Frugal Accomplishments

I popped into Walmart this weekend because I needed sugar and was traveling in that part of town. I had a couple last-minute things on my Christmas list too, so I had to trek over to the toy section. I was absolutely flabbergasted with the number of people trolling the aisles. They were basically ripping toys away from one another in the quest of getting their shopping done. I mean, I get it. We all want to be done shopping, but being rude to a stranger about a plastic doll isn't going to magically make it all better. But that's not really the point.

In this time of excess, I'm trying to keep a level head. We're still dealing with a good deal of debt and always striving to be more frugal than not. So, here's some of the things I've done lately to stay in the green, so to speak.

// Thrifted Decorations, etc.

One of the best places you can find holiday decor is at the thrift shop. Sometimes you'll luck out and find stuff that's brand new. I got a tree topper for a dollar and a package or ornaments for a couple bucks. I also found some cute beaded Santa boxes to use as wrapping/gifts. Ninety nine cents each. A steal, right?

I didn't need too much, but I found nativity scenes, outdoor decorations, garlands, faux trees, and more. It's definitely worth a look if you want to add a bit more cheer on a dime.

// Thrifting Running Apparel

Speaking of thrifting, I've been looking for a decent running coat to add to my collection. I have a bunch of old ones that don't fit well anymore. I was able to find a nice, basic fleece Columbia number for $4.99 that also happened to be 70 percent off. No holes, rips, stains, or other defects. The only catch is it's a weird shade of green. I run mostly in the evening, so that doesn't matter!

I decided to take a look around and found a new Nike running top (short sleeve -- so for treadmill time) for just $3.99. I also snagged a nice pair of yoga pants for a few bucks. Now my athletic clothing is refreshed! I wish my motivation would do the same . . . 

// Lice Spray

Last year there was this little girl in Ada's class who ended up having lice the entire year. I decided to mix up a batch of homemade lice spray . . . and, guess what?! Ada didn't get lice once. I've made it part of our morning routine now, and I have to say it's working. Ada has my type of hair -- very fine and stands straight up with static. I had lice often as a kid despite being well groomed and taken care of. 

Anyway, I'd say a spray bottle of this stuff lasts several months. I just spritz it through her hair each morning before she goes to school. Bonus is that I swear is makes combing her hair easier.

Combine:

• 10-15 drops lavender essential oil
• 10-15 drops rosemary essential oil
• 10-15 drops tea tree oil
• 5 drops peppermint oil
• Fill the rest with water

Combine everything in a small spray bottle. Mine is 4 ounces -- an old lavender room spray bottle. FYI: I use all Aura Cacia essential oils that I buy either on Amazon or at Wegmans. I've used them since I was in college!

// DIY Table Runner

I wanted to mention this frugal thing I did at Thanksgiving. We don't have tons of fancy linens and such to use when we celebrate holidays. I wanted to dress up the table a bit, but also make it fun for the kids. So, I rolled a bit of paper lengthwise across the table and gave Ada a bunch of markers and crayons. She drew pictures, wrote little sayings, and it kept her occupied while we cooked. I plan to do the same thing for Christmas. 

You can use any paper (see my photo, above), but we happened to have a roll of Melissa + Doug easel paper on hand. It was perfect!

// TTC Tricks

Oh, gosh. If you've ever been deep in TTC (which I'm not yet this time around -- just saying from experience) and spent literally #allthemoney buying pregnancy tests, ovulation strips, supplements, and other stuff -- save yourself. Since I take progesterone, I have to pinpoint my ovulation day, which means either taking my basal body temperature or using ovulation strips. I choose to do both, as my temperatures are quire erratic (thanks to waking up often at night -- my own doing, Eloise sleeps great).

Anyway, I finally bought one of those sets with 50 LH strips and 20 pregnancy tests for just $20. I used to spend that much just buying a couple pregnancy tests. It seems like a silly thing, but I know many of you are trying to conceive, and month after month . . . it gets expensive. Do yourself a favor. The LH strips work really well for me -- I get clear positives (line darker than control) and the pregnancy tests are apparently as sensitive as First Response. I personally got a positive on one last time around when my HCG was like 12 coming down from my D&C.

I love sharing frugal accomplishments. What are some of your most recent wins?

Till next time! 

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Smart + Thrifty Tips for Buying Second-Hand Clothing

So many of you have messaged me privately about my second-hand shopping escapades. It’s really one of my biggest hobbies. There’s definitely a method to my madness. One of my favorite bloggers -- Jessica over at What I Wore -- recently shared her own tips for shopping thrift, garage sales, etc. You should definitely check those out.

Here’s how I approach things, at least when it comes to clothing. I have a host of other tips for household and other items.

Make the rounds

A lot of people tell me they aren’t able to find good stuff at their local shops. And for some of you, that may be an ongoing issue, I understand. But for others -- don’t give up with just one visit! Consider that these places get new stock from time to time. How often will certainly depend on the shop, so it’s a good idea to ask the sales associates how often new stuff comes in.

I find that if I try to hit up all my local places in a rotation about every two weeks, I am able to see a wealth of goodies. Of course, I still see that crazy cat embroidered vest at Good Will even a month down the line, but many other awesome things have filtered into the aisles as well.

I also have discovered that where you go matters. We live in a large-ish area with many different pockets of age brackets, income levels, etc. While I have found good things at most stores . . . I tend to more heavily hit certain areas where I find the demographic more closely matches my own. Well, and also where middle-aged women who like FLAX clothing live.

Know your style

I know what I’m looking for. Usually natural fibers. Linen, mostly. FLAX the brand specifically (here are my 5 favorite FLAX outfits for summer). If you have a tried-and-true brand or fabric or cut or item you like, look for it specifically and try to forget the rest. In my own experience, I have picked up things that I would have never purchased simply because I thought it looked kinda sorta neat. Then? I never put it on because, well, it’s just not my style.

You may find it helpful to write down a list of things you like. Or things you need. But try to avoid getting random stuff that appeals to you based on price alone. I went through this period of time when I thought maybe I’d like to wear corduroy jumpers simply because I was finding a lot of them and they were cheap. Nope.

Oh, and while you’re at it, don’t hoard things just because they are what you’re “looking” for. Again, I LOVE FLAX . . . but I don’t need a lime green FLAX vest or something that doesn’t match my style.

Know your size

I really, really don’t recommend trying on thrift store clothing. Even while shopping at a “nice” store, I contracted scabies when I was in my early twenties. It’s helpful to know your size in different brands or simply by looking at the item. You may even want to bring a measuring tape with you to help. I tend to wear things big or in a freer size, so usually I’m pretty good if something is a tad too big on me.

Instead of trying on, I tie my bag tightly after leaving the store and immediately throw it in the wash when I get home. I dry in the dryer as well -- anything to help kill weird stuff that might be on there. I am usually just fine with sizing because I’m a ninja at this stuff. BUT I’m not immune to mistakes. So, that all said, if you do end up getting something home that just won’t work after washing, you may also try to re-sell it or donate it again if it only set you back a couple dollars.

Oh, and I would recommend checking all sizes. Some things are either in the wrong section (misplaced) or -- at least with vintage clothing -- sizes have changed over time. I wear anywhere between a 2 and 8 in different modern brands. With vintage, I can wear up to a 12!

Scan and keep moving

This goes with knowing what you want -- keep moving! If I stop too long to consider something, the chances are that I’m more convincing myself that it’s a good deal or whatever. If I see something that I immediately love, I grab it and move onto the next item. Oh, and if you’re curious . . . I seriously go item by item when I shop. Since I know that I mostly like linen, it’s pretty easy to scan for this fabric among all the other things in the store.

And any seasoned second-hand shopper will tell you to inspect your items well before purchasing. You will find stains, holes, tears, and other reasons why these things may have ended up in the shop. If it’s something you can fix, great. If not, put it back.

Or  . . .

Ask for deals

If I find anything wrong that I think I can fix, I ask for a discount. Some stores offer while others aren’t as willing. Don’t go overboard. But, for example, I found a linen dress once that looked like it had simply fallen on the ground and got some dirt/dust on it that would clearly come out in the wash. Still, I said “gee, I love this . . . but I sure hope this stain comes out . . . would you take off anything?” And they took off 20 percent with no issues.

If something has an issue I’m not as confident about resolving and they won’t take anything off, I walk away. Sometimes after saying never mind, they’ll take off more and other times, not. It’s all part of the game.

Remember -- you can (often) return

At the same time, check out your store’s return policies. If you do bring something home and don’t like it or find it has issues, you’ll want to return if you can. Some shops only offer in-store credit while others will give you your cash back. Some store do not offer any type of return policy. This is, again, where checking items carefully comes in to play. I’ve been burned a few times. I have mended a few things . . . but others were beyond help or my abilities.

Consider modification

There have been times I’ve found dresses or pants and I love the cut + fabric, etc. But not the color. You can actually change that, you know. RIT dye is extremely useful in these cases + easy to use. Jessica recently darkened the color of a cool pair of leather boots she found. And there’s a blogger called ReFashionista who buys second-hand clothing that some find hideous and transforms it into hip, ultra-wearable pieces through her sewing skills.

Look beyond what’s in front of you to see what it could be. But don’t go too crazy or elaborate. I find that quick fixes or changes work best for my skill set.

Don’t forget shoes

I shunned the shoe section at thrift shops for years because the idea of wearing other people’s shoes creeped me out. Here’s the thing . . . some of the shoes you will find are either like-new or entirely new. It always astounds me. For example, I found a like-new pair of FRYE boots (similar to these that go for HUNDREDS!) this weekend. I also found a brand new pair of Eileen Fisher espadrilles (just like these that are currently in stores for $135+).

Don’t forget to check the shoes. Period.

Mind the calendar

Most thrift shops in my area have sales throughout the year. This weekend the thrifty shopper up the road had 50 percent off everything for just one day. I think they do it twice a year. Ask your associates if there are any planned sales. Many stores also have tag sales where, say, purple tags are 30 percent off or blue are 50 percent off. This usually means that whatever the item is has been sitting on the shelves longer than other items.

Again: Inspect your loot carefully for damage . . . but otherwise celebrate finding a super deal!

Go alone, if you can

I try to shop thrift on my own. I find when I bring the kids that they get terribly bored. I am also much (MUCH!) faster without them. So, I try to join my thrifting trips with my grocery shopping, which I also try to do alone as much as possible. If I’m scanning and moving on, I find I can go through a whole store in like 15-20 minutes. That means I could hit up three in the span of an hour.

For me, this is great entertainment and exhilarating deal-finding, but I totally understand if this isn’t your idea of fun that you might want to spend your solo time doing other things . . . NOT. :)

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What are some of your tips for thrift shopping? I’d love to hear them!

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8 Must-Have Kitchen Tools

I’ve been getting some emails with questions about kitchen and cooking stuff lately, so I thought rather than replying individually, I’ll post the answers here. Today’s “question” is more a conglomeration of different ones about what kitchen tools I use, why, and which are the best buys. Here are my top picks for things I use most every day in my cooking and baking.

(Also check out my list of Useless Kitchen Gadgets!)

BeaterBlade

I bake something almost every day. So, I use my BeaterBlade (sold for 4.5/5 quart + 6 quart mixers) almost as often. I used my KitchenAid mixer’s blade so much the paint started coming off. And I’ve had the BeaterBlade for at least four years -- heavy use -- with no problems.

Ninja Blender

Every food blogger has a blender preference. Healthy living bloggers, in particular, can’t live without Vitamix or Blendtec blenders, and I so wish one of those was in the budget for us. The thing is, we’ve been using our Ninja Blender for the last five or six years . . . and it’s still going strong. I’m able to blend greens, even tough kale, into smoothies. Soups are quite easy to pulse together. I’ve even made juice with my blender, etc. All for hundreds less than the other machines.

Silicone Spatulas 

Whether it’s smoothing out brownie batter or mixing together stir-fries, I use each my silicone spatulas -- I have four of them -- pretty much every day. I got my set at Kohl’s, but wherever you find them make sure to get the ones that are all one piece. That way there are no grooves to catch gross leftovers, and they’ll clean in a breeze. The ones in the link are heat-rated to 450 degrees F -- so check to make sure any you consider can stand up to whatever you plan to create.

Dutch Oven

I waited the longest time to buy a large dutch oven because of the price. It seems like ever since I did, more and more have been popping up at stores like Home Goods, TJ Max, etc. -- at good price points. You can also find some online ranging from the luxury editions (Le Creuset 5-1/2 Quart at $299) to the budget-friendly (Lodge 6 Quart at $70). I make bakery style breads in my dutch oven, along with simmered soups and stews. They’re incredible versatile and should last a lifetime.

Slow Cooker

Of all our kitchen gadgets, the crock pot comes in the most handy year-round. The one we use -- an old Rival pot -- was given to me by my mother-in-law. Nowadays you can get a variety of slow cookers that can be programmed certain ways and others that have more than one pot for cooking or heating multiple meals. As I type this, I can smell the corn chowder I’ve tossed together for dinner simmering beautifully.

Dough Scoop

Somewhere along the way, I picked up a baking/ice cream scoop that I use to portion out my cookies. I also use the scoop to portion veggie burgers and other patty-like edibles. You’ll notice these guys come in different sizes, ranging from 1 tablespoon to 4 tablespoons (mine is the biggie!). Of course, you don’t need this tool, but it sure makes life easy with the sliding band that releases the cookie dough or ice cream or whatever else you’ve mixed together.

Ball Jars

We use our Ball jars of all shapes, sizes, and varieties for a number of purposes in the kitchen. We store a lot of our bulk foods on exposed shelving in extra tall wide mouth jars for easy grabbing. I freeze or put leftovers from different meals into other jars. We even use the jars to drink our water, beer, and tea. They all get washed together and then we have a good stock so we can shift their purpose according to what we need at the moment.

Large Bowl

A nice large, shallow mixing bowl works for so many things. You can hand mix breads and other baked goods. I like to chop up all my veggies and then hand mix my veggie burgers in the bowl. Big salads can be tossed together in a huge bowl. Sometimes we even just use ours to serve.


What did I miss? 

Add your must-haves in the comments!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Homemade Almond Milk Trick

The Homemade Almond Milk post I wrote last month is one of the more popular things I've published in a while. So, I thought it would be fitting to do a quick follow-up on a spankin' new method I'm using these days that has transformed the process for me. Full disclosure: I am not the first person in the world to use this method . . . but I honestly (!) came up with it on my own on the long car ride back from our beach vacation.

I thought I was brilliant.
A culinary trailblazer.
And . . .

I came home, looked it up, and see that m.a.n.y other people also choose to forgo the messy cheesecloth squeezing and seemingly superfluous nut milk bags and -- instead -- use a French press for a simple straining solution.

// HOW TO

Well, you follow the exact same instructions from the Homemade Almond Milk post (there's a recipe for a tasty chocolate almond milk drink in there too!). But instead of pouring tirelessly in little batches into the cheesecloth and squeezing . . . you pour as much as you can into a French press and, well, PRESS. Press hard.

I had to do mine in two batches, but the milk squeezed through the metal mesh so well. I had the same, dry almond pulp left to put in baked goods. And the same creamy beverage to enjoy. Bonus? Afterward, you can rinse + make coffee with your French press and combine the two for a heavenly treat.

Or -- my favorite -- pour into Homemade Muesli!


How else do you use a French press? 

I've read it makes rinsing quinoa quite easy and can even be a good solution for infusing cooking oils with herbs/etc. I love finding simple kitchen-hacks using stuff we already own! Stephen doesn't like when I constantly use his favorite coffeemaker, though, so I may need to get a new one just for me. I like this compact 3-cup press, which might be perfect for smaller jobs.

Like what you just read? Browse more of our posts + recipes on Pinterest. You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Weekend Things

Not to rag on this weekend since it hasn't even happened yet, but I'm super excited for NEXT weekend. I love holiday cookouts, so tomorrow we'll be tuning up our charcoal grill and getting all the supplies we need for an outdoor feast of sorts.

In the meantime . . . 

// Down for the Count //

After posting about MyFitnessPal experience, I've struggled.

I think tracking what I eat is really helpful, but I'm getting too numbers-focused.

And then I eat things like delicious Justin candy bars versus healthy snacks.

// Sniffles + Sneezes //

Here's some good advice for how to deal with allergies on the run.

Personally, I do saline nose spray + homeopathic remedy + occasionally these eye drops.

I also make sure I shower off ASAP to get all the pollen.

// Dreams //

Wow this beautiful backyard movie night looks enchanting.

Hard to top that.

// Foot Finds //

I bought leopard crocs sandals this week. Is something wrong with me?

If I don't like them, I may send instead for these Reef sandals (good deal!).

Everyone keeps suggesting Rainbow sandals. Any experiences?

// Spring to Summer Eats //

Parmesan-Garlic Grilled Corn -- might make for Memorial Day.

Strawberry + Rhubarb Crumb Pie b/c I'm in the mood to bake a pie.

// Pretty (Cool) Playhouse //

I'd love to get Ada a playhouse for the backyard.

I've been scouring Craigslist and our local mom's yard sale group for a deal.

Been totally inspired by this project + this project. Stay tuned!

// Smart Stuff //

32 Cheap And Easy Backyard Ideas via BuzzFeed

Building a straw bale shed + did you know I dream of living in a bale house?

Grilling sandwiches using your waffle maker via Edible Perspective.

// Homesteading //

How to Turn Your Backyard Into a 4-Season Farm -- did I already share this?

Yard to Farm via Brooklyn Based

Realistically, I may plant a large backyard perennial garden, thanks to Aynsley for the inspiration!

And I have a simple recipe to add to my discussion about Mushrooms for Runners:


Just saute some garlic and sliced mushrooms in a pan for a few minutes (until softened and fragrant) and then lower the heat and add a few cups of baby spinach. Wilt and serve warm with whatever you're eating on a given night. Goes well with eggs . . . with sandwiches . . . whatever!

And here's what you may have missed this week on Writing Chapter Three:



Have a great weekend!

Psst: You can check out more Weekend Things here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here + here.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Weekend Things

// Do you ACV? //

I don't mean to bragg*, but we've guzzled + used it for a few years.

Here's 10 Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar.

(*Get it? Bragg? ACV humor . . . ha ha ha)

// Garden in a Box //

My MIL finds the best pins for the green thumb (which I don't really have, but wish I did).

We may make our own pallet garden this year. This upright variety is cool as well.

// Thai Time //

Somehow in my gluten-free adventures, I forgot about Asian food.

This vegan Pad Thai is top on my to-make list this weekend.

// ECOBAGS //

This set of colorful, woven cotton grocery bags is gorgeous.

Maybe pretty enough so I won't keep forgetting mine in the car?

// Carrot Top //

I was excited to learn there are tasty ways to use veggie castoffs.

Even more to discover the cookbook Roots: 225 recipes using root vegetables.

// Organize //

The temps are over 35 degrees F; it feels like the thaw has begun here in upstate.

I'm in full-on cleaning mode -- this smart use of a small bath space is great!

// StyleMint //

I picked up several amazingly inexpensive dresses yesterday.

I mean it, too $10-$12 each! I go for nice cuts/solid colors these days. C'mon, spring!

// Watch //

We're in the thick of to-be natural gas drilling country.

Remind me again why I hadn't watched GasLand until this week?

(We finally, finally, finally saw Argo, too!)

// DIY Hair Ties //

You know those awesome hair ties I got for Christmas?

This little tutorial shows you how to make 'em.

// Save the Peels //

We're going strong with our natural cleaning "initiative" -- yay!

Here's 10 Homemade Cleansers made with Citrus Peels.

// International Women's Day //

10 profiles of Fierce Women (Mother Jones) A Schedule Of Events (Washington Post)

New Faces of Women's Empowerment (Forbes) Women Explorers (National Geographic)

And here's what you may have missed on Writing Chapter Three.



Have a great weekend!

Psst: You can check out more Weekend Things here + here + here + here + here + here.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Weekend Things

Happy Friday, everyone! To keep the grocery savings theme going this week, I've decided to expand on our latest tips to 1.) Shop every other week and 2.) Make the most out of that trip. There are some great links below regarding food waste + how to avoid it below, along with other fun stuff.

// Breakfast for Dinner //

We do it once a week because it's easy + inexpensive -- how about you?

Landis' new book has some fresh ideas beyond our usual fried eggs + sourdough toast.

// Microwave-Free //

Our old clunker has been in the basement for 8 weeks.

Don't even miss it. Anyone else sans this "essential" appliance?

// Hot Mess Grilled Cheese //

A sandwich we could become obsessed with.

Pepper jack, onion rings & jalapenos.

// Sourdough Saga //

My sourdough starter ate itself! I had only waited 7 days to feed it.

Will have to start the process all over again. Boo.

// Kettlebells Workouts //

I did this killer thing the other day. My butt still hurts.

Ran 2.5 miles to gym, 25-min kettlebell workout, 2.5 miles back.

// What We've Watched //

Bag It (interesting eco-documentary); The Perks of Being a Wallflower (LOVED it);

Pitch Perfect (mindless fun); Flight (honestly never want to fly again). 

// Reduce Food Waste // 

And other tips from the book Unclutter Your Life in One Week

Pretty sure I'm getting a (digital) copy with my V-day gift-card.

// Long-Lasting Fruits + Veggies // 

"40 percent of the food that’s grown and sold in the United States is wasted."

Here's some tips for how to "get smarter about how you shop."

// Soap Opera //

We've been buying Dr. Bronner Castile soap for years.

Love it for camping, but started using it everyday to simplify our bath routine.

// 10 Easy Vegetarian Meals // 

That your tots + kids will love.

(And you probably will, too.)

What you may have missed this week on Writing Chapter Three:



Have a great weekend!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Budget-Friendly Valentine's Day Ideas

Beloved reader Alaina wrote us recently to ask a GREAT question: "Do you have any ideas on making Valentines Day special and meaningful, but on a budget? My boyfriend and I like to do something small and sweet, but this year especially we're on a tight budget. Any suggestions?"

Of course, we put our thinking caps on immediately and starting coming up with ways we'd choose to celebrate the day on any price point under $100. You can also thank Alaina for coming up with some fantastic ideas, too. My favorite is the all-HIS movie marathon. I never let Stephen pick the movies we watch (mostly because he's into sci-fi, horror, and action -- all genres that don't exactly mix with my comedy, romantic-comedy, more comedy, and drama taste). But maybe that'd be a good gift for him this year.

Hmmm . . .



$100: One-Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents

• Of course, the classic drinks ($25), dinner ($50), and a movie ($25) date is always appropriate for Valentine's Day. But I challenge you to patronize local establishments only. In this economy, the little guys are hurting -- so it's better to visit your local Giuseppe's than Olive Garden. Or the corner arts theater instead of Regal Cinema.
• Take a day trip somewhere. This somewhere can be 30 minutes away or 2 hours away. But try to stick close to save on gas money. We did this recently and it didn't cost very much. Just break it down. If you stick within an hour of your hometown, you need only spend about $20 on gas. Coffee for two while you walk around town will set you back $10. A lunch or casual dinner is another $40 . . . and that leaves a hefty $30 for miscellaneous expenses, like stuffed-animal bears with the name of the town plastered on a T-shirt. Etc.

$75: Seventy-Five Dollars and Zero Cents

• Take this day as an opportunity to spiff up your space. A fresh coat of paint on your bedroom walls is a mere $35. A couple new throw pillows? $30. And some sexy scented candles can be snagged up for $10. The romance generated by giving your bedroom a little TLC . . . priceless.
• In the spirit of pampering yourselves, use your cash to book yourselves spa appointments . . . IN! You can go to your local TJ Max or Home Goods (Marshall’s, etc. discount stores) and pick up everything you need (towels, bathrobes, peppermint foot lotion, bubble bath, you-name-it) for $75 (or less, really). So why spend that – each – on a single spa treatment? Plus, it’ll give you incentive to clean your bathroom :)

$50: Fifty Dollars and Zero Cents

• Staying in is something we’re totally into. So, cook a lavish dinner IN. Grab your favorite cookbook and make a meal you’ve been meaning to take a stab at but haven’t had the time. That's what we did last V-day (as pictured above). Plus, if you visit your local wine and spirits store, you’ll find tons of great wines for under $10 a bottle. That leaves $40 for all the fixings you’ll need for a feast for two.
• Since V-Day is on a Sunday this year – why not start the day off right by grabbing brunch? Diners are great places for cheap, but delicious brunches. And on your way home, you can stop by a museum or catch a matinee.

$25: Twenty-Five Dollars and Zero Cents

• Like to give gifts? Being on a budget doesn’t need to hamper your fun. But make it a challenge. Budget only $12.50 for each other, and see what thoughtful item you can get that will make the other’s day. Stephen bought me a grocery store bouquet for $10 a couple Fridays ago . . . made me smile, and didn’t set us back like roses would have. Plus, gerbera daisies were our wedding flowers and, therefore, more personal. It forces you to get creative, too. And the grocery store is a great place to find all this stuff, by the way. You can go, split up, and then exchange your goods on the way home.
• And who says you have to go out for a full meal to celebrate your love? Dessert’s the thing on the 14th of Feb that has everyone mushy and gooey. Dine in for the main event and then treat yourselves to dessert OUT somewhere divine. You may even have enough cash left over to rent a few flicks for the night.

$0: Zero Dollars and Zero Cents

• Oh, we’ve been there. But love is free, and you can certainly do more with less . . . or nothing at all. Look around the house and see what you’ve got. Have an evening of unplugged games (get some ideas in our board games for pennies post) – no Wii allowed. Learn a new cooking technique together (and if you’re looking for a new cookbook, go check out our giveaway). Give each other a massage. Have him paint your toenails. Whatever. But just do stuff together with what you have. Because when it all boils down . . . you really only need each other. Awww.
• Along this same vein – do something for you partner you might not usually do. Like wash the dishes, in our case. Maybe make up one of those little coupon books and fill it with tasks and treats you can give for free. Stephen loves banana cake, and I hate it. So, I’d make a coupon that says “Good for ONE tasty Banana Cake” (That’s what she said? Ohhhh . . . sorry, it’s the bananas. Should have come up with a different example.). 

What does Alaina suggest? Check 'em out . . . 

• Make an apple pie -- my boyfriend's weakness -- and dust off the good old Super Nintendo for a night of old-school video games. 
• Gift him different kinds of beers -- it's fun to surprise him with new ones, but it seems the best ones are the most expensive ones. (We hear you, Alaina!)
  
• Go to our favorite Chinese place and each buy the other one dinner. We both love Chinese so much, and it would be our 'gift' to one another. 
• Have a movie marathon. There are so many movies that he says "I can't believe you haven't seen that!" or "You HAVE to see that!" so I also thought about having a movie marathon that he's 100% in charge of. 

Bottom line: No matter your budget, you don’t need any dough to bake up some romance on Valentine’s day this year. Just be smart, stick to your budget, and remember that it’s really just a made-up holiday . . . so no need to spend big. It’s the little things, really, that make an impact.

Do you folks have any budget friendly activities to suggest? We'd love to hear 'em. Just leave a comment!



If you have a question you'd like us to answer, just email us at neverhomemaker@gmail.com -- and we'd be happy to get back to you -- soon. And be sure to check out the details about our Something for Nothing Giveaway of Martha Stewart's Cooking School cookbook -- to celebrate 500 (and now 612) followers :)

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