This is a post we pulled from the archives written by one of our former contributors. With so many of us spending extra time at home, this would be a great time to make up some freezer meals and be ready for when our busy lives start ramping back up again! I am a wife and mother of three boys.  One thing I've been doing for years to save money and time is what I call Freezer Dinners. Here are the basics of what I do: I invite 2-3 friends (no more than four in the kitchen becomes too many bodies!) and we decide on six recipes to make about every 6-8 weeks. I predominately use recipes from Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer (Amazon) and Don't Keep Reading

This is a re-post from a previous year. Shopping for school clothes doesn't have to break the budget.  In order to buy fewer back-to-school clothes and save money, I did this little project with my daughter. Before heading out to take advantage of the "Back to School" sales, try this and you might find you don't need as much as you think. Inventory the closet. Find out what still fits and is in good condition. Fix anything that needs a repair, missing button, etc. Create outfits out of what is left. Match tops and bottoms together. I lay everything out on the floor then write down what needs a top or a sweater, etc. I do the same when I go Keep Reading

Gardening Basics We're getting close to halfway through the summer and we thought it would be fun to brush up on some homemaking basics over the next couple of weeks. It's a great way to get inspired to same money at home and read up on some of our fantastic archived homemaking posts! Let's get this party started with our gardening posts! Inspiration for a Beginning Gardener Spring Gardening in the Pacific Northwest Spring Garden Planting Lists 5 Summer Watering Tips How to Build a Raised Garden Bed Raised Garden Beds: Planting Tips for Vegetable Seed and Starts Benefits of Raised Keep Reading