Latest Blog Posts
The Exact Steps I Took to Cut My Grocery Bill in Half
Do you spend too much money on food? Groceries seem to be one of the most common budget busters for many people. We can cut back on so many other items in our budget, but we have to buy food. When you’re trying to eat a healthy diet, it can be particularly tough to...
We paid off the car and two student loans! + other Q1 updates
For those of you who are new here, I post an update every couple of months that shows how we’re doing on our debt snowball and other goals. Doing this helps to keep us accountable and to keep track of the progress we’re making. I will now be sharing these updates...
5 Things That Matter More Than Your Net Worth
Many personal bloggers talk about how important it is to know your net worth. Some even post frequent updates describing their net worth in detail. While I agree that it’s important to know your net worth, it can also be more than a little depressing when you’re in...
Why Blogging is the Best Side Hustle
My hubby and I are working on paying off $117,000 of student loan debt in just three years (on entry-level salaries). We can scrimp like crazy, but at a certain point, it’s impossible to save more. That’s why making more money is an essential part of our “get out of...
8 Strategies We’ve Used to Pay off Over $80,000 of Debt
After I finished grad school, I found myself underemployed and buried in $75,000 of student loan debt. I didn’t know what to do. I could barely afford the minimum payments on a 10 year repayment plan, but I couldn’t stand the idea of paying off my loans over 25 years...
How to Earn Free Gift Cards with Shopkick
Since the hubby and I are trying to pay off our remaining $47,000 of student loan debt by the end of this year, I'm always looking for easy ways to earn a little extra money. We need to be super frugal while we pay off the debt and that means we don't get to treat...
My 3 Year Spending Ban: 25 Things I Stopped Buying
When my hubby and I decided to pay off our combined $117,000 of student loan debt in just three years, I knew I would need to make some major changes in order to achieve this aggressive (and slightly insane) goal. I’ve never been a huge spender, but I used to splurge...
3 Signs You’re Ready to Start a Business
Millennials are at a unique time in their lives and careers right now. Many Millennials are starting to get the point where they’ve finished school and started careers. As they move along in those careers, they may start weighing whether or not they want to start...
A Frugal Day Trip: 3 Cheap Things to Do in Taylors Falls, MN
Want to go on vacation but can’t afford it? How about going on a day trip? If you live in the Midwest, Taylors Falls is a great (and cheap) option. Located right on the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, Taylors Falls is an hour drive from the Twin Cities. It’s also one...
Ibotta App Review: How to Earn Cash Back for Everyday Shopping
My husband and I stick to a super strict budget since we're trying to pay off $117,000 of student loan debt in just three years. The only area where we REALLY have a problem with overspending is groceries. That's why I was excited to learn about the Ibotta app!...
Can Simple Living be Taken Too Far?
I recently read an article called The Problem With Simple Living on one of my favorite blogs. At first, I disagreed with the article and felt a little defensive. (“Minimalism is awesome! It’s not a problem!”). But the more I thought about it, the more I realized...
7 Ways to Make Money Blogging
People often ask me how it’s possible to make money blogging and sometimes they seem a bit skeptical. Before I started blogging a couple years ago, I had no idea that it was possible to earn an income from blogging. Many personal finance bloggers post their income...