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One Hundred Dollars a Month

I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.


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10 Tips to Retiring Early

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Saving is rad.  The thing is, unless you actually put the money aside and SAVE it, your penny pinching ways don’t really add up to anything tangible.  Since saving is the key to retiring early–or at the very least, on time, here’s a couple of strategies to catapult you to spending your days exactly how you want to a little sooner.

  1. Pay yourself first.  This is a classic suggestion for building your emergency savings accounts, but it should also apply to retirement.  Arrange for the money to be taken from your check before you ever even see it.
  2. Money saved on groceries, lowered utilities, gas, etc. should all be immediately funneled into accounts, otherwise, it gets spent.
  3. Don’t take any raises.  Put all raises and bonuses into your retirement account.  You won’t miss it if you never really had it.
  4. Check your retirement accounts for exorbitant or hidden fees.  You don’t want to spend your hard earned capital contributing to market managers and financial advisers.
  5. Live simply and save the rest.  I know that sounds obvious, but next time you want something that isn’t a need, take the money  you would have spent and pay your retirement fund.  Try that for a year, and I bet you’ll find that the money really adds up.  Coffee, new boots, etc. all count.
  6. Buy used.  I read an article {I can’t even remember which article, so I can’t give it credit} a while back that said to buy 80% of your clothing used, 20% new {I think it was referring to undies, etc.}, and save the difference.  So, in theory, when you need a new pair of pants, you price them out new, buy them used and then immediately throw the difference into savings.
  7. Downsize.  Downsizing your house naturally equates to downsizing your expenses.  You will have less to maintain, less to heat and cool.  You’ll need less furniture. Everything will be less.  That means you will naturally have more income to SAVE.
  8. Plan on paying off your mortgage by retirement.  One of the biggest attributes of early retirees is a debt-free life.  They keep their monthly expenses minimal so that their retirement accounts don’t have to have millions–only enough to generate a set amount of yearly income via investment gains.
  9. Know how much you need to retire.  Have you ever actually done the math and figured out how much you need to retire?  How much will your fixed expenses be per month?  Your financial adviser can help you come up with this number, but there are also plenty of free calculators available online.  Once you know how much you need, you’ll have a tangible goal that you will be more motivated to work toward.
  10. Make the most of FREE money.  If you’re lucky enough to have an employer that matches your contribution, don’t let it go to waste.  If  you found $3000 on the sidewalk, would you walk right past it?  Heck no!

Any of you planning on retiring early?  How will you make it happen?

~Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

13 Ways to Use Up and Preserve Fresh Strawberries

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13 Ways to Use Up and Preserve Fresh Strawberries
Strawberries hitting the stores is like the kick-off to spring.  The first {affordable and in-season} round usually shows up around late March/early April {mostly from California}.  If you have your own strawberry patch, you’ll have to wait a bit longer…either way, buy ’em up and grow ’em while you can.  Even better, make sure to save some for the long cold days of winter..

5 Must-Make Strawberry Jam RecipesPreserving

  1. The easiest way to preserve strawberries is the freezer.  Frozen strawberries can be used in smoothies or baked goods all year long.  To freeze them remove the stem, rinse them well, and then lay them out to dry completely on a towel.  Once they are dry, lay them on a Silpat or parchment paper lined cookie sheet and put them in the freezer.  This will allow them to freeze individually without sticking together.  Once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer safe bag or container.
  2. Dehydrate them.  Dehydrated strawberries work great in homemade granola.
  3. Can them.  There are about a million ways to can strawberries…strawberry jam being one of my personal favorites.

Strawberry Banana MuffinsWays to Enjoy Them Fresh

  1. Not to state the obvious, but sometimes slicing and then gobbling down a bowl of fresh strawberries is perfect way to enjoy them.
  2. I can think of a ton of different ways to use fresh strawberries for breakfast, a few of my favorites are Strawberries & Cream Baked Oatmeal, Strawberry Muffins w/ Oatmeal Crumb Topping, and Strawberry and Nutella Crepes w/ Bananas.  The Girl and I have been known to drizzle homemade Strawberry Syrup on pancakes from time to time too.Strawberry-Basil-Salsa
  3. For a quick summer snack or BBQ appetizer, try Strawberry Basil Salsa.  Serve it along side some Triscuits or toasted baguettes–don’t plan on any leftovers.
  4. Toss them into a salad.  Strawberries and spinach are actually a pretty delightful little duo.
  5. I like to use strawberries to add a little sweet to breads.  Strawberry Focaccia with Balsamic Onions makes an awesome side to a summer salad.  Strawberry Bruschetta is basically the easiest appetizer ever, and Strawberry Streusel Bread makes for a pretty awesome afternoon snack.

strawberry shortcake recipe
Desserts

  1. Let’s be honest, strawberries and dessert should go steady.  They were made for each other.  Old Fashioned Strawberry Ice Cream is like summer in a bowl.  It’s sweet, creamy, and tastes exactly like the gourmet stuff you’d spend way too on and get waaaaay too little.
  2. Add them to pies.  I personally have never met a pie I didn’t like.  I like to kick off strawberry season with Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb pie and then ease my way into a classic Strawberry Pie.  I get crazy like that.The-Best-Strawberry-Shortcake-Recipe-
  3. Two words:  Strawberry Shortcake.  There’s a reason they named a doll after the stuff–it’s legendary.  My favorite shortcake recipe is classic, but if you are into mixing it up a little bit, try this Strawberry Shortcake Skillet Cobbler recipe.
  4. If you are headed to a BBQ or just want to sit in the kitchen alone, try making Strawberry Tarts with Ginger-Pecan Crust.  They are bite size poppable deliciousness.
  5. For the grand finale of desserts, try making a Strawberry and Blueberry Trifle.  Not only does it wow visually, but it combines strawberries, blueberries, whip cream, and vanilla cake.  Um, hello, why are you still reading…you should be off making this stuff! 🙂

How do you take your strawberries?

~Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

5 Companion Plants to Grow With Beans

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There is nothing more satisfying than watching the green leaves of bean plants fill up your garden.  Beans are my favorite crop to use succession planting on.  I also am a pretty big fan of using them in companion planting.  Beans mostly give a lot to other plants…they are givers, they can’t help themselves.  There are a couple of plants, though, that beans can benefit from.  Here’s a handy dandy bean companion list for your garden planning:

beets

  1. Beets.  Beets give the soil magnesium.  Beans love magnesium–see how the math just adds up?  Beets do NOT do well with Pole Beans, though.  FYI.
  2. Summer savory.  Savory deters bean beetles.  Bean beetles is fun to say.potatoes
  3. Potatoes.  Potatoes also deter bean beetles.
  4. Marigolds.  I shouldn’t even really have to sell these at this point.  Just plant them everywhere.
  5. Corn.  Corn and bush beans both balance out the soil.  After the crop has died back, the nitrogen the corn has consumed, the beans will give back.

There are other plants that make good neighbors, depending on what type of bean you plant {bush vs. pole}, but the ones above actually provide a little something, something to both varieties.

What do YOU plant with your beans?

~Mavis

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Shop Christmas in July {Week 18 of 52}

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52 Ways to Save $100 a MonthWelcome to my 52 Ways to Save $100 a Month series. We’re serious about saving money in 2016. Sometimes it’s the little things and sometimes it’s the big things. I’m here to walk you through some little things that can add up to BIG savings. 52 little things to be exact. Every week, join me back here for another small money saving tip or idea that might not seem like significant savings until you see the overall yearly savings. It might just blow your mind. So pop in each Tuesday and read a new tip that will help you on your way to save $100 a month!

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month Shop Christmas in JulyOkay, so it might not be July just yet, but we’re talking about planning for Christmas today and all year long. Average Christmas spending is startling, with the average American spending roughly $950 on gifts and parents spending almost $300 per child. Some families go crazier than that, while others tone it way down and simplify. Regardless of where you fall on that spending spectrum, chances are you will be dishing out some money come December. Here’s how to save money while Christmas shopping this year:elf on the shelf gift cards

Shop Now: It’s universal knowledge that you can score some killer Black Friday deals, but in my experience, it’s a lot of bark and no bite. I’ve been able to find some amazing sales throughout the year that put those Black Friday sales to shame. Have your kids and loved ones make their lists early, or you can always open your ears and listen for the things they are interested in. Then, armed with that knowledge, watch the ads all year long. You might find a crazy good deal on a laptop during a Memorial Day sale or a Labor Day sale might find you that watch your HH has had his eye on at huge savings. By paying attention to great deals all year, you can save hundreds and avoid the insanity that is Black Friday.elf on the shelf family vacation

Save Now: A $1000 hit to the budget in one month might be crippling. But spreading that out over 12 months and it doesn’t seem so bad at all. Open a “Christmas” specific checking account now and then have a few dollars of every paycheck automatically transferred into it. Or start placing all of your extra change and cash in your wallet at the end of the week into a Christmas cash jar. If you earmark money specifically for Christmas now, you won’t feel the hit as hard come December.

strawberry jamMake it Now: Maybe you aren’t much of a gift buyer and prefer to make all of your Christmas gifts instead. Just like December is crunch time financially for Christmas spending, the same goes for crunch time on gift making. Make a gift list now and then spend the next 8 months crafting away. I like to give jams and jellies and those can be canned well in advance. I have a friend who loves to knit all of her gifts {and we LOVE receiving them}, so she starts early in the year so she’ll be ready in plenty of time. If you plan on painting, crafting, canning, sewing or making some form of handmade gift, start now! Not only will hand making save you a ton money, but doing a little all year long will save you a ton of stress!

Do you shop for Christmas all year long? What, on average, do you spend on Christmas gifts?

one hundred dollars $100How Much Can You Save: Hundreds. Depending on how much you plan on spending this year, you can save big on big ticket items. Sometimes the savings throughout the year are as steep as 60%!

More Ways to Save:

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clean Out Your Closet {Week 1 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Break Up with Cable {Week 2 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Barter Better {Week 3 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Change Your Own Oil {Week 4 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Adjust Your Thermostat {Week 5 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Take Advantage of Your Perks {Week 6 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Pack Your Lunch {Week 7 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make It Yourself {Week 8 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Preserve Your Bounty {Week 9 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Keep the Change {Week 10 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | The Art of Borrowing {Week 11 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Clip a Coupon {Week 13 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Start Your Garden From Seed {Week 14 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Learn to Cut Hair {Week 15 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Become a 1 Car Family {Week 16 of 52}

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month | Make a Phone Call {Week 17 of 52}

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Butterfield Etsy