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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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Glow in the Dark Easter Eggs with Glow Sticks

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glow sticks glow in the dark easter eggs These glow in the dark Easter Eggs have been such a hit with my kids in the past I wanted to share the tutorial again for those of you with kids who are growing a little tired of the same of Easter Egg hunt. 

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This year instead of a traditional Easter Egg hunt on Sunday morning, I’ll be hiding Monkey Boy and The Girl’s Easter eggs after the sun goes down. They are teenagers, and getting them to go outside and hunt for candy filled eggs at the crack of dawn just isn’t as fun as it use to be. So in an effort to bring back some of that fun, I’ve decided to make egg hunting a little more exciting this year by making my kids hunt for their Easter eggs in the DARK! glow in the dark easter eggs glow sitcks How to Make Glow In the Dark Easter Eggs Supplies 12 plastic Easter Eggs 12 Glow Stick Bracelets a wee bit of candy Directions Open plastic eggs, snap bracelets to activate and stuff the bracelets in to the Easter Eggs along with a treat. glow sticks glow in the dark easter eggsHappy Hunting! ~Mavis

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10 Companion Plants to Grow With Beets

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Beets are one of those foods that you either love or hate.  I personally am in the love camp.  I could easily eat beets every day.  I can’t even imagine a garden where I wouldn’t find a place to grow beets.  Because I am such a huge fan of beets and lists, I’ve decided to combine the two into an awesome little companion planting reference.  Well, I think it’s awesome, at least.

broccoli

  1. Broccoli.  Broccoli is just a quiet little neighbor for beets.  It doesn’t cause any trouble.
  2. Mint.  Don’t grow the mint in the ground next to beets. You will regret it.  Mint is an invasive booger, BUT, it is amazing for clipping and using as mulch around the beets to deter pests.
  3. Garlic.  Garlic will help with both flavor and growth of beets.brussels sprouts
  4. Brussels Sprouts.  Brussels Sprouts follow the same good-neighbor principal as broccoli.
  5. Bush Beans.  This is an important distinction.  Bush beans good, pole beans bad.    Bush beans benefit from the amount of magnesium beets leave in the soil.
  6. Cabbage.  Pretty much anything in the cabbage family is safe to plant near beets.purple cauliflower
  7. Cauliflower.  Again, good neighbors.
  8. Chard.  Good neighbors.
  9. Kohlrabi.  Both Kohlrabi and Beets grow better together.
  10. Onions.  Good neighbors.

Are you in the “I heart beets” category?  What do you grow them with?

~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 | Ditch the Gym {Week 12 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 Ditch the Gym

I have a phrase I’ve used for years to describe self-proclaimed gym addicts: Gym Rats. Not sure where I picked that up but it makes me giggle every time. If you fall into that category and truly love the gym, look away. This post will break your heart. Some people really love their gym, and I know I’ll never change their mind. But for those of you dumping money into a membership you never use, listen up. There are some great, much cheaper, alternatives. Here are some of my favorites:
 fit day app

Track It Yourself: Knowledge is power, and knowing how active you are, how many calories you’re burning or eating or how many steps you’re taking makes you much more in control of your health. Consider investing in a Fitbit or simple pedometer or sign up for a free online program like FitDay.com or MyFitnessPal.com. FitDay is great for tracking your calories in vs out and MyFitnessPal is great because you can link up with friend’s accounts and help provide support and encouragement.hiking

Use the Great Outdoors: Take a hike, walk on your local greenbelt or even find a sports stadium and run stairs. If there is a lake or pond near you, you can swim laps for free. Or head to a school near you and use their track. There are also a number of fitness parks popping up where you can do a full circuit-style workout using the equipment throughout the park. Pretty cool if you ask me.

Join a Club: Most cities have biking clubs, running clubs, fencing clubs; you name it and there’s probably a local club you can join. They are typically free and a lot of fun. They’ll meet up a few times a week and normally have different groups with different ability levels. They are great for being encouraging, even if you are a beginner. Might also be a great way to try something new and burn some calories, too.tacoma-st-patricks-day-race-run

Find a Workout Buddy: I like having someone hold me accountable, but it also just makes working out so much more fun. Sometimes the conversation is great and sometimes it’s non-existent if we’re sweating buckets. But just knowing I’m not alone in whatever workout we choose is really helpful.

Find Free Options: Do you have stairs in your house? Run them. A gaming system with a workout game? Play it. A trampoline out back? Jump on it. A walking path in your neighborhood? Run/bike/walk it.  You can also stream a ton of free workout videos with Amazon Prime.yoga dvd

Have Fun: If you are doing something you really enjoy, sometimes you forget you’re working out. I have a friend who gets exercise holding dance parties with her kids in her living room. Do you love to play soccer? Join an adult league. Maybe you love yoga and want to get some friend together for “Yoga in the Park.” Think about the physical activities you love doing anyway. You’ll be doing something you genuinely love to do AND getting your heart rate up at the same time.

Do you frequent a gym? If not, how do you get exercise?

52 Ways to Save $100 a Month

How Much Can You Save: $816 The average monthly gym membership is $68. Times that by 12 months and you are saving over $800 every year!

one hundred dollars $100

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}

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.

Sam’s Club Deal, Snap Circuits, Walking Balloons, Teapigs and More

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if not now

Quote of the Day “If not now, when?

bark chip

Well, it wasn’t bacon that was stuck in Lucy the Trouble Puggle’s throat, it was a piece of bark the size of my thumb. Does YOUR dog eat bark? Maybe she was hunting for cinnamon bark and got confused? All I know is that I’m happy she’s feeling better. Oh Lucy. You’re such a nut!

Roasted-Beets-Tossed-in-Balsamic-Vinegar-with-Pistachios

Last night I whipped up a new recipe, Roasted Beets Tossed in Balsamic Vinegar with Pistachios and it was delicious. I don’t know about you but I LOVE simple sides dishes!!

Have a great day everyone,

♥ Mavis

*This deal post will be updated throughout the morning so be sure and check back for deals. * Amazon prices can change without notice. Please verify price before ordering. Amazon offers Free Shipping with a $49 purchase or Amazon Prime. {Sign up for a free Amazon Prime 30 day trial!}

Swarovski JewelryAmazon Deal of the Day for 3/22/16 – 50-70% Off Swarovski Jewelry

kids toddler bedMore Amazon Daily Deals for 3/22/16

i work better with an audienceAvailable Kindle Books I think look interesting…

The prices on Kindle Books can change quickly, so grab them while you can. Don’t have a Kindle? Download the kindle app on your other devices. It’s easy! 🙂

teapigs
Subscribe and Save Deals

Subscribe and Save prices reflect a 15% discount for ordering 5 or more items in 1 month.

How to Make a Seed Tape

Like perfect little straight rows of green in your garden?  You can Make a Seed Tape so that come planting time, you’ll watch your little seedlings pop up like perfect soldiers standing attention.  Find more cool projects on my Pinterest Board

eating well magazine

Here are a few $5 Magazine Deals I spotted:

custom paitningLong time reader Jill Millward has opened a new Etsy shop where she offers custom original oil paintings. All she needs is a good quality digital image to work from.

Jill, your work is beautiful!!!

seahawks crock potHome and Kitchen Deals

sams clubGroupon is offering a 1-Year Sam’s Club Membership, $20 Gift Card + Dinner Package for just $45!

With the purchase of this Sam’s Club Savings Membership package, you’ll receive:

  • A one-year Sam’s Club Savings membership ($45 value)
  • Complimentary membership card for a spouse or other household member
  • $20 gift card valid for any in-club, online or fuel purchases
  • A family holiday dinner package, including:
    • Main St. Bistro Scalloped Potatoes (40 oz – $6.97 value)
    • Daily Chef Dinner Rolls (36 ct – $4.98 value)
    • $10 off a $12.98 Daily Chef New York–Style Cheesecake (54 oz)
    • $10 off a $19.46 Daily Chef Boneless Spiral Ham (6 to 7 lbs; priced per pound)

New to Groupon? Sign up HERE.

my pet balloon

Oh my word. Have you seen the My Own Pet Animal Farm Party Walking Balloons? Aren’t they a hoot? Amazon has them and they start around $8.15. Lucy would go nuts!!!

bbq-chicken-and-bacon-wrap1

I love me a good wrap for lunch.  I don’t love the deli store price tag, though, so usually I just whip up a quick BBQ Chicken and Bacon Wrap at home. {Pin it for Later.}

rei outlet

REI Outlet Deal of the Day – Men’s REI Classic Fleece Jacket $27.73 {was $70}. REI Members can save an additional 20% off one full price and one outlet item when they use code MEMREWARD16 at checkout.

dr schollsZulily has Dr. Scholl’s on sale today with savings up to 60% off.

red potatoesThinking about planting potatoes in your garden this year? Yes, yes you are! Pop on over to Irish Eyes and Take a look at their seed potato collections. Fingerlings are my favorite!!

prime pantry

If you are an Amazon Prime Member, you can get FREE Prime Pantry shipping {a $5.99 value} when you buy five qualifying items and use promo code PANTRYMAR at checkout.Shop Prime Pantry.

snap circuitsKid’s Stuff

march ebook

If you aren’t really the winter gardening type, take heart, March kicks off gardening season for everyone!  If you’ve been waiting to try out my gardening eBooks, March is the perfect place to start.  It will walk you through everything you need to do to start your gardening season with a bang–both inside and outside the house.

If you really want to map out your next few months of garden chores, go ahead and grab April’s eBook now too.  That way, you can read about gardening, even when the weather is not nice enough to be outside gardening.  All the cool kids eat, sleep and breathe gardening.

uncle bens rice couponsCheck out these New Printable Coupons:

Find More Printable Coupons

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