Believe And Budget
Money Talk with The Maloneys
How we got a FREE flight to go home with our Credit Card!
Teach your children how to use Credit Cards correctly.
I can proudly tell you my father taught me how to use a credit card correctly. He advised me to only put one expense on my credit card while I was in college. I used my first national credit card that I opened when I worked at the bank to receive the employee benefit points, and to this day I still receive them even though I do not work there! Added bonus right?
While I was in college, I would only put gas on this credit card because it was a small amount each month. Maximum $50 – $70 each month. Easy to pay off and build my credit.
You can use a budget calendar to track what’s on your credit card too, so you do not forget what purchases are on it. Write down a reminder on the budget calendar to pay it off each month in full!
Research a worthy credit card without an annual fee
My second credit card I opened I researched. I looked for a credit card that did not have any annual fee, and that I received a good amount of cash back on everything. I saw many that had cash back on only entertainment and groceries, but I wanted everything!
I am thankful I did not choose a card that only gave me points or cash back on entertainment and groceries, because when you need to cut your budget because you are in a tough spot. This is the FIRST place you are going to cut out of your budget.
These areas get people into trouble with credit cards, which is why credit cards try to tell you it’s a “GREAT” deal. No. No. No.
Please do not open a credit card at a clothing store either for a small percentage off. If you already have that’s okay. Just keep it open. You do not have to use it each month. It maybe a card you use only once a year to receive a really good sale! My mom has a Kohls charge card (credit card) and I use it when they have really good deals with it. Pay her back with cash/venmo, and we both get the good deal! She gets an increase on her credit score and I get an additional 10% – 15% off usually.
Use your credit card for big expenses that are planned in your budget
We only use our credit card for items that are planned in our budget.
Here are some examples we have done:
- New tires (Budgeted)
- Property Taxes (Budgeted)
- Roof resealed for RV (Budgeted)
- Medical Expenses (Budgeted)
- You might be thinking why don’t you use your HSA? I am saving this account for when I really need it when I am old! It is another investment account for me that I am building.
- Flights until we reach the free flight
- Hotels stays
As you can tell all of these are over $100 and they are budgeted in our budget. By doing it this way, it makes it easier for me to find any expensive payment instead of looking through my debit card with a bunch of tiny purchases such as gas, food, etc.
Use your credit card for only gas
Like I mentioned before, use your credit card for only gas. This is a simple way to start with a credit card and usually not a huge change in this category. As for a high school or college student, this is a smart way to be able to build your credit score and usually you only have to buy gas to get to and from places.
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You can even think about only placing 1 fill up each month on it to make it easy! Frugal and building your credit score.
Points add up!
When you complete big purchases on a cash back app, it adds up more rather than .05 cent here and .07 cents there. It has you create $20 here and $25 there. But please make sure they are budgeted in your budget and that you are able to afford it and pay it off 100% or this does not work! You will end up paying it in interest.
Received 2% cash back on all purchases.
2% cash back on all purchases add up, but even more when you buy big purchases. Spend $1,500 you get $30 back, spend only $20 to fill up your gas get .40 cents. That is the big difference! It is a good idea to us your sink fund on these purchases too to pay it off.
Our flight was $216 round trip for 1 ticket and we used our cash back that we built up! This is a great way for us to use these points and plus be able to travel to see our family. I love building up our credit card rewards to be able to receive a free flight!
What kind of ways have you used your credit card to your advantage and received a free something?
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5 Tactics to Save Money while Purchasing Expensive Items
Ever want to purchase something that was expensive, but did not have the money right away and on hand?
Yes, me too!
While it was much easier to purchase things that were costly when I was single and by myself. I would just save up and go make the purchase. It was easy – I still remember my “big” purchase of the kitchen aid I always wanted when I just got out of college.
Kitchen Aids are expensive people!
Don’t even ask me where it is now…
Collecting dust in my moms basement for the last 3 years since I moved across the country.
It did not fit in my 2 door cobalt when I was moving and they are heavy too so I cannot just take it on the airplane!
Okay, but now let’s go to married life. This calls for communication, thinking, adjusting, and more communication!
I am sure if I went off to buy something for over $100 without my husband knowing he would not be very happy and it goes the same the other way around.
It is not controlling of us.
It is out of respect we communicate big purchase items.
I want to share with you how we as a family purchase big ticket items together and do not have any fights doing it!
1. Make a Wish List
How did we come up with this? I was telling my husband he sure wants a lot of things. Whenever he says he “wants” something I type it in my phone. It makes shopping for his birthday, anniversary, Christmas a lot easier. Plus some of the items are small. For example, he has wanted new sunglasses for awhile now and I found a deal and went for it! Saved over 50% on a name brand pair!
Now we make a wish list of items we both want together on our budget. It is actually quiet fun!
As you are making your monthly budget or adjusting it weekly talk about things you need/want in the future. These are not emergency things of course, but things like around the home, for the pets, kids, each other, etc.
Something on our wish list…canopy tent, new tires for car, compact/portable grill, kitchen sink remodel, kids mat, pet beds, RV Mattress…
So this brings me to the next step!
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2. Start Saving/Budgeting in the Wish List
Savings is important to do for big ticket items because you want to make sure you really want/need the item.
Is it good for you financially right now?
Is it going to benefit your family?
What joy is it going to bring to your life?
Then of course you can budget accordingly so say one item is more important than the other then you would save for that item first and place it in the budget in the coming weeks/months.
This is where our next step comes in.
3. Be Patient
Oh my! There are so many times where I have to tell my husband to be patient. I will tell him do we really need this or will it just be something that sits and creates dust? He does the same to me… especially when I want to buy Ember clothes! We balance each other out really well.
It is the same for when you are trying to save money on food and one of you wants to go get Starbucks (me!) and my husband says we have coffee at home. Let’s just go home and you can have your “fancy” starbucks. Which let me tell you it is really off brand coffee, milk, sugar in a reuseable starbucks coffee cup. We have Easter and Christmas cups – I get to choose that!
Just be patient! Maybe you will even find out you didn’t really want it or need it and it comes off the wish list! This has happened to us especially once we start researching items!
4. Research
Do your research on the wish list items. Find out if the item you really want have good reviews.
If they are bad review why? Maybe there is a better one out there.
I always ask God to give me peace about the item and ask him to show me the best before buying.
We write down a lot of stuff usually. It is our brainstorm notebook of stuff we want and are researching.
My mom always taught me to do a pros and cons list. This has come with us in this research process too. Sometimes we find that the cons outweigh our pros and we completely do not get the item and it gets off our wish list.
Other times, we keep searching and know for fact we want it. Which brings me to our next tip. My favorite and I am sure it’s yours too. Thats why you are still reading, which I love that we can help you and your family!
5. Find a DEAL!
If anyone you know me personally, I love me a good deal. My family often tells me I am the biggest penny saver there is, but hey!
I love to save money and find a good deal!
Here is the deal I want to tell you about today… this is just a small recent one, but there are so many! This one just comes from the top of my head.
On our recent as you read above is a canopy tent, why do we want this and why is it valuable to us? We live tiny as most of you know if you follow us on Instagram and are subscribed to our newsletter. If not, join us! It is fun and we send updates that are a lot of fun! While living tiny, we spend a lot of time outside and with our new baby, Ember, we do not want her to get bit up like we did last year. We live on private property by a pond which brings big nasty mosquitoes. We want to be able to be outside without having to worry about her getting bit and us too! They hurt and we don’t want to smell like bug spray because this means more water and more dumping our tanks, which is more money since we have to travel to dump them.
Canopy Tent
Our first research we found a Coleman Version canopy tent that was $289. I cannot remember where, but I think it was pretty much everywhere Wal-Mart, Amazon, etc. We said we were going to wait because the bugs are not that bad yet.
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Well…guess what!
I prayed and prayed for God to show us wisdom and deals on our wish list and he sure did show us!
Camping World sent us a magazine of all their summer sales. There was a Canopy Tent for only $189. I did research on it on Amazon it was 5 star rating and everyone love it. Easy to put up, big enough for 4 adults, and sturdy for rain storms. Win, win – because on amazon it was $200.
But wait there is more…
We also had a $15 off coupon for camping world.
That brings this Canopy Tent down to $174 and since we dump our tanks at Camping World every two weeks this will be easy to pick up and save money on!
So just like this you guys. Make your wish list, start savings and placing it in your budget, be patient, research, and find a deal!
You will come on top of your finances!
Do not put big ticket items on a credit card.
Do not hide big purchasing from your spouse they will find out.
If your single, do not put a bunch of clothes on credit cards (you will have to pay it back later and instead of a $45 jacket it will be over $100+ with 26% interest!)
Thanks for sticking around for the entire article on how to win and save money on big ticket items!
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102 Ideas For Money Goals To Grow Your Networth
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- Save $1,000 for an Emergency
- Save $5,000 for an Emergency
- Save $15,000 for an Emergency
- Save $20,000 for an Emergency
- Invest $100 with Betterment (a robo investor)
- Invest $250 with Betterment (a robo investor)
- Invest $500 with Betterment (a robo investor)
- Invest weekly with Betterment (a robo investor)
- Save $10,000 for a Baby Fund.
- Save $15,000 for a Wedding
- Save $15,000 for College
- Create one Pizza Night a Week (easy + frugal)
- Taco Tuesday (easy + frugal)
- Meal Plan 5 – 6 nights a week
- Volunteer one time a month
- Go for a walk daily (health wellness; saves you in medical cost)
- Go for a run 3X a week (health wellness; saves you in medical cost)
- Go to a park and enjoy nature weekly
- Go to the Library once a week or month (free books to check out + wifi)
- Spend less than $100 every season on new clothes (4x a year)
- Spend less than $100 a week at the grocery store
- Spend more time at home weekly (spending less money)
- Enjoy the things I already have (be content)
- Always go to Target with a list and stick to it.
- Buy a car with cash
- Sell my car with a payment
- Use cash from selling my car to pay off loan + build a car expense fund
- Buy a piece of furniture with cash
- Buy a boat with cash
- Buy a 4-wheeler with cash
- Buy a RV with cash
- Buy a motorcycle with cash
- Save and buy an outdoor pool for the kids with cash
- Save $5,000 for a dream vacation for the family
- Save $2,500 for a cruise
- Save $10,000 for a trip to Disney World
- Save $1,000 for 3 vacations to national parks
- Go to a state/national park each month
- Make free memories each month and take photos
- Spend one times less on my highest spending category
- Save money and compare my car insurance
- Save money and compare my internet cost
- Save money and compare my cell phone bill
- Cut out one subscription I do not use
- Cut out all subscriptions monthly; pay yearly and save
- Only use one streaming service subscription (pick one – Netflix, amazon prime, Disney +, CBS, NBC, Apple, Hulu)
- Plan date night one times a week on a week day plus look for happy hour deals
- Plan one date night a month that is on the weekend to enjoy (budget for it!)
- Decrease expense to become a SAHM or SAHD
- Know who is the emotional spender and how to improve emotional spending (partnership)
- Know who is the number person and have them nerd out(partnership)
- Invest for long term – just start with your employer
- Invest +3% more in your employer 401k
- Max out your Roth IRA
- Invest into a Roth IRA
- Start your investment
- Start a health savings account with your high deductible health plan
- Start to decrease expense like easy stuff that does not make me happy
- Reach FI (financial independence)
- Increase my income by 5%
- Increase my income by 10%
- Find a side hustle
- Sell 4 – 20 items a week from my side hustle
- Sell things that do not matter to me around the home
- Start a business to increase my income
- Learn about tow employee benefits that I can utilize
- Take advantage of wellness benefits that I can utilize
- Save 5% for kids college in a 529 Plan
- Save 4% more for kids college 529 Plan
- Open a 529 Plan and put $25 a month away to start (slow and steady wins the race)
- Pay less for college than average (collegeboard.org)
- Do not get into more debt – stay content
- Stay out of debt. Live within means.
- Have a gap year with college to pay cash for college.
- College should be a return on investment – pick a college I can afford
- Appreciate your time without buying something
- Window shop and do not buy when going into stores
- Place items in online cart for 3 days before deciding to buy item (need vs want)
- Live tiny to cut the decision making of spending money
- Live tiny to live less and spend less
- Live tiny to enjoy the things you have already
- Save money to go to across the country
- Do not buy convenience items at the gas station
- Stop at the gas station 2X less and decrease convenience purchasing
- Sell so much your kids think they are next
- Sell 10 items that do not give you joy
- Sell big furniture to earn cash fast and pay down debt
- Only buy food on the list at the grocery store
- Only buy generic items at the grocery store
- Have 2 cheap meals a week (idea: spaghetti and rice bowls)
- Save full payments for car insurance (6 months)
- Set up bank accounts for each savings goal (look for free ones with NO fees or minimums)
- Set up automatic payments for bills
- Set up automatic payments for debts + a little
- Set up automatic savings for each goal from paycheck or checking
- Reduce spending by 5% on ________.
- Reduce spending by $50 on eating out.
- Reduce spending by $50 on clothes.
- Save up cash to remodel bathroom
- Save up cash to remodel kitchen
- Budget monthly before month begins
- Follow up on budget at the end of the month
Other articles you will enjoy:
- Refresh Yourself – Yearly Resolutions
- Our Story from 2020 and 7 Lessons Learned
- 5 Ways to be Thankful for Where You Are Financially
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SAVE MONEY by DIY
Be a HERO for your budget and do DIY. Take in effect of everything around your house.
Haircuts and Hygiene
Instead of going to the spa, do your own nails. It is as easy as nail polish remover and nail polish! I am sure you have some around the house!
Haircuts, perfect quarantine fun. There are so many Youtube videos on how to cut your own hair! If you are in need of money, this is an easy way to cut back and you can always bring it back when you are done with your money goal!
I cannot even think of the last time I got my hair cut, and my husband he is bald so I won on this!
Professional massages? Teach your spouse, friend, or family member how to give a good massage and have them give you one. Take turns!
My friend in middle school was the best at hand massages! She would give us all hand massages when we had girls night at her house.
I was pretty lucky on this one too while I was pregnant with Ember. Tom gave me a back massage every night after a long 10 – 12 hours on my feet at the grocery store! I never got 1 professional massage! Saving us over $100 here too!
SLAM DUNK!
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Everything counts
Think of everything around your home. You have kids. Create fun new toys with kitchen supplies.
You do not need to go out and buy new!
We were weighing out options to buy a mat for Ember to play on the ground for tummy time. I really wanted to buy so many items but living tiny it definitely tells me to hold my horses!
Researching on facebook marketplace, craigslist, and even new!
One day we were doing some cleaning in the car and my husband wanted to throw this beach mat away that I got on sale last year and I said, “No, this is perfect for Ember to use as her tummy time mat!” We vacuumed the sand off and it is perfect for her to play on the ground and I can easily roll it up and put it away!
Hey, and we can use it at the beach when that season comes in a few weeks!
Replacement parts
Sometimes things break down and it gets scary! You want to take it straight to a professional.
Stop for a moment.
Take a deep breath and breathe.
We had both of our fans break down one week after another. Can I say inconvenient or what? My husband just did a simple Youtube video and google search on the part. We fixed it within 20 minutes once the part was shipped to us! $20 vs taking it to a shop to get them to fix it.
For us, it is a big deal because we cannot live without our home. Tiny living fun!
Last summer, our A/C stopped working during the hottest part of the season. Tom got on top of the roof and investigated.
He decided. I am just going to fix it and drink a beer or maybe three!
With a little bit of unscrewing…okay a lot of unscrewing! We fixed it and cleaned it all up.
Phew…if we would have taken it to a professional it would have cost over $500 and a long wait list!
This only cost me 3 beers!
The last part replacement I am going to tell you about is our electrical plug. We must have plugged into a park that had a bad connection even with our surge protector.
The bad connection went through the surge protector and to our plug!
Yep, we did not want to cause our home to start on fire but we needed to plug in for the A/C for the dogs while we were at work. Ordered a part off of Amazon and bam. It was our first real problem in the RV as a married couple and it went off without a fight!
Oil Change
Last part of HERO is doing an Oil change yourself for $27.99 or whatever the price is for 5 quarts of oil is in your area.
The quick spot like Jiffy Lube or Take 5 is upwards to $150 which can be done by you for under $30 with even a new filter!
Our friend just was complaining about how much it cost when he went to a quick spot and he pulled right on thru and refused the service. Once he saw Tom complete the oil change, he said, “WOW, I didn’t realize it was so easy and I was going to pay over $100 for this again?”
Yes, my friend. I am here to tell you, you can save money and DIY.
If anything during this quarantine, I have learned we all need to slow down and breathe. Don’t go, go, go, but enjoy what is right in front of us with what we have.
I gave you an easy way to remember how to save money by using the word, “HERO” now whenever you think of hero you will think of haircuts and hygiene, everything counts, replacement parts, and oil changes.
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Whether it is tiny living with a baby, budgeting to learn to save more/paying off debt, living your best life, and enjoying what God created us for!
Life is just beginning!
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5 Things I Learned Living Tiny and Traveling the United States
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People often want to live tiny. It is the dream to live tiny and it was ours too. We learned a lot the third year of tiny living and traveling the United States. It was a great experience and I want you to learn from our experience too.
1. When You Pray Daily and Tithe, God Will Provide In Ways You Didn’t Know Where Possible
God provided some magical moments in our lives during 2021 while we lived tiny and traveled the US. He put us in craft shows to make an income that we did not know was possible. He planted seeds for Believe and Budget. When we meal planned 8 meals, it only cost us $75 for our family of 3. We received gifts from strangers that we did not even know like jam, honey, baked breads, hot pads for cooking, and jewelry cases and props. We got to borrow things from people like canoes, kayaks, snowboard and helmets, and even go to the children’s museum for free!
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2. Sometimes our Plan is not God’s Plan
When we first wanted to go tiny living and travel, it did not happen at first and looking back I am glad it waited until it did. It gave us a solid foundation to be able to be financially stable and not be in debt before we left and journeyed.
Also, he made us wait to start our family of 4. We were supposed to be a family of 4 in December, but little did I know he had a bigger plan for us and for our entire family. My older sister and cousin were due in December. My sister on the same day as I was. When I first heard about it, I was shocked and in tears because I was going through a hard time, a miscarriage. Luckily though, my older sister went through it too and so did my mom. I had people to stay next to me and support me. We got pregnant a few months after the miscarriage and now due in April. A month before we leave Utah to head to Idaho. Plus we got to Utah when the doctor appointments started to become extra important, so I think God had a huge plan all along.
It is okay to have to wait for something big in your life because God had a bigger plan and it’s even better than the one we have.
Here are some dreams we have accomplished so far read them to inspire you:
3. Always Be Cheerful even when the Worst Things Happen
The hardest thing happened as I mentioned above which I would never wish on anyone because a miscarriage is so hard. It is hard on your physically and mentally. It is hard on the people who surround you too. Looking back, he was preparing us more financially for a family of 4. He was giving our families a break of having 3 new babies in the month of December of 2021. He was preparing us emotionally. It is hard to be cheerful when you lose a baby, but I am stronger because it happened to me.
Oh, and not booking enough at campgrounds and planning correctly! This led to having to find our way to crackle barrels, cabels, and walmarts for free overnight stays. It is funny looking back at it now, but in the moment, I was upset, mad, and grumpy. I did not want to stay at these places for several nights. But guess what, they ended up with the best memories!
- Amazing sunsets and sunrises
- Being able to visit the aquarium
- Shopping for groceries at the crack of dawn and bringing the shopping cart to your house and unloading groceries
- Having benches and firepits all to yourself
- Waking up for breakfast outside your front door
And so much more goodness came from not booking enough campgrounds like the cost. It was free or convenient for us to be in the location where we were at the time we were.
So if you are ever in the moment, where you messed up your traveling and did not book enough nights somewhere take advantage of living in an RV and go park in a parking lot. You might enjoy it more than you think!
4. Take in the Moment
You have so many things going on and you as a parent are thinking always ahead, but you need to really take in the moment you are in. Enjoy the process and enjoy the spending of money (but not too much).
We went to more places than I can even think of right of the top of my head, but they were all amazing and looking back through photos is just so magical. It is more magical than Disney land or Disney world! We got to see so much of God’s creations from tall trees to rocky oceans to deserts to grasslands. It was incredible. Trust God because he has a greater purpose for your life just like he does mine.
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5. Budgeting is Important
Budgeting during our travels was probably the most important thing we did on our journey. It helped us stretch our dollars a little more than we needed to. We budgeted for 6 months out very frugally and it kind of kicked our butts. We went way to much on things that we did not plan on spending that much.
Like it is hard to not want to do all the touristy things when you go places, but know that there are plenty of free things to do in the country that does not cost. Plan accordingly for touristy attractions.
What really saved our budget was work camping too and it really made us feel more connected and a routine so that was a positive to our budget.
Overall, I think even if you do not live tiny and you aren’t traveling the country like us you can have these 5 tips help you in your regular life too. God really does provide when you pray daily and tithe. He did for us when we lived in one location. Gods plan is always better than ours even when we think the world is falling apart. Try to always be cheerful even when it is hard there is something you are to learn from that moment. Be in the moment – this is so true if you have kids because kids can easily make us want the next day or the next nap time. Lastly, budgeting is important wherever you are in life. If you are not budgeting, I challenge you too.
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Roadtrips Season Coming after the Pandemic…Savings, Tips, You Name it!
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Roadtrip season is coming because everyone is ready to get out of their house, their neighborhood, and relax elsewhere. Spring is here, summer vacations, and who has extra money to splurge? Some people and we even hear a lot of people are using their stimulus check to travel. We love to traveling on a budget and saving money. We want to share with you some of our savings tricks and tips to help you and your family save this season.
1. Pack your own snacks and drinks
What you will love about this?
You get the biggest bang for your buck especially if you have a large family. Even if you are only traveling the two of you. This is a way to lower your travel budget.
What we love?
We love packing our own things to eat because I can usually spend $20 for all the travel snacks, drinks, and food to make for sandwiches. This makes it more affordable for us to use our money towards other things in the travel budget. We aren’t spending $25 for each fast food stop.
How to get started doing this?
Go to your local grocery store before leaving for your trip and buy some store brand garnola bars, peanut butter crackers, trail mix usually will be the most expensive range from $5-8, bread, jelly, peanut butter, and drink packets for your water bottle.
With a few more dollars you can get sweets too like animal crackers or gum. Gum helps you keep your mouth busy while just sitting in the car. Keeps your mind off of mindless eating.
Articles we think you will also like:
- How to Move Away from the Bigger, Better, & More Lifestyle
- How to Change your Language about Money
- Living Tiny to Live Your Financial Dream
2. Gas apps
What you will love about this?
Saving money on gas that is rising!
What we love?
Being able to fill up before the next state knowing it is a .50 cent difference on gas! Especially because we fill up our car and our RV! This easily saves up $10-30 each fill up!
How to get started doing this?
Download gasbuddy, and start the perfect step up for your savings while on the road!
We are currently testing out another new app too called, GetUpside. It gives you cash back when you get gas! There are so many people use this app in the debt free community.
3. Rest stops
What you will love about this?
Not having to say “no” we cannot get this snack or we don’t have it in our budget. It eliminates decisions. It elminates no. It elimates it all, but still serves you as a place to stretch legs, get out to use the restroom and fill up water bottles.
What we love?
All of it. It is the best for our family! It allows us all the be on the same page for our budget while still traveling!
How to get started doing this?
Look up rest stops along the way and prep yourself to stop at them.
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4. Groupon & Savings Websites
What you will love about this?
You will be able to do touristy activities within a smaller travel budget. Your family will be able to experience more and have more fun with less cost!
What we love?
When we go to the ocean, we always find ways to go on Groupon and fimd local deals. Whether it is swimming with the dolphins, riding jet skis, scubba diving, and even going to local restaurants. We just have to look and find the gems! Sometimes we look weeks in advance and sometimes we look last minute. Its treasures of memories.
How to get started doing this?
Download Groupon or living social app. Google “deals in ___place you are traveling to”.
5. Free activities
What you will love about this?
The little cost and the adventures created.
What we love?
We’ve learned living in a few bug cities that there is always free things to do. We love to find and travel to cities that have free festivals and free summer activities. Think you need a lot of money to do these things. You’re wrong! That’s what we love about it.
How to get started doing this?
Google “free activities in ____place you are going to___” You will find just what you need!
Start loving your life and travel within your budget! The next chapter of your lives, what are you going to create?
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3 Steps to Improve your Grocery Shopping
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Parents who just need to take time for themselves and pamper themselves. A mom who wants to get nails done for themselves. A dad who wants to buy a new game for themselves to play. It is a blessing. This is the power of 3 simple steps and I am so grateful to share these with you that have been powerful in my own life, but how I know they going to be powerful in your own life too. Be proud of the things you have overcome the most! The process you are in right now…improving your grocery shopping.
1. Shop your pantry first
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If you do not feel comfortable shopping your pantry, I want you to take a deep breathe and know that you can do it. This is the one step in your journey that can change your life! Shop the things that have been on your shelf for years. Shop the can that you have not used for a few months and let’s open the can and crush it! Broken items? Crushed items? Half used items? Let’s use them up and make our home better!
Box of rice? Box of stuffing? Bag of Knorr of the chicken rice sides? Rice A Roni?
All of these things…could be true in your home.
Each one of these can be used a side for your dinner this week!
It might be a rough, long time coming, but using it up will feel so good.
You will feel better using up the things you have.
2. Write down your needs at home
Think you do not belong here? Well, this is a huge turning point for your grocery budget, and will save you from any inflation that happens.
You are amazing! This is your jumping off point!
It is a step that will improve your budget even with inflation of prices.
Write down all the items that come to your mind that you need on a piece of paper.
There are so many things that will happen at the store that you will pry think I need this, I need that, mhmmm this sounds good.
Remember you might give up. Remember you might need someone else to believe in you.
I have been there in the store, and the season where I just buy everything in the store. My husband often tells me. “stick to the list” “stick to the list!” I am the one who will buy everything that is a deal! If I can, which brings us to the next point. Let me inspire you in the next step!
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3. Only buy what is on your list (unless it’s a bargain deal, markdown, great buy)
Even if it is a bargain. Even if it is a deal. Do you already have it at home? Can you make a meal out of it? Do you want it or need it for a receipe? All of the above?
A harvest will come when you stick to your list. You will save so much money by sticking to the list. It is easy to give up.
It is easy to think you are not enough. The feeling of I will always be broke. You are not going to always be broke! You are reading this and wanting to improve yourself and that is already a turning point!
I love when people come to us because I know you can overcome this broke phase. Your setback that you are in right now will bring you out even better and bigger!
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5 Saving Tips for Auto Insurance
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Saving money is something we can all learn to do in times that inflation is kicking butt. Let’s learn together how to save more money with auto insurance.
1. Auto Insurance when married
Did you know when you get married, you can save more money on your car insurance! This is one area after marriage “to do list” we forgot to do, until we were looking at how to cut more from our budget. I called my insurance company to see what they could do for us since we were newly married and we had 2 different policies with 2 different companies.
2005 Chevy Cobalt –
2015 Chevy Cruze – Metlife
2. Buy cars with cash
We probably are not the first one to tell you to buy a car with cash.
If you cannot afford to buy a car with cash, buy one that will get you from place to place for awhile before you buy a $15k car. Buy a car under $10k and try to get as close to $5k. Pay it off fast!!
You will save in TWO places —
- Car insurance
- Interest from the car payments
After this photo, we have made several all cash car purchases. We purchased a 2010 Subaru Forester for $5,000, and then gave this SUV to someone once we moved to travel tiny across the country to become a 1 car family.
Recently, we became a two car family again and just bought a 2003 Dodge grand caravan for $700. It allows us to do all we need and it cost us less overall.
Want to save on your groceries? Click here.
3. Excellent credit score
Having an execellent credit score gets you additional discounts just like buying a home. For example, in Virginia, the state we live in it could cost over $1500 for someone with a poor credit score vs our same coverage(100k/300k).
That’s HUGE savings opportunity!!
4. Auto deduction through employer
We work for a really great company who offers payroll dedication for our auto insurance this gives us additional discounts. See if your company does too! It could have you hundreds!
5. An old car only insure liability
If your car is worth less than $1,000 if you were to sell it right now. Only insure liability — saving you money!
Our car, it was a 2005 chevy cobalt that had 175,000 miles on it. (14 years old — we had it since 2010, so for 10 years we had it) For trade in, we would only get $500. Which is why if you have an older car you want to ensure the person that is hit is covered, but your car would be totaled anyways. Consider really saving up for a new “old” car to buy with cash.
Our other car we only insured liability was the 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. It cost us $174 for 6 months in South Dakota, which has a higher insurance cost than most states due to having hail storms (well at least more than Virginia).
When looking to see where you can save money I know these 5 tips helped you or sparked an idea for a savings somewhere else in your finances. Life can get rough, but sometimes if we do not look at policies or insurances for a year or two it can end up costings us longer in the long run.
If you have not reevaluated your insurance…try it and see where you can save money!
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What to do in Grand Teton National Park while on a Budget?
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Grand Teton National Park — it is a beautiful park! The mountains are breathe taking once you see it you will understand too! The formation of the mountains is amazing and then the glacier lakes next to it add to it. Since it is a national park — there is so much to do on a budget! Let me share with you what we loved doing and you will love it too!
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1. Stay for free boondocking — Spreadcreek
There are so many places to stay for free while in Grand Teton National Park while having a view of the mountains! If you do not already have the app, we suggest downloading the Free Roam – boondocking app. This app has given us so many good resources on where to stay for free!
While we were at Glacier National Park, we were between 2 boondocking spots. The first one was Grassy Lake and the second was Spreadcreek. We chose Spreadcreek because it was further down on our drive and it made our next travel day not as long.
The views were breathe-taking and we got to see so much wildlife – foxes and wild horses!
We stayed there in October so it was chilly at night, but it did have about 5 other campers. If you plan to go during season, I would plan to get there early and then go explore!
2. Hike — Jenny Lake
The main lake Jackson lake was sad, so we did not do that. We were told by a local to skip it due to the water levels. They recommended this spot and it was a gem — Jenny Lake!
It was such a good decision with young kids. We did part of the lake hike and then turned around, but we also got our Christmas card photo here and it was joyful being here. We skipped and danced on the trail and it was really fun! The trail is called Jenny Lake Loop and you can get to it by taking the road. I would not recommend bring in your RV though especially during season.
There is so much to learn at Jenny Lake Visitor Center too. The inside was closed when we went, but they had good signs to learn and read to your kids. Ember loved the bear claw!
3. Plan to stop along Teton Park Road
Wow — you can see the beauty of the mountains here on this road and there were a lot of horse trails too. So, if you have a horse and you are planning on bringing it this would be the road to check out. We spotted just to stretch our legs with the little ones because we did a scenic drive around the bottom loop.
Here are our favorite hiking boots. I have the grey ones of this brand and love them! They are comfy and great for hiking!
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Take the scenic drive and experience the beauty!
We went there the first part of October right after the busy season. It was a perfect time the weather was not too cold. It was really amazing to be able to see the mountains, the colors, and the blue water.
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5 Quick Wins to Set Yourself up for Success with Money
Money is hard for some people and I get that.
Personally, we can put ourselves in your shoes because I started out small too with quick wins.
It usually happens when you feel really good about where you are at and that you can make moves. Or it also happens after something dramatically happens like Co-vid pandemic, a job loss, a job change, moving, getting out of college, marriage, etc.
Whatever brought you here we are glad you are here and hope you take one of these quick wins and put them into your financially journey of life.
We hope you believe in goodness and God’s goodness for your life! Budget for you, and grow your networth for you and your legacy!
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Let’s dive in some quick win for yourself.
1. Pay off a small student loan.
My little sister did this and she said, “That was easy!” She paid off one student loan of $700!” That is one less than she has now!
The decision for my sister was to buy a kayak she had been wanting or to pay off a student loan. She paid off the loan, and then guess who she was blessed for her birthday with a Kayak from her boyfriend. Isn’t that cool how God moves in ways we never thought would happen, but when you make money moves to better your life. God see that and he sees that you will bless others too once you can make bigger money moves!
I remember when my husband did the same thing with his personal loan, and he cleared out his small personal loan. It can be any loan you have out there that is in your financial way to freedom.
Just a small quick win makes you feel good and gets you started on the right path!
2. Put your bonus towards your savings to start an Emergency Fund.
This is a great new starting beginning!
Many people have shared with me this is how they turned their financial journey around. Taking your $5000 bonus and putting it in your savings fund to start an Emergency Fund.
Then once your next bonus comes around you can spend a little, give a little, and save a little instead of just saving it all 100%.
We have personally done this too for other savings as well. We did it for our baby fund, paying our wedding with cash, my car, and so much more!
You have to make a difficult decision to use it long term rather than short term wants, but we know you can do it! Just remember that it will add to your peace of mind and that is what growing your wealth is all about.
Other articles you might like:
5 Saving Tips for Auto Insurance
3 Debt Free Skills You Should Know
5 Morning Routines for Success
3. Take 1% of your 3% merit increase and put it towards savings for your future.
Yes, everyone loves a good raise! You and me both!
We understand right now with Co-vid that this may be far and few because of the pandemic and many companies are on tighter budgets just like we are personally.
However, if God is blessing you this year with a merit increase. Use it as your advantage and turn it for good!
Take your merit increase when it comes yearly and take 1% of your 3% increase and increase your retirement savings whether you are saving in your 401k, ROTH IRA, a new one, ROTH 401k, IRA, etc.
It is important to save for your retirement now because you will not be working in when you are retired. We understand that this is far for some people, but the sooner you start the better you will be! Remember, if you are a millennial like me or younger we will probably not have social security to live off of. You will need a big goose egg for your retirement, unless you want to work until you are 100! (not to scare you or anything, but think about it!)
Personally, I started small with about $100 a month adding into my 401(k) and now seven years later is it growing me a small income for me each year and it will be even bigger when I am wanting to retire.
4. Set up an automatic savings of $5 weekly into your savings for a goal.
Get yourself set up for success by saving away $5 per week. $260 per year is a good start especially if you are just beginning or need a fresh start. It is setting up the habit and once you feel like you’ve accomplished that automatic savings you can increase it.
This is a good habit to build! It is just like the habit of exercising, but you know what. You only have to do it once and then forget about it! I wish exercising could be that easy! Please sign me up for that! Who else is with me? Like the post below if you are with me!
Want to shop to help you on your financial journey? Check it out!
5. During open enrollment for health insurance, sign up for a high deductible health plan and open up a health savings account.
Health Savings Accounts are a 3-way tax savings! We all want to save on taxes!
- HSA are pre-tax money
- No taxes on the growth
- No taxes on the qualified expenses you spend the money on
Did you know that is the highest expense in your budget?
You probably did not even count your taxes apart of your budget because you do not see that money. However, it is! When you put your money in an HSA you can use it as another vehicle to save for your future just like a 401(k) or Roth.
Did you know the most money you spend in retirement will be medical expenses? Think about it for a moment. Personally, my grandpa when he was on his last year of life. He went to the doctors often. I stayed with him in the hospital for a while until he got better. I bet you know someone who was on their end of life and who spent their time in the hospital.
These 5 quick wins will set yourself up for success with money. They get you going to be debt free, live life for the Lord by being able to give abundantly, and live your dream to leave a legacy. That is what we love about bring wealth to this world is because we get to give even more! When you give out of your heart, you receive so much more. Check out this post about giving!
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We are the Maloneys!
We are here to help you live a better life by believing, budgeting, and growing your networth!
We paid off 112k worth of debt in 6.5 years, cash funded our $10k wedding, saved $10k for our baby, paid for 2 cars with cash, and grew our networth to six figures!
We travel the US in our RV and create handmade jewelry!
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