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Money Tips: How To Save This Easter

Are you hosting an Easter party this year? If you are, then here are some tips on how you can save money from your decorations to activities, food, and baskets.

Tip #1: Buy Easter treats and décor after Easter.

Obviously, you’re not using these treats and decorations for this year’s Easter, but you can use them next year! Prices for Easter-themed items usually drop a day or a two after the holiday, and that’s when you really want to haul all of these items. Don’t worry about the candies going bad either; if you check their expiration dates, you’ll know if they’re still good until the next year. Just store them properly, and the kids will still be able to enjoy them the following Easter.

Tip #2: DIY whenever you can!

Most décor items that you can buy from the store are overpriced. Do-it-yourself projects can save you a ton of money because you’ll only pay for the materials. You can make your own bunting, Easter Bunny ears, Easter egg cut-outs, Easter cards, Easter baskets, etcetera! They don’t have to be too complicated either; there are a lot of easy DIY projects on the internet that you can follow.

Tip #3: Make your own Easter treats.

If you can DIY your Easter décor, then you can certainly make your own Easter treats too! Instead of buying an expensive Easter Bunny cake from a bakery, find a recipe on the internet that you can follow. You can also find recipes for rice crispy treats, cupcakes, chocolate bark, and other sweet and delicious Easter-themed desserts that both kids and adults will love.

Tip #4: Reuse your Easter baskets.

If you’ve hosted the Easter Egg Hunt before, then you probably have old baskets lying around. Take those old baskets out of storage and reuse them! You’ll be saving a lot of money (and you’ll avoid clutter too!) if you simply repaint or redecorate them so that kids can use them again this year.

Tip #5: Thrifting is always a good idea.

No matter the occasion, it’s always a great idea to hit the thrift store. Here you’ll find décor items, old clothes that you can turn into costumes, etcetera. Some thrift stores also bring out Easter-themed items around the holiday like stickers, toys, baskets and more.

Tip #6: Only buy the things you need.

Shopping is always thrilling, which is why some people overdo it sometimes! The best way to save money this Easter is to only buy the things you need. Even if that life-size cut-out of the Easter Bunny looks cute, if you don’t have the budget for it, then don’t purchase it! You’ll thank yourself later for controlling your spending. It will also help if you create a list before you go out for shopping.

Tip #7: Buy in bulk!

Buying in bulk will also cut down your expenses. For example, this Easter baskets wholesale UK from The Works is a great deal!

Hosting an Easter party doesn’t have to be expensive. With these money tips, you can save a lot of money.

5 Quick and Easy Family Meals

If you are short on time with a hungry family waiting for food, then what you need are easy-to-prepare and healthy meals that you can ready in a jiffy. The recipes below require few ingredients and take less than an hour to prepare.

Try any of these on a busy day and make sure you get the rest of your chores done on time.

1. Grilled Lemon Chicken and Asparagus

This healthy recipe is delicious which you can quickly put together on the dinner table. The recipe only takes 20 minutes to prepare. (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
  • 1 sliced lemon
  • And as much asparagus as you would like

Directions:

Pre-heat a grilling pan on the stove on medium-high flame and brush it with oil. Season both sides of the chicken breast with salt and pepper and grill for 4-5 minutes per side. Add the sliced lemons wedges during the last 3 minutes of the cooking time and cook until the chicken is done. Serve with hot sauce and a side of steamed asparagus.

2. Grilled Cheese with Spinach

If you have a particularly busy schedule for a day, then a cheesy grilled sandwich with a side of veggies is the perfect meal for your family. It only takes 20 minutes to prepare and you probably already have the ingredients at home. (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 4 ciabatta rolls
  • 2 tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp. marinara sauce
  • 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese
  • Pepperoni and spinach as to your liking

 

Directions:

Spread liberal amount of butter on the outside of the bread rolls. On the insides of the rolls; spread marinara sauce and put as much mozzarella, pepperoni and spinach as you want.

On a low flame, heat a non-stick grilling pan and grill the sandwiches for 4-5 minutes on each side. Grill until the outsides are golden brown and the cheese melts. Serve with different condiments and a side of steamed veggies.

3. Easy Baked Salmon

This recipe is an easy one as you can marinade and freeze the fish the night before, ready to be grilled and served when you are short on time. It takes few ingredients and can be prepared in just 30 minutes. (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • ½ tbsp. brown sugar
  • ½ tbsp melted butter
  • ½ tbsp olive or vegetable oil
  • ½ tbsp honey
  • ½ tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
  • ½ large salmon fillet (cut into 4 pieces)

 

 

Directions:

Mix all the ingredients except the fish in a bowl. Then pour marinade over the salmon fillets. Let the fish marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight).

Pre-heat a grill pan on a medium heat and sear the salmon (discard the marinade) for 6-8 minutes on each side or until completely cooked. Squeeze a lemon on top and serve on a bed on steamed spinach.

4. One Pot Chicken Pilaf

This recipe is very easy and makes a very filling and comforting meal. The chicken pilaf takes maximum 30 minutes to prepare and saves you from a pile of dish washing later. (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. olive or vegetable oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts, cubed
  • 1 tbsp curry paste
  • 2 cups of basmati rice
  • 4 cups of chicken stock
  • 2 cups of frozen veggies

Directions:

Heat oil in a deep skillet and fry the onions until translucent, then add the chicken and cook until white on the outside. Mix in curry paste, add in the rice and cook for 2-5 minutes. Add in the frozen veggies and chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Then cover the lid and let it cook for 10 minutes or until the rice is tender and all the stock is absorbed. Serve with a side of your choice.

5. Quick Pesto Pasta

Pesto pasta is a quick and easy recipe when you have kids who love pasta and adults who are too busy to sit down for a real meal. It takes a maximum of 20 minutes to prepare. (Serves 4)

Ingredients:

  • 400 gms of Linguini
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tbsp. roasted pine nuts
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 2 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Fill deep pot with water, add 2 tbsp. of salt and bring to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to packet directions (until al dente). Drain and keep aside.

In a food processor, add basil, pine nuts, garlic, salt, pepper and parmesan. Add in the oil slowly and blend it until smooth. In a pot, mix the linguini with the pesto and serve with extra parmesan grated on top.

5 Free Family Activities

Imagine your old and grey self sitting out on the porch with your children all grown up. You’re sitting there reminiscing the good old days. You recall all the moments, especially the small ones where you made precious memories.

If you wish to make family memories to cherish and hold dear, then spend more time with your children before they grow up. Family time doesn’t have to be expensive cross-Atlantic trips and extravagant activities. You need to have your family in one place doing fun things you all love.

If you are stumped for ideas for family time, then here are 5 of them to make priceless memories and have loads of fun.

1. Camp Indoors!

In the winters when the weather outside is glum and the suns seems to be hiding, outdoor activities like camping don’t sound that great. But why not bring the outdoor fun inside?

Indoor camping is a fun way to spend family time without missing out on the adventure of camping. So gather your family, push the living room furniture back and break out the camping gear. And if you don’t have camping gear, you can always build a fort with blankets and cushions.

Camp the tent in the middle of your living room, pack a picnic basket and eat it near the fire. Sleep in sleeping bags and sit in a circle to tell scary camp stories.

And make sure not to miss out on the best thing about camping… smores! Get marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers; light your fireplace and make some smores.

2. Put on a Show

Does your family have a favorite movie or book? Then why not act it out with your own family twist. Get your family to dress-up and put on a show. Invite other friends and relatives with kids and have them participate to make it even more enjoyable.

To make it more fun, make as elaborate as possible. Make tickets and costumes together. Build a make shift stage and put on your own theatrical production.

Recite poetry, do skits, play instruments and put on a concert or have everyone participate in a talent show. Or you can spend some time together to write an original story and make puppets and put on the funniest puppet show ever.

And remember to break out a phone or camera and record the show to make a home movie to watch and laugh at later.

3. Movie Night

If you don’t have the energy to plan an elaborate activity, then a simple movie night at home can be just as fun. Lay down pillows and blankets in the living room, dim the lights and put on your family’s favorite movie of all time.

Pop some popcorn; get sodas, licorice, raisin candies and other snacks you usually enjoy at the cinema. Get cozy under the blankets, snuggle with your loved ones and enjoy a fun movie.

4. Treasure Hunt

A treasure hunt is a fun way to get the kids active and running around. Make a little treasure box of candy and chocolates your kids love and hide it somewhere inside your house or out in the yard. Make a treasure map or write different clues to help them find it.

You can make it even more fun and make teams to race with each other to see who finds the treasure first. Going with the theme of treasure hunting, dress up and play the game as pirates.

5. Water Balloon Fight

Summer vacations are the best time to plan outdoor activities and get some vitamin D.

Get some cheap balloon from a craft sore and fill them water. Go outside in the yard and have a good old-fashioned water balloon fight.

Invite your friends and relatives who have kids and make a whole day out of it. Everyone can bring a snack and have a fun day in the sun.

Remember that you don’t have to spend copious amounts of money on fancy outings and expensive activities to have fun with your family. With any of these simple activities you can make memories to last a lifetime.

Budgeting Made Easier: 7 Tips to Keep Your Family’s Finances Under Control

It might sound hectic to maintain a budget on a regular basis but it is necessary to keep track of all that money you have.

It isn’t necessary to spend a lot to live a happy life, but you need to make sure that it is spent in the best possible way.

Here are a few tips you can follow to be better at budgeting:

Make a budget

If you area tech savvy mom, use the spreadsheets; if you are a traditional paper pen mom then use that, but make sure to create a budget that best works for you.

List down all your family’s future financial goals, and then make a plan of action accordingly. For instance, aim to save up for your child’s college tuition fees or for a vacation you want to take with your family by the end of this year.

Plan your meals; eat at home more often

Eating out every weekend might sound fascinating but it wouldn’t be if by the end of the month you’re tight on money! Plan your meals a few days before the start of next month and cook meals at home more often than ordering out.

This would help you list down all the groceries you need. Buy everything in bulk at the start of the month to save time and remember to stick with the list to avoid impulse purchases.

Record your sources of income

Figure out how much money is coming in the house every month.  Do not account only for the paychecks of the head of the family, but for everybody who is earning in the family. Also include any investment made that generates timely returns. This would help you understand your current financial standing and devise a more accurate budget.

Record your expenses

Keep track of all the receipts and amount of money flowing out of your hand to help avoid personal bankruptcy. Doing so will help you know that where you are spending less and where you need to control.

Make a habit of recording these expenses on a daily basis because leaving them for the “next day” would only create stress for you.

Search for sales, coupons and discounts

The best way to keep your expenses under budget and save some money is to hunt down for coupons and discounts.

Checkout the circulars and website of the stores you frequently visit for you groceries. These might allow you to save some money from your already allocated amount for that particular expense. To save time, download online apps that alert you of major coupons in grocery stores near your place.

Make a checklist for all bills

Forgot to pay the bills and you are charged to pay an extra amount? The best way to manage this is by preparing a checklist for all the bills, along with their deadlines, that needs to be paid that month.

Save for the rainy day

Budgeting doesn’t mean allocating each penny down to zero. While allocating money under several different heads of expenses allocate a portion for savings. It is essential to save a portion of your income and not spend it on current expenditures.

The future is uncertain. You should always be ready to pay for unexpected events or emergencies. Budgeting requires a lot of self control and dedication. We believe that with these points in mind you are sure to succeed, and if you do then don’t forget to reward yourself!