Top 2 Tuesday - Random Tips!

Top 2 Tips

(money saving tips, beauty tips, DIY tips, cooking tips, cleaning tips, blogging tips, shopping tips etc)

i'm not going to lie - i struggled a little bit with this weeks T2T... its so broad and I could take this in a million different directions.. i am definitely a person who needs structure!

so without further adieu:

1. Make Lists
as we all know - i'm a list maker
but when its not a to-do list
its a shopping list and i do this purely to save money

Grocery Shopping
i make my list based off of what we NEED - essentials [something that we may have run out of from the week before - i.e. dishwasher detergent, lotion, foil], then i make our menu for the week based off of what is on sale, what i have a coupon for and what i already have at home [i stock pile chicken and freeze it - srrsly i could feed a small army right now with the amount of chicken i have]
i typically spend between $35-$45 a week at the grocery store 3 times a month and then 1 time is when i typically stock up on meat [ground turkey when on sale, turkey sausage and brats, and chicken] and that normally ends up costing me about $100
but this way i only buy what is necessary to make the meals for the week along with the necessary items for the house

Target/any other shopping
I have to go into target or any other store [Marshall's/Homegoods/TJ Maxx/Hobby Lobby] with a list - otherwise I could/would/have gone hog wild and not bought anything I NEEDED just merely what I wanted.

Not too long ago my family all went to church together and the sermon was all about contentment - they handed out a plastic card [like your Giant Eagle card] to put on your keys that had this phrase on it - and I love it and often refer to it when I'm out shopping

"Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don't need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity."
Enough by Adam Hamilton

2. Set a Goal and Stick with It

This past spring I trained for a 1/2 marathon - and not being a runner - i had some doubts about actually running the race, however i knew that i had paid $65 for the race - and I knew that i needed to do it to get my moneys worth.
sometimes just spending the money is that much more of a motivator for me. you don't want to bow out of something after you have an investment in something

Honorable Mention

I read this one in Real Simple -


you should never fight with your boyfriend/husband unless you are nakey
the person who wrote into RS said that any argument between her and her husband do not last very long...

I do not practice this myself but its too funny not to include on this kind of a post
[don't worry mom, grandma and great grandma who all read my blog!]



Now head on over to Taylor's blog and look at other bloggers helpful hints!