My grandparents lived through the Great Depression, and their practical, no-nonsense approach to living still holds valuable lessons today. Their philosophy was simple: waste nothing, reuse everything, save every nickel, and grow your own food whenever possible to cut costs. While times have certainly changed, rising grocery prices—continuing to climb at over 3% annually—make it more crucial than ever for families to reevaluate their budgets. If you're ready for the challenge of saving every penny, here are some timeless tips. Call me frugal, but these methods, passed down through generations, truly make a difference.

1. Lower Your Thermostat:

Turn your thermostat down and layer up with warm clothing or a cozy blanket. You’d be amazed at how many people keep their homes excessively warm. A comfortable and cost-efficient temperature is around 68°F. (I’ve even heard of people keeping their homes at 80°F and was shocked at their electric bills!)

2. If You Use Wood Heat:

• Check with local landfills—they often receive wood from storm damage and may allow you to take it (you might need to cut it yourself). Not all landfills offer this, but it’s worth asking.
• Visit lumberyards and inquire if they have wood scraps available. Many cut-offs from customer orders go unused. My grandparents used to collect truckloads of these scraps!
• Consider placing an ad offering to clean up wood or debris from recently cleared land. Many property owners are overwhelmed by the mess left after tree removal or wood harvesting and may welcome your help.
• Make paper bricks! Gather unused paper (flyers, newspapers, magazines), cut it into brick shapes, soak it in water, and layer piece by piece. Use heavy pressure to squeeze out the water and let it dry for 24 hours. Once dry, these paper bricks burn similarly to wood. You don’t need fancy equipment—just compress the paper and keep it simple!
• Look online for free wood chip delivery services. It’s an excellent resource during the winter months, and yes, it’s free!

3. Washing and Drying Clothes:

Wash your clothes on cold to save energy. (I even have a homemade laundry detergent recipe in my book!) During the winter, dry clothes indoors whenever possible to conserve utilities. Some utility companies offer discounts for using electricity during off-peak hours, typically early in the morning (e.g., from 3 a.m. to 4 a.m.—check with your provider for specifics). If you notice a sudden jump in your utility bill, call your company to inspect the meter. This service is often free and can help identify issues, such as inefficient appliances or high-energy usage areas. For us, this saved $75 immediately!

4. Barter for Services:

Bartering is an excellent way to save money. If you know someone in your neighborhood who’s a skilled tradesperson and you have something they need, propose a trade. Bartering not only builds community but also helps both parties save cash. Don’t be afraid to ask—the worst they can say is "no." Negotiation is part of the process, so keep an open mind and work towards a solution that benefits both sides. I’ve successfully bartered for several services, and it’s been a wonderful experience.

These tips might require some effort and creativity, but they can make a significant difference in lowering your expenses. Times may be tough, but with persistence and resourcefulness, you can save more than you think. Start small, implement what works for you, and see the savings add up!

 

 

 

We take immense pride in our adaptability and unwavering commitment to excellence in every area of life. We constantly challenge ourselves to strive for the best. However, when things don’t go as planned or a disagreement arises, how do you react? Are you overly critical of yourself? Do you push harder? Or do you step back, regroup, and finish what you started with renewed focus? I’m talking about every aspect of your life—not just work, sports, or relationships.

Have you ever paused in those moments and asked yourself, “What am I learning from this?” I mean truly asked, from a place of honesty and introspection—from your soul. Over the years, I’ve embraced this practice, and the growth I’ve experienced has been transformative. It has brought clarity to my relationships, helped me understand my emotional reactions, humbled me with life’s lessons, and allowed me to forgive and heal faster than I ever thought possible. My ability to trust has deepened, my emotional balance has strengthened, and I’ve become more aligned with the flow of life. Decision-making feels more effortless because I trust that abundance follows when I listen to my intuition.

Let me share an example. Imagine being in a debate with someone. Instead of focusing on defending your position, you stop and ask yourself, “What am I learning right now?” Here’s what that might look like:

• I’m learning to be more compassionate.
• I’m learning to be more understanding.
• I’m learning to listen more attentively.
• I’m learning to practice patience.

By shifting your perspective, you turn the situation into an opportunity for growth and connection. You can show more compassion by understanding the other person’s perspective and circumstances. If patience is needed, taking a step back and returning to the conversation later is perfectly fine—just communicate that it’s about centering yourself, not about them. Once the issue is resolved, you’ll feel lighter, more at peace, and more aligned. Over time, this process becomes second nature, and the emotional and physical healing you experience—yes, sometimes even a tingling sensation—can be profoundly rewarding.

 

 

Lately shopping has begun to be a challenge for even the thriftiest shoppers so here are some basic rules I find that save me hundreds of dollars shopping!

 

1. DON'T SHOP HUNGRY!

One study found that hungry shoppers spend up to 60% more — and not just on food. You'd be better off grabbing a couple bananas first it gives you some energy for all the shopping and your full.

 

2. SHOP WITH A LIST

Stick to it as much as humanly possible but be flexible enough to swap items if a better deal pops up.

 

3. PLAN YOUR LIST BASED ON SALES, & YOUR MEAL PLAN

Check your store's weekly ad (flyer or website) and build your meal plan around what's on sale.

 

4. GO FOR THE LOSS LEADERS

These are the deeply discounted items designed to lure you into the store. When they're that cheap, stock up! Go early in the morning for deep discounts on meat (before 9 am!)

 

5. TIME YOUR TRIP WISELY

Avoid shopping at the beginning of the month and right before holidays. Stores tend to raise prices when they know the crowds — especially seniors and other who get monthly checks — are coming. (Know your store discounts some still have double coupons and senior discounts!)  Meat departments of larger stores clearance meat towards the end of the month too!

 

6. KNOW YOUR PRICES (online vs instore can be different!)

Keep a written record of the regular price per unit for items you buy most often. That way, you'll know whether a sale is actually a bargain or just clever marketing. Aldi is known for increasing the online per item prices)

 

7. BUY IN SEASON

Fruits and veggies are at their best quality — and lowest price — when they're in season. 

 

8. SHOP WITH CASH

Bring only what you've budgeted for this trip. If you stumble across a fabulous bargain and don't have enough, you can always go back. Shopping with cash keeps you from overspending — studies show that when you use plastic, you spend 30% more. (I always check my cart before checkout and see what I actually need vs want it has saved me hundreds of dollars!)

 

9. TRACK YOUR SPENDING AS YOU SHOP

Use your phone or a pocket calculator to keep a running total of what's in your cart. No surprises at checkout!

 

10. BE A CHERRY PICKER! I grab the bargains of multiple stores and leave. I don't need to shop for other bargains. I know what I want and get out; especially if the stores are all within two miles of each other it makes sense! I'm saving over $100.+  Rotating between your cheapest local stores lets you grab real bargains.

 

11. SHOP AT LARGER STORES

Bigger stores can have lower prices thanks to volume discounts but thanks to competition like Aldi and Lidl prices are starting to come down for consumers.

 

12. FIND A BAKERY OUTLET

These discount stores can have amazing deals — if you don't like baking. Actually, making them yourself is still cheaper buying in bulk and using substitution can cut costs down even more!

 

13. CHECK OUT SALVAGE STORES

Dented cans and mislabels can mean major savings. Just inspect items carefully. (I shop here first!)

As we all know tariffs are taxes applies to goods based on the geographic location that they came from. The tax is imposed as a percentage of the total cost of the product (including freight and insurance).  Which gets passed down to the consumer.  With each increase in tariffs the consumer pays more.  If we are in a recession (A common rule of thumb is that two consecutive quarters of negative gross domestic product (GDP) growth indicate a recession).

Some indicators are:

• A recession is a significant, pervasive, and persistent decline in economic activity.
• Economists measure a recession's length from the prior expansion's peak to the downturn's trough.
• Recessions may last as little as two quarters, but the economy may not recover to its former peak for years.
• An inverted yield curve has predicted the last 10 recessions, although some predicted recessions never materialized.
• Unemployment often remains high well into an economic recovery, so the early stages of a rebound can feel like a continuing recession for many.
• Nations use fiscal and monetary policies to limit the risks of a recession.

Our Last recession was the start of Covid-19 where we all experienced the economic shock and experienced the recession in 2020 and we are starting to wonder and we going to have another recession now. 

With the unemployment rising and businesses cutting back on employees and consumers cutting their cash purchasing and charging more the indications are saying yes, we are heading towards another recession. With debt the highest in every age group currently.

The stock market is dropping consistently and depending on who you listen to and their political party preference you could be hearing the wrong information.  I try to stay neutral to show you only facts.

Avoiding a Great Depression:

During the Great Depression, U.S. economic output fell 33%, stocks plunged 80%, and unemployment hit 25%.

 During the 1937-38 recession, real GDP fell 10% while unemployment jumped to 20%.

So, how do we avoid having another great depression?

• Minimizing our debt
• Having a strong workforce with a fair wage
• Bringing back Manufacturing in America
• Having American consumers choose to buy American goods.

Today, April 2, 2025 the Tariffs took effect, and the stock market dropped dramatically over 1600 points.  

With multiple countries deciding to unite and retaliate with counter-tariffs on American goods and not allow American tourist in the countries. I personally felt a great sadness because I would love to see the other countries and experience their rich history and culture.  I understand it is nothing personal nor is it forever.