magic Kingdom. Instead of relying on in-park purchases to stay hydrated, we packed reusable water bottles we picked up for a dollar at a nearby store. Yes, you CAN take water bottles into Disney World parks but they have to be empty at time of entry. Fill them up at water fountains throughout the park (usually located near the restrooms) to stay hydrated all day long.

Shop for souvenirs off-site

Another great tip – shop for souvenirs off-site. Our kids had fun identifying items they liked at the in-park stores; however, we found the prices to be quiet high. So instead, we took the kids to a few souvenir shops off-site and saved a ton! For example, we found autograph books for only $1.97 and Minnie purses for only $8.97. Way cheaper than what we saw in the parks!

Look for more affordable tourist stops – like Old Town Orlando

One of our favorite stops was at Old Town Orlando. Our kids were able to ride a few rides and we enjoyed walking through the old town shops. Parking was free and you only have to pay for the attractions you want. Our kids rode go-karts, a roller coaster and some smaller carnival rides. Compared to some of the amusement parks, this might be a fun, more cost-friendly alternative if you’re looking for something the family will enjoy.

Visit the Orlando Science Museum for FREE with, you guessed it, a reciprocal museum membership!

Although it may seem like EVERYTHING in Orlando costs money, we are happy to report that with another type of reciprocal membership, you can get into the Science Museum at no cost if you have a museum membership.

If you are traveling to Orlando, we hope you have a fantastic time no matter your budget! Hopefully, these tips will help you keep things a little more affordable as you travel.

Our Top Ten Money Saving Tips As A Family of Six

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Please note: This post contains affiliate links which means that when you click on them, we may be financially compensated for referring you there. We just thought you should know.

Here’s some exciting news… our family became an ‘official’ family of six in 2020!

The Money Saving Duo Family of 6

And as I am sure you can imagine, with a family of six, certain expenses go up. But of course, as you know, Aaron and I are always looking for ways to spend less, and we’ve discovered a few new tips and tricks to keep things affordable.

Whether you have a family of six or a party of one, these tips should help you keep more money in your pocket without making you feel like you’re giving up on all the fun.

  1. Use reward credit cards whenever possible. We know Dave Ramsey would disagree, but if you are living by your budget and making financially responsible decisions, reward credit cards can be a great way to score free hotel rooms and free air travel for dollars you would have to spend anyway. We have used an IHG rewards credit card and have a Southwest and Hilton Hotels card that we are currently using to stock up on free rooms and travel. Just make sure you pay off the full balance each month so you don’t get charged interest.

Sign up for your own Southwest Rapid Rewards Card using our affiliate link and you’ll earn 40,000 points when you spend your first $1000 on purchases in your first three months.

  1. Eat meals at home. Eating at a restaurant is CRAZY expensive with a family of six – especially when two of those people are pre-teen boys. Our family loves to go out to eat and order in, so this is one area we can sometimes go over on in terms of budget. But we prioritize eating at home and aim to eat at restaurants just once per week. To keep costs down even further we always keep an eye out for coupons to our favorite restaurants and save our receipts. If you scan them with the CoinOut app, you’ll get a few cents back after every meal. Fetch Rewards has also started giving you points for scanned restaurant receipts which you can turn around and use to redeem gift cards.
  2. Skip the theater and host your own movie night at home (or find a less expensive theater). Even before COVID-19, our family preferred hosting our own movie nights at home. We pop popcorn, watch a movie on Disney+ or occasionally rent one. Going to the movies had gotten REALLY expensive – especially as a family of six! But when theater’s do eventually reopen, we’ve found that smaller theaters often charge a fraction of the price to attend a show. For example, the Crystal Theater in Crystal, MI is one we’ve discovered to be much more affordable and has a pretty current line up for us to enjoy when we do want that movie-going experience.
  3. Use money saving apps. I (Kati) currently have 13 money saving apps on my phone. These range from cash back apps I use while grocery shopping to games that pay me for playing with gift cards. It may sound like a lot, but they are so easy to use – often just scanning my receipts when I get home from the store. Last year, I cashed out over $500 in cash and gift cards.
  4. Shop for birthdays and holidays throughout the year. In 2019 we stumbled on an amazing clearance sale in early January and were able to stock up on ~50% of our gifts for the year. I’m not going to lie though, this takes a bit of planning and thinking ahead. But if you can keep an eye out for a good deal and keep in mind who you need to shop for, this can be a great way to stay within your gift budget AND give some pretty great gifts for birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations too.
  5. Consider getting a membership to your local museums and zoos. This is one of my favorite travel hacks – most museums and zoos offer reciprocal memberships to other zoos and museums, which means you can go to a lot of them across the country for free or at a reduced rate. We were planning a spring break trip to Gatlinburg before COVID-19 hit and planned to visit the zoo in Knoxville. With our membership here at our local zoo, we would have gotten 50% off our general admission. Way more affordable than many of the excursions around.
  6. Visit the library to take advantage of FREE books, activities and more. The library is one of my favorite places because its such a great resource for every single person in a community. In fact, I (Kati) am honored to serve on the board of our local library system, the Chippewa River District Library. If you haven’t been to your local library in awhile, you might be surprised to find that they don’t just offer books for you to borrow, but STEM kits and other educational resources too – including digital ones you might be able to take advantage of even if your library is closed right now. When at the library, be sure to check out their calendar of events – there are always a lot of fun free ways to spend time together at the library.
  7. Keep an eye out for FREE family friendly activities in your local community or offered online. Follow local community pages on Facebook or keep up with our posts for events and activities that are easy on the wallet. This is a great way to not waste the weekend and have fun with others whether in person or remotely.
  8. Shop for gently used kids clothes at resale shops or consider setting up a clothing swap event with a local moms group. Kids grow through clothes SO fast and it makes little sense to spend a lot of money on something they will wear for such a short period of time. We’ve had great success finding clothes for our kids at resale shops. You may also save money by connecting with a local moms group and setting up a clothing swap event either in person or virtually. Everyone brings their gently used clothes that their kids have grown out of and swaps them for clothes their kids need now.
  9. Ditch the paper towel. If your kids are like ours, they spill things… a lot. One way to save a little extra cash? Ditch the paper towels for regular towels. Reuse them for all the spills and save a little money in the process.

We’re still figuring out how to make the most of our budget now that our family has grown. What are your favorite family-friendly money saving tips?