ethicalurthling-blog

[ethicalurthling-blog]

“Just you wait!”

When I was pregnant an unbelievable amount of people couldn’t wait to tell me, “Just wait until he is here. All that stuff you think you’ll do will go out the window.” They would laugh and mock me for stating the ways in which I wanted to parent.

“You’ll change your tune about cloth diapers real quick once you have to deal with poop.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. We love cloth diapering. We love how economically and environmentally friendly they are and we love knowing our son isn’t sitting in chemicals 24 hours a day.

Do you love the convenience of disposable diapers? Cool! I’m sincerely glad you found something that works for you. Absolutely no judgement.

“Wooden toys? 😂 You’ll have a million brand new plastic toys just like the rest of us, you just wait.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. My son has a hand full of plastic toys, almost all were purchased second hand... but the vast majority of his toys, and the ones that he prefers, are wooden. We really enjoy the durability and heirloom quality of wooden toys and find their simplicity and open ended concept to work best with our philosophy as parents.

Does your child own mostly plastic toys? Totally fine! I bet they have a blast playing with them. Absolutely no judgement.

“When you realize how hard breast feeding is you’ll be excited to last 6 weeks. That formula starts looking reaaallll good.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. My son and I have absolutely loved our breastfeeding journey and hope to continue for as long as he desires and my body will allow. He’s never had a drop of formula and I hope he never has to.

Do you formula feed your baby? What a great mom you are, making sure your child is fed and comfortable. Absolutely no judgement.

“Limited screen time- HA!”

It’s been nearly 7 months. My son is still so young this isn’t really relevant yet but even so, I’m very mindful of making sure he sees me reading, being creative, cooking, and doing practical life chores. I’m living by example that there is much more to life than staring at a screen and certainly much more valuable uses of our time.

Do you allow your child unlimited screen time? I bet they get a lot of enjoyment out of that freedom and no one can blame you for enjoying a bit of peace and quiet. Absolutely no judgement.

“You’ll see you don’t have time for homemade baby food once you actually have a baby to chase around. You’ll be buying stock in Gerber like the rest of us.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. I’ve so enjoyed trying to make creatively flavored “pouches” for my son as well as watching him explore with baby led weaning. I’m not above the very rare occasional convenience of organic food marketed toward babies, but I’ve really loved preparing his food from scratch and don’t fathom a future where his diet will come from jars.

Do you feed your baby conventional jars of baby food? My mom fed me that too, she said the fruit was pretty good! Absolutely no judgement.

“We all *want* to read to our kids but if you think that’s something you’ll actually have the energy for every day, you’re in for a rude awakening...”

It’s been nearly 7 months. My son has been read at least one story before bed since he was born. It’s such a fun and relaxing way to settle down and bond before bed. I hope to always make this a priority so long as he enjoys it.

Do you struggle to find the time to read to your kids? I know it’s hard being a busy parent, I realize how lucky I am to have that opportunity each evening. Absolutely no judgement.

“You want to roomshare for a year or more? Hahaha, by four months you’ll be kicking that baby to the other end of the house and begging for normalcy so you don’t have to tip toe around.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. My son has never slept a night in another room, often times he ends up bed sharing at some point during the night... and I have loved the comfort and security it brings knowing he is close.

Did you need to put your child in a separate room so you could get good quality sleep? I totally get that. You’re a much better mother when you’re well rested. Absolutely no judgement.

“Against the cry it out method? I assure you it’s the only way you’ll ever sleep again, trust me... you’ll cave.”

It’s been nearly 7 months. We do our best not to allow our son to ever cry any longer than we have to. It’s biologically normal behavior to desire closeness to your mother at this critical stage in development to feel secure. We will continue to follow his lead with gentle sleep encouragement- providing a full belly, cozy clothes, and a consistent bedtime routine.

Did you sleep train your child? So many people do, you’re certainly not alone. All parents need to act in a way that they believe is best for their children. Absolutely no judgement.

This is only a small example of actual things that were said to me either before I had a child or while I was pregnant. Guess what? I’m exactly the kind of mother I thought I would be, and I am so very proud of that.

I’m fully aware that as my son gets older he will start leading and I will become his avid follower. I may discourage certain behaviors, the consumption of meat, for example, but I’m well aware that he is his own being and will make these decisions for himself. Our guidance must be laced with compassion, understanding, and most importantly, flexibly. With this awareness, I will be exactly the mother I thought I would be.

It’s not kind to discourage people in regards parenthood. These remarks drip of arrogance and insecurity. If you’re someone that finds yourself inclined to offer a “you just wait” statement, I would encourage you to take a step back and look inward and reflect on where that desire to voice belittlement is stemming from.

Perhaps instead, when someone talks about their dreams and desires around parenthood, you could be a force of encouragement. New mothers and fathers do not need critics and coaches... they need cheerleaders. They need gentleness, compassion, faith and mercy.

Parenthood is an evolution. I will morph and change as my son teaches me how to be his mother... but the essence of my parenting will remain unwavering and I will continue to be exactly the kind of mother I said I would be.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

Watermelon Juice!

Nothing screams summer more than fresh watermelon juice and it couldn’t be easier to make!

All you need is a lemon, watermelon, a blender, a nut milk bag, and mint for garnish or infusion.

Start by cutting up your watermelon and tossing it in the blender, seeds and all.

After you’ve blended, line a bowl with your nutmilk bag and pour in your watermelon juice!

Squeeze out the liquid and the fiber will be left in the bag so all you have is silky smooth liquid!

Add the juice from a lemon to the container you’re storing your juice in and throw in some mint leaves if desired.

Enjoy!

Happy summer!

[ethicalurthling-blog]

2018 BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE!

BUDGET

In order to keep things from getting out of hand this season of giving, it’s really important you create a realistic shopping budget for the holidays. 

I do this by using the app Qapitol. This is my second year using this app and it’s seriously been a life saver. If you use this link you’ll get $5 just for signing up. (Who doesn’t love a company that gives you money?) The reason I love Qapitol so much is that you get to custom tailor it to suit your individual needs and meet your individual goals. You can do the common “round-up” deposit which rounds up your purchases and applies your loose change to your goal. For example, if you bought gas for $23.98, Qapitol would deposit 2 cents into the goal account of your choosing. Lots of apps do this. What makes Qapitol unique is that it has a “rules” function. If you shop at a particular store or eat at a fast food restaurant, for example, you can set custom rules as consequences to these purchases. Maybe you created a goal savings account called “Tummy Tuck” and set a rule that if you eat at McDonald’s, it automatically deposits $2 into your goal account. So, you set it and forget it. Go about your life and then, sure enough, every time you eat at McDonald’s, you’re $2 closer to affording that tummy tuck. Of course, in this article, we are talking about holiday budgeting and Christmas shopping, and personally, this is what I primarily utilize this app for. 

I have a goal account called “Christmas” and I have several rules set up to deposit various amounts of money into the account depending on what my purchases were. I deposit $3 every time I make an Amazon purchase and $2 every time I get Starbucks. I have other purchase rules as well, but those are the ones that contribute to my account the most. I do not acknowledge this account in my day-to-day life. You can transfer the funds out at anytime very easily but Qapitol will also send you a debit card so if you do decide to set up a Christmas account and save all year like I do and you decided that the $721, or whatever sum you’ve accumulated, in that account, come Christmas time is all you’re going to spend on the holidays, you can very easily just use that debit card. That way, when the funds are gone, they’re gone. Your personal debit card and every-day budget completely separate and unaffected. 

This is a great tip and awesome resource to start utilizing for next year, but obviously THIS year you’ll need to look at your own personal account balances and income and determine a realistic budget for 2018.

PLAN

The first thing you need to do when thinking about saving money this shopping season is PLAN. This means write a detailed list out of all the people you need to shop for and anything else you may need for yourself. 

I always start by creating a list of all my family and friends that I know I need to Christmas shop for. From there, I will look at my budget and start breaking it down per person. While I’m doing this I am also accounting for any shopping I want to do for myself. I generally have a separate budget for myself but if you don’t, please do consider your own needs.

An example of what I budget for myself is that every single year I know that I buy ALL of my lotions, hand soaps, and wallflowers (air fresheners) for the year on Black Friday during Bath and Body Works sale. You can’t beat the deals, even at their semi-annual sales. I go through long periods where I won't use these products myself because I simply prefer something a little more natural, but I have found that these are fantastic to keep on hand for small gifts throughout the year. You know, all the unexpected things... like you just realized your co-workers birthday is this week, it’s teachers appreciation day, or someone just needs a “thinking of you” pick-me-up. Utilizing and acknowledging this sale every November means I have planned for these unexpected expenses in a way that saves me a ton of money, time, and stress.

Know the list of stores you need to go to, what you want to buy, how much you plan to spend etc. 

BLACKFRIDAY.COM

BlackFriday.com is a site you can see all the sales ads you could ever want and need in ONE location. It makes planning quite a bit easier. You can compare different stores prices and map out where you want to shop. I do ALL of my Black Friday shopping online so this is a great resource for making sure I know exactly where I am going for what product before the day arrives to ensure I don’t get met with the words “sold out” reflected back at me when looking at the screen.

If you’re one of those people that love the thrill of waking up at 3am and getting those major in-store deals, this is where you’ll want to go to determine what stores have what doorbusters and where you need to be!

EBATES

Seriously, if you’re not utilizing Ebates yet, where on Earth have you been?!?

Ebates is an online platform in which you use to do ALL of your online shopping. Very simply, stores pay them a commission for sending their members to their websites, they then share part of that commission with you via cash back!

If you look at the above image, you’ll see that I’ve made $235.41 cash back off purchases that I would have made anywhere. I NEVER do any online shopping without first going through Ebates.

Utilizing cash back opportunities stretches your budget and allows your money to go further. Furthermore, online shopping is far more efficient than aimlessly browsing at brick and mortar stores, the gifts arrive at your home in boxes ready to wrap, and you can do it from the comfort of your big cozy bed while wearing fleece pajamas and sipping hot cocoa.

Win-Win-Win.

RETAIL ME NOT

Much like Ebates, Retail Me Not will offer cash back on purchases but I honestly think Ebates is way more lucrative for this. What I really love to use Retail Me Not for is their coupon codes.

So, when I’m ready to get down to some serious online shopping business, I will log into my Ebates account and browse the stores through there. When I am ready to check out in Ebates, I will open another tab in my internet browser and go to Retail Me Not. I’ll quickly type in the name of the store I’m about to check out at and see if they have any coupon codes that may be applicable to my order. If so, I hop back over to my Ebates tab, insert the copied coupon code, and check out.

Now I have saved money with a coupon code AND earned cash back on my purchase. Where this becomes REALLY powerful, is when it is strategically combined with sales. You won’t believe the amount of money you save by using these two resources in combination with a special holiday or store sale.

DON’T BE FOOLED BY CYBER MONDAY!

Yes, you will still get amazing deals on Cyber Monday online. There is no doubt about it. However, the best deals are and always have been, generally speaking, on Black Friday. 

Many people get fooled into thinking they should wait for Monday to do their shopping since they don’t want to go out into the madness that is retail brick and mortar shopping. Wrong. Most/many of those amazing deals in the ads are also online! 

If you see something you want/need, buy it on Black Friday! If by small chance you see it at a deeper discount the following Monday, simply cancel or return your Black Friday purchase and purchase it again for the lower price on Cyber Monday. 

DON’T IGNORE THE MONTH-LONG SALES!

Just as important as not being fooled by Cyber Monday, don’t be fooled by Black Friday! 

The entire month of November is littered with sales from every retailer you can possibly imagine. Sometimes you’ll find that something on your list is featured at a deep discount two weeks before Thanksgiving. Often times, this item will NOT be included in the Black Friday sale. 

I can’t tell you how many times I saw things on my shopping list on sale and thought, “Well, I’ll just wait until Black Friday, I bet the price will be even lower then.” This thought was only followed by disappointment, of course, as it was either not as deeply discounted the day after Thanksgiving, or it wasn’t included in the sale at all. Another thing that has happened is that by the time Black Friday rolls around, that item is no longer in stock... as it had been sold out during the previous sale.

I no longer make this mistake... I buy it when I see the price drop significantly. Then, as part of my planning for Black Friday, after I’m done making my designated competitive purchases, I have a list of the items that I’ve bought all month to check and see if the price is better. If it is, I simply do as I would with Cyber Monday and cancel/return for the better price. 

CASH BACK STORE DEBITS

Many companies offer store debit cards now in place of credit cards, the pioneer for this, as far as I know, is Target.

While I wouldn’t really ever suggest using credit cards, I can get behind debit cards that give you a little something back when you purchase at their associated store. Target, for example, gives an additional 5% off your purchase! Bonus- If you are a Target cardholder, Black Friday specials open up early giving you first dibs on those hot items that will quickly sell out!

MANY SALES ACTUALLY START ON THANKSGIVING!

This is true for soooo many stores! Many times you’ll see that a store actually launches their Black Friday sale on Thanksgiving, many times in the evening. If not the evening of Thanksgiving, at midnight on Black Friday. I know that WalMart is one of the major retailers that launches their sale the day before. This year the sale starts in store at 6pm on Thursday and actually online even earlier at 10pm on Wednesday!

PLAN ALL YEAR FOR MAJOR PURCHASES!

Black Friday, or the month surrounding it, is when I plan to buy major purchases like kitchen appliances, etc. I have saved THOUSANDS of dollars over the years doing this. Combining the sales with RetailMeNot and Ebates rewards me with a big fat check too! 

If you notice in July that your dishwasher may be on it’s way out, plan to buy a new one on Black Friday! This not only allows you to budget accordingly, but it will give you deep discounts you won't see at any other point during the year. 

This year, my partner and I know that we “need” a new TV, a new vacuum, a deep freezer, and a plethora of expensive baby gear for our expected arrival in the new year. We’ve been putting aside money since May knowing that we would be spending thousands of dollars on Black Friday to make these purchases. Sure, we are spending a lot at once, but we are saving way more by waiting for the biggest shopping sales day of the year. What’s more, we are prepared for it because we’ve been planning for months and months. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on frugality, debt reduction, and conscious living… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

10 Habits For A More Conscious Life...

1. Composting

Composting is such an easy thing to do in day to day life. I think many people have this idea that its time consuming, smelly, or complicated. I promise you, it is exactly NONE of those things. 

Collecting it couldn’t be simpler. I have one of these countertop compost buckets that I fill up with nitrogen-rich fruit and vegetable scraps as I’m preparing meals. I also throw in paper products such as junk mail and newspapers as to be my carbon source. 

When the bucket is filled myself, or most commonly, my partner will take it outside to the compost pile. We keep a shovel sticking out if it and whenever we have new scraps to deposit, we dig a little hold, toss them in, and cover. The entire process takes less than five minutes and we do it about once a week depending. 

If you’re in an apartment with a patio or a small lot in suburbia, they make compost tumblers that are perfect for you! This is what I had when I lived in a more traditional neighborhood and it worked great. 

If you have some land, like I do now, literally just start throwing it in a pile somewhere on the property as previously stated. 

Some cities even offer composting programs where you can put your scraps by the curb to be collected by waste management or have drop sites you can donate your compost to be used in local gardens, etc. 

Regardless of your set up, composting is very manageable to easy to do! Your compost should never smell either. Compost smells like dirt, even before and while it’s breaking down when done correctly. 

2. Plastic Reduction

Plastic reduction is something we can all and SHOULD all be doing. Rather than buying plastic food storage containers that actually leach into your food, buy glass containers. Rather than plastic straws, buy reusable stainless steel ones. 

It always drives me completely nuts when I see people buying cases of water. WHAT?!!?! Have you not been watching the news, my sweet friend, plastic is killing our ocean life and takes over 500 years to break down. It NEVER decomposes, only breaks down into microscopic pieces. It’s kind of a major deal. 

Invest in a fun and functional reusable water bottle and refill it using some sort of reusable water filtering pitcher. The filters are replaceable and last for months so not only will you save money but you’ll be helping out mother Earth as well. 

There are a million and one ways to reduce your plastic usages. Take your own bags to the grocery store, or at least request paper bags at check out. Skip the plastic produce bags or again, you could bring your own mesh bags. You can even bring mason jars for bulk items.

Every step forward is progress. Think about the impact it would have on the world if every single citizen just committed to making ONE permanent change in their effort to reduce plastic consumption. 

3. Gardening

Gardening is one of those simple pleasures in life that really only rewards us. 

If you live in a home with limited outdoor space, consider growing a few little things in pots. If you have land to utilize, do as much as you feel compelled to do! 

There are so many different methods of gardening. You can do a potted patio garden or a raised bed garden on a manicured lawn. There are strawbale gardens and hydroponic gardens. You can even till up an entire field and become a regular farmer!

No matter what way you go about it, it will teach you an appreciation of where your food comes from and reward you for your efforts! 

4. Food Preservation

Food preservation goes hand in hand with gardening. The more you grow, the more you can preserve! Typically, any one plant will overproduce making it impossible for a single person or even small family to consume all the produce before it starts to decompose and go bad. This is when preservation comes in handy! 

Of course, there are several ways to preserve the fruit of your labors for a later date. You could freeze them, can them, or even freeze-dry them... my favorite, however, is dehydration. I have a whole article I wrote about it here. 

5. Spending Time In Nature

This one is simple and free. Just go spend time in nature. Whether you decide to sit cross-legged in the front yard or tackle a huge hike, you will benefit from spending time in nature. 

Nature is full of healing vibrational energy we tend to ignore in our cement boxes and high rise palaces. To get the most from your time in nature, connect skin to soil. This is called grounding and it comes with a whole host of benefits. 

6. Carpool

Carpooling seems like a given but so many people forget about the concept in their busy lives! 

Now that you’ve been reminded, get with your friends and neighbors and see how you can implement this practice into your life. Maybe you can carpool to work, school, or extracurricular activities? You never know until you take the time to explore it in your own life. 

7. Reducing Drive Time

This is similar to carpooling in that the goal is to reduce your carbon footprint via car emissions. 

Make this a challenge for yourself. If you live out in the sticks like I do and the closest real town is 30 minutes away, this almost becomes necessity. 

If you know you have to go to the dentist and you always head into town to grocery shop on Tuesdays, try and schedule your dentist appointment for a Tuesday!

8. Intentional Speaking

This is one of the easiest ways you can start to live more consciously. 

Speak intentionally. That’s it. We’ve heard it a million times... “Think before you speak.”

Make a conscious effort to actually do just that. Before anything comes out of your mouth ask yourself if it is true, beneficial, and kind. Let that be the guide.

The less we speak, often the more we say... and the more we undoubtedly listen.

9. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Before throwing anything away ask yourself if you can reuse it or recycle it. 

Before purchasing anything, ask yourself if you can find something used that will do the trick.

10. Dial Back Consumption

This is sooo important for so many reasons. It will only benefit you! Stop buying things you do not need. Every single product on this planet has a footprint. Every purchase you make contributes to that. Furthermore, it clutters up your home, your mind, and costs you money. 

Consume more consciously. Make an effort to only buy things you NEED rather than anything you WANT. Of course, you can still buy things you want and desire, but doing so with a more limited approach will make you appreciate those things that much more. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on conscious living and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

Boost Hair Color Inexpensively and Naturally WITH JUICE!

In a society where it is more common for women hair than it is to go natural, I thought this would be a fun post to make and promote trying something a bit different. Why not an all natural semi-permanent way to enhance your hair?

Did you know you can use all natural fruit and vegetable juices to color or tint your hair? This is WAY more earth conscious as you get to avoid all those nasty chemicals and gasses! 

High-end doggy spas have been offering these services for years to transform your pets luscious locks. If it works on your furry friends, why wouldn’t it work on you?

For example, beets are incredibly pigmented and will stain anything they touch pink! Apply straight beet juice to dark hair for a cherry cola finish or on blonde hair for the super trendy pastel pink!

Blackberries and blueberries would give a cool purple or blue tint. Applied correctly to blond hair, it could even act as a toner and temporarily counteract that brass!  

Carrots and tomatoes can be used to add warmth and vibrancy in strawberry blondes or ladies with copper locks. I’m a natural redhead and find this really adds shine and brightness to my hair!

The possibilities are truly endless and because of the temporary results, you can try different combinations without a huge commitment. This makes fast work of finding a combination that works for you and something you would want to incorporate into a haircare maintenance routine.

So what do you need to get started? Most simply, a juicer or blender. Essentially you’re looking to pulverize the fruit or vegetables into a liquid that can be applied to the hair.

For the evenest application, I recommend using a coloring brush and bowl. You’ll also want to protect your skin and clothes. Here is a reusable kit of everything you need to play with plant-dyes again and again!

On dry hair, starting at the bottom, pull out only small sections to work on at a time. Generously and evenly apply the juice or mash to the hair using a hair coloring brush. Once you've completed one section, pull out another section just above it. Do this until you’ve covered your entire head.

Allow the color to sit on your hair for as long as you can tolerate. I recommend an hour for the most vibrancy and deposit.

After one hour, rinse your hair and wash as usual. Make sure you're using a color safe, paraben free, gentle shampoo and conditioner. Style as usual.

The color should last through several washes, at least a couple weeks, dulling a little each time as is typical with semi-permanent colors. The good news? Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins and nutrients so doing this often will only benefit your hair! 

If you’re looking for a mild effect, try mixing the juice into a bowl of conditioner and apply it that way. This will dilute the deposit a bit.

Another tip is to buy when the produce is on sale and freeze util you’re ready to use! You don’t need them to taste good, you just want the pigment. 

Whether you’re looking for something wild and fun or just to add a little life to your dull locks, we would love to see if you try this at home! make sure you post your photos on social media and tag us at @ethicalurthling!

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on health, homeopathy and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

HOW TO BECOME DEBT-FREE FAST!

Did you know that the average United States household carries $137,063 in debt, according to the Federal Reserve's latest numbers? This reality is made even sadder by the fact that the U.S. Census Bureau reports that the median household income was just over $59,000 last year. 

Americans are living far beyond their means.

When you decide enough is enough and you sit down to face reality and really examine your budget, the amount of debt staring back at you can be incredibly scary! 

DO NOT RUN IN FEAR! Attack it head-on. You too can become debt free and I’m going to give you FIVE quick tips that I utilized to get out from under nearly $200,000 in debt FAST! 

1. DRAIN YOUR SAVINGS

Drain your savings down to $1000 and apply the balance to your lowest debts. Okay, I know this one is scary! If that number is too small for you or you have other legitimate reasons why it is imperative you keep a higher dollar amount in savings, by all means, use your best judgment. One thousand dollars is typically more than you’d need in case of an unforeseen emergency though and you can throw that money at debt, knocking it out faster and reducing the amount of interest you’ll pay.

I had a plentiful savings account and because of that thought that I was financially responsible. Laughable really, when you consider the mortgage, car loan, and consumer debt I had been sitting on. I utilized my savings account to pay off my smaller debts like my car note, which I was only maintaining for credit building purposes, and a home improvement debt of $8000 that I only took on because I bought into the whole “12 months, 0% interest” bull. Regardless of how I found myself in debt, I was determined to get out of it, and that was the fastest way!

Don’t have a savings account? A lot of people don't. Try the other tips!

2. USE YOUR ASSETS

Use your assets to make you money on the side! Do you own a vehicle? Utilize companies like Lyft and Uber to make some money in your spare time! Do you own a house? List rental spaces on Airbnb or Home Away. These are easy companies to get involved with and treat their independent contractors amazingly!

When I was paying off debt, as I said before, I drained my savings to get out from under it. I wanted to quickly replenish my account so I listed every spare room, my living room couches, and even my backyard on Airbnb. Many nights I would have an entire house full of people! I couldn’t believe men, women, and families were paying me to sleep on my couch or put a tent up in my suburban backyard, but they were! The process of it all was very simple, the company is very reputable, I ALWAYS felt safe and I made some significant cash FAST with very little effort!

3. SELL YOUR UNWANTED POSSESSIONS

This is probably my favorite tip because it benefits you in so many ways! Not only will you make extra money, but you will declutter and minimalize at the same time!

Sort through every single drawer, cabinet, closet, nook, and cranny. Touch every single object and determine whether or not you benefit from it being in your life. If the answer is no, put it in a sale pile, EVEN IF YOU THINK NO ONE WILL WANT IT! They will, I promise. It’s actually kind of mind-blowing.

If you have enough at the end of the process you can host an estate sale, otherwise hit up craigslist and your local Facebook yard sale pages and get to posting!

I made tens of thousands of dollars doing this. No, I’m not kidding. I got serious about it and sorted through every single item that I owned. For me, I knew I wanted to get rid of far more than I kept so I designated one room of my house to be a KEEP room. You may want to do the opposite and have a designated SELL room. At the end of the process, I had an estate sale. I hired an actual estate sale company to come in, set it up, advertise, etc. They took 30% off the top but I walked away with a ton of money! Another option, of course, is to do it entirely alone and save that 30%.  

What’s more? A year later, I did it AGAIN! I didn’t have a company come out, but I had a moving sale that would blow your mind! I posted on all the facebook yard sale pages and craigslist and had an indoor yard sale where I had a constant slew of people coming in and shopping my unwanted goods, many times, paying more for them than I did. CRAZY!

4. SIDE HUSTLE

Get yourself a side hustle! Whether it’s opening up an Etsy shop to sell your homemade items, delivering pizzas on the weekend, baking holiday cookies and selling them on Facebook, or applying to freelance with companies like UpWork and Fivver, get yourself a side hustle! Make money wherever you can, every dollar counts!

I’m a crafty and artistic person by nature so my side hustles doubled as my creative outlets. THIS IS THE BEST KIND! I decided I would make and sell quilts, soaps, bath bombs, and other various items of the like. 

I know of people that would do peoples Christmas wrapping or address Holiday cards. One of my girlfriends even posted someone else's items for sale on eBay, whatever she sold, she got to keep 10%. When my partner was younger he would pick up handyman and lawn care jobs for a little extra cash. 

Get creative and have fun! There are a billion and one ways to make extra money if you just think to offer it.

5. SNOWBALL

Snowballing is so important when it comes to debt reduction. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it simply means to pay off the smallest balance first. Once you’ve paid that off, move to the next smallest balance. This acts as a reward system of sorts and does amazing things for our psyche and helps us keep moving forward with our goal.

This is SO MOTIVATING! Once I had drained a bit out of my savings and paid off the smaller debts, I was washed with a feeling of “BRING IT ON!”

It becomes a challenge and a game of sorts... seeing how much extra money you can come up with and how fast you can meet little goals. 

I’m a minimalist and knew I wanted to live in a tiny house so for me, the sky was the limit and I was willing to make sacrifices that many wouldn’t view as practical in their lives. For example, I sold my house, made some money off equity and used that to purchase land and build a custom tiny home outright. I knew I could live tiny happily and while doing so I would still hustle and bring in significant income that I could hoard away and later pay cash for a new family sized home.

Obviously, that isn’t for everyone, but you can certainly pay off everything except your mortgage and then work your butt off to meet your monthly goal of a double mortgage payment. Or, perhaps your biggest debt isn’t a house but a student loan, the same applies. 

You can find money EVERYWHERE, you just have to be willing to look! 

I took a look at my Verizon cell phone bill of over $110/month and realized I was paying for an unlimited plan when I only used 2gb of data each month. With a 5 minute search on google, I realized I could switch to Straight Talk, that uses Verizon towers, and pay $35/month and never feel any difference! SO, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I DID! Sure, I could afford the higher phone plan... but why would I?! 

Another example is car insurance. I was paying nearly $1500/year to State Farm for car insurance when with about 20 minutes passively on my phone, I had switched to Esurance where I received the EXACT SAME COVERAGE, literally identical, for HALF THE PRICE!

Stop paying $140 for cable and switch to Netflix for $7.99/month.

Stop ALL subscriptions to monthly boxes, memberships you don’t use, and magazines you barely skim through. 

Download the Every Dollar app on your phone and actually make a strict budget for yourself each month! This alone will save you a TON of money, just by holding yourself accountable! 

Read this article I wrote about things you should never have to buy or this article on how to save big money during the holidays!

Utilize companies like grove collaborative that give you a ton of FREE product with a small $20 first purchase on things you’ll actually use, like laundry soap or dishwashing detergent. 

Download a debt reduction app on your phone where you can see who you own and how much. Usually, they will take interest and such into account. It’s so gratifying when one is marked paid off!

You can get out of debt and you can do it FAST... all it takes is dedication and effort! 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on frugality, budgeting and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Things you should never have to buy...

In this western world, we are inundated with the advertisement of companies and brands. We see this in our media and in promotional products.

If you’re adopting a frugal and budget focused lifestyle and saving money is your priority, being aware of this will be an asset to you.

Below is a list of items that are very commonly found for free that you could save your income on. By utilizing these free products you not only save some money but you, in a roundabout way, make a consumer vote with your (lack of) dollars to slow down the production of those items and reduce the carbon footprint they leave.  

That said, obviously many people will choose to purchase some or all of these items anyway. Perhaps they have particular tastes and preferences and buying more specific items in the fields brings them joy and value to their life. That is okay too. This list of ten isn’t meant to be law, but only an eye-opening resource.

1. Pens

Pens are the easiest thing in the world to get for free. Every dentist and chiropractic office I've ever walked into had a cup of free pens sitting on the counter ripe for the picking. If you need pens, they should never be hard to come by and you can certainly pinch those pennies in your budget. 

2. Magnets

Companies are always giving out magnets to promote their business, especially food delivery and automobile companies. If you find yourself with a need for magnets, perhaps just start there. Don’t want to look at the advertising? Paint or paper over the print. Usually, advertising magnets are thin enough to easily cut into custom shapes with standard household scissors. These can double as an afternoon craft for the kiddos.

3. Calendars 

Calendars are another one of those things you shouldn’t have to purchase every year as it’s a popular promotional item. Companies especially like calendars because they feel it will be used and seen for at least an entire year! If you just need something to hang on the inside of a cabinet to keep the kid's extracurriculars sorted out on, don’t waste your hard earned money on something cute with kittens. Focus on function.

4. Water Bottles

Water bottles come a dime a dozen, especially at charitable races and conventions, and do we really need to own more than one or two per person in our household? Likely not. These are great for kids as it’s not that big of a deal if they accidentally leave them at the park. 

5. Key Chains

Same applies. Keychains can always be found for free, so if you're looking for something functional to keep your spare keys together in the drawer, this seems like a logical and budget-friendly solution. 

6. Lunch Totes

Lunch totes are a favorite for employers to gift around the holiday and company picnic seasons. They are typically made well enough to be functional and get you through to next year's upgraded lunch tote. 

7. Pencils

Pencils aren't as common as pens but they are definitely floating around. 

8. T-shirts

T-shirts are one of the most common ways a company or event likes to advertise. These are perfect for sleeping, lounging, working in the garden, exercising etc. Be smart about utilizing these freebies in replace of something you typically pay for and it will certainly stretch your budget!

9. Reusable Tote/Shopping Bags

These things are everywhere! Never get caught at the checkout line paying $2.50 for a new shopping bag when companies all over the states are trying to give them to you for free!

10. Small Notepads 

A business classic and perfect for jotting down confirmation numbers and other things in a hurry while you’re on the phone. 

Among this list are so many other items you should pay attention to and consider. You’ll be surprised at how these little things add up to be hundreds of dollars a year!

In a later post, however, I will be talking about all the things to get rid of if you’re striving for minimalism or simply want to declutter your home and move energy. Don’t be surprised if you also see some of these on that list. I think the important thing to consider when accepting these items is your priority. If your priority is budget and frugality, YES, accept the free gifts with purchase. If your goal is minimalism and decluttering, perhaps it’s better to say “thanks, but no thanks.”

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on frugality and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Top 3 apps for MEDITATION

“Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique, such as focusing their mind on a particular object, thought or activity, to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm state.

Meditation has been practiced since antiquity in numerous religious traditions and beliefs. Since the 19th century, it has spread from its origins to other cultures where it is commonly practiced in private and business life.

Meditation may be used with the aim of reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and pain, and increasing peace, perception, self-concept, and well-being. Meditation is under research to define its possible health (psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular) and other effects.”

-Wikipedia

Whether you're a novice or a pro, these free apps will benefit you!

1. Insight Timer

My all-time favorite app for guided meditations is Insight Timer. You can search for any kind of guided meditation you can imagine and it will have you covered! I have chosen everything from anxiety relief to deep sleep, to coping with pain, and pregnancy bonding.

They also have different styles of meditations to choose from in case you’re looking for a more religious meditation or one with just soothing sounds. Beyond that, you can search by how much time you have available, choose courses, join groups, or set your own time. Insight Timer has a little something for everyone!

2. Relax Melodies

Relax Melodies is essentially a custom sound machine but way more advanced. This is really beneficial if you just need a noise reduction quality to help you focus on clearing your mind. You can choose rain, ocean waves, crickets, city streets, wind, chimes, and about a billion other sounds... or you can create a custom combination of them all. There are also guided meditations to choose from on here as well.

3. 10% Happier

10% Happier is a fantastic app for people who love to meditate but it’s an even more valuable resource for people who want to LEARN about meditation. 10% Happier is more targeted toward beginners than other apps, in my opinion, and has courses designed just to teach people how to properly meditate and they’re fantastic for answering all the obvious and not so obvious questions beginners may have.

Like the other apps you can choose from various meditations. 10% Happier will allow you to set a reminder of when you want to meditate as its goal is to not only bring you over to the believer's side but have you meditate every single day.

Give these apps a try and take the step toward improving your overall health and well being! Let us know how well you liked them and definitely share them with your friends.

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on health, homeopathy and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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WHERE TO SHOP FOR ETHICAL COSMETICS...

The cosmetics industry is HUGE and it can be overwhelming trying to sift through the brands and try to find one that isn’t completely full of yuck. 

A couple of apps I found really helpful for this are “Happy Bunny” and “Cruelty-Free”.

The apps are available for free in your phones app store. You can simply type in the name of the brand or product type you’re curious about and it will let you know if that is a cruelty-free brand or not. 

Another fantastic resource for determining whether you have an ethical brand of makeup or not is visiting this article. It’s extremely well thought out and educational. 

So what do I consider ethical? 

I prefer vegan products that have not been tested on animals. I love organic or all natural products with minimal ingredients that don't contain a bunch of yucky chemicals. And, the icing on the cake would be if they put thought into having environmentally friendly packaging. 

Of course, you’ll be hard pressed to get all of that in one product, but definitely try and find something that fits the general bill. Be willing to make some small compromises, because, at this point in the game, you’ll likely have to. The main thing is that you choose a brand that is following an ethical path and working to do good in this world. 

A few of my go-to brands are the following...

100 Percent Pure

A favorite brand of mine is 100 Percent Pure! They are actually vegan and all natural and even use fruit dyes in their makeup, which I think is pretty cool!

In addition to their makeup, I HIGHLY recommend their other products. I have absolutely adored their shampoos, conditioners, skin care, and lotions! They really put out a high quality product with incredible ingredients!

TARTE COSMETICS

While there is controversy around whether or not Tarte Cosmetics really is a green brand or even entirely cruelty-free, I feel like it’s a necessary mention for those readers that only tend to shop at places like Sephora and Ulta for their makeup.

I certainly think you can find much better BUT Tarte is a major brand that does push toward that movement.  I appreciate that Tarte makes efforts that most other brands simply don’t even give thought to. For those reasons alone, I’ll recommend them.

Beauty Counter

Beautycounter is a brand that claims to be committed to a health and safety standard that goes well beyond what's required by U.S. law. They have prohibited the use of more than 1,500 questionable or harmful chemicals all while ensuring our products perform and that they're as indulgent as any other luxe shampoo, lipstick, or oil in the market.

I won't lie, Beautycounter is a little on the pricey side and I haven’t tried a lot of it, but I know many people who swear by the quality of their products!

The Body Shop

Another brand to consider is  The Body Shop. This brand is confusing to a lot of people as they started out all natural and moved away from that marginally. They do use some less desirable ingredients now like synthetic fragrances, but I still strongly recommend them and here is why...

They are a vegetarian company, more natural than most cosmetic brands, and they actually do a tremendous amount of work to benefit our world. 

For example, in 1987, they launched Community Trade, pioneering fair trade in the beauty industry. Today, they have suppliers in over 20 countries around the world, sourcing the finest raw ingredients and traditional skills from around the planet – benefiting local communities in return. They also vow to be forever against animal testing and have campaigned for a cruelty-free beauty industry since 1989. 

My advice is to pay attention to the ingredients listed on individual products and make the decision for yourself. I’ve always had great success with them. 

LUSH

Ok, before I get a storm of comments and angry emails, let’s be VERY clear that LUSH is NOT an all natural company as they would seemingly mislead you to believe. They have a plethora of synthetic and unsavory ingredients in their products, but they also have some that are fairly minimal as well.

LUSH is, however, a vegetarian company that fights strongly against animal testing. They also use minimal and environmentally friendly packaging. This, to me, qualifies them for my ethical cosmetic brand short list.

They also promote charity claiming that charitable giving is at the heart of their business. They advertise to believe it's their responsibility to use their platform to advocate for the environment, animals, and people in need, as well as giving back to organizations locally and around the world. They do this through their Charity Pot program, Sustainable Lush Fund, and FunD. You can learn about these programs and more by visiting their website.

There are so so many more brands that deserve to be on this list based on their credentials alone but I simply have not tried them myself. For that reason, I can’t personally vouch for their quality. 

I would strongly encourage you to use this post as a jumping off point to look into more ethical products that perhaps you use in your everyday life. 

How about cleaning products for example... Have you checked out Grove Collaborative? 

Or what about how you think about your pets? Familiarize yourself with the mentality of “adopt, don’t shop.”

If we all constantly strive to reach for more ethical brands, companies, and behaviors... this world will improve at a fantastic and magical rate. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on conscious living and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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Prepackaged Frozen Fruit? SAVE YOUR MONEY!

When people are initially seeking out a healthier more plant-based diet, they often start by incorporating green smoothies or overnight oats with fruit into their morning routines. 

THIS IS WONDERFUL! That’s the perfect way to get the ball rolling and such an effortless transition for most people. I don’t want to discourage this at all. 

That being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you that your grocery store was also aware of this and that is why bags of frozen fruit cost anywhere from $6 to even as high as $17! They want to profit off your new found healthier lifestyle and honestly, your laziness. 

You do NOT need to spend that kind of money! 

Rather than buying big bags of frozen fruit, buy organic fruit in bulk when it’s on sale. This is where you will really benefit from a members club like Costco or Sams Club. You can buy huge quantities of FRESH organic fruit, for less than you’ll pay for one bag of the already frozen stuff. 

An added benefit to doing it this way, aside from huge cost savings, is that you will ensure that your fruit was processed and frozen at peak ripeness! 

I can’t tell you how many bags of frozen mango I’ve gone through where the mango was at least 2 weeks out from being ripe. I don’t know if you’re familiar, but unripe mango is tart and almost sour whereas ripened mango is, I’m pretty sure, the literal nectar of the Gods. Taste aside, when the fruit isn’t ripe, you’re not getting the full spectrum of nutrients that you should.

So what to do then?

I buy fresh organic fruit in bulk, store it in my kitchen until peak ripeness as we discussed, and then I process it myself for the freezer. All this means is that I peel, chop, or slice the fruit and put it in a freezer-appropriate container. I really like pyrex containers because I prefer to limit my plastic usage but they are honestly pretty bulky. If you have limited space you can certainly use, and I would even recommend these reusable plastic bags. 

 Many people wonder about the best storage option as typical wire fruit baskets aren’t generally large enough for this kind of lifestyle. That is where a floor-standing produce rack comes in handy! They look really nice, allow airflow so the fruit and vegetables don’t rot, and store everything compactly and off your countertops. The one in the picture above is what I used at my old “big house” in Nevada before moving cross country and building the tiny house. It was fantastic and I loved it, but it just didn’t fit into my new kitchen design. So I have this more compact cart style rack now that works awesome as well. 

In summary, you can, for sure, save big money, stretch your budget, and gain big nutrition by freezing your own fruit but that will only really work if you actually do it. 

What I mean by this is that if you know you don’t have time left in your schedule for the week to shop for, process, and freeze your own fruit... or even if you just know yourself well enough to know you won't because you simply don’t want to then, YES! BUY IT FROZEN! Of course, it’s better to buy the bagged stuff than to just not make your smoothies or overnight oats at all. 

Regardless of which way you go, keep up the good work! The more fruits and veggies we can get into our diet, the better off we will be!

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on health, frugality, budgeting and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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The Most Beneficial House Plants YOU Should Own!

Snake Plant

Snake plants are typically pretty easy to find! Usually, you can head to your local nursery or hardware store and find them readily available. What’s more is that they are almost impossible to kill! 

These wonder plants are natural air purifiers and thrive off low-light and little water, which makes them the perfect plant for someone with a busy life. 

It is recommended that every bedroom have a snake plant as it soaks up carbon dioxide during day-time hours, releasing an abundance of oxygen overnight so you get a better night’s rest! 

Aloe Vera

Aloe is notoriously beneficial for a whole array of reasons. Most notably it’s incredible skin healing benefits, especially on burns and abrasions. 

What a lot of people don’t know about aloe is that it is an incredible aid for sleep quality. It works much like the snake plant in that it puts off a lot of oxygen at night, improving the quality of your sleep. Obviously, a happy side effect of aloe is that it also improves air quality. 

 Peppermint

The International Journal of Neuroscience said that peppermint benefits memory, clarity, and alertness. Additionally, a strong inhale of peppermint’s distinct aroma is said to help curb food and substance cravings. So, whether you’re on a diet or trying to kick smoking, mint is a valuable addition to your household. 

Mint is also well known for its ability to curb nausea when you consume the leaves. You can do this by blending into a smoothie, throwing them in a fruit salad, or brewing them into a hot tea. 

A gift idea would be to pick up a congratulatory potted peppermint plant the next time a friend announces their pregnancy!

Calendula 

Calendula needs to be in direct sunlight for most of the day. Often times, during winter months, you may even need to supplement with a grow light. This may not be for everyone, but if you’re into plant medicine, you’ll be super into calendula! 

Calendula is known to have antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It is commonly used in healing wounds, soothing skin irritations like eczema and poison ivy, and relieving rashes of all varieties. It's also often used as an antiseptic.

This powerful plant can be ground into a flour and made into a paste with an oil such as jojoba, olive, or coconut to make a super salve for these purposes. 

I even make calendula soap to use regularly for optimal skin health and immunity!

Golden Pothos

Golden Pothos is known for it’s efficiently clearing pollutants like formaldehyde from the air. Many people will claim this plant as an absolute favorite. NASA even uses this plant at space stations! If it’s good enough for NASA, I can only imagine what it can do for my living room. 

 French Lavender

Lavender is a notoriously calming scent, which is why it’s used in so many air freshening and personal hygiene products. It is scientifically recognized at reducing stress and anxiety making it a favorite scent of high-end rehabilitation medical facilities and spas. 

 English Ivy

English Ivy is thought to be the very best and most common choice for natural air filtration. Well-liked because of its ease of care. It only requires indirect light for proper growth. It is popular to place around electronic devices such as computers and microwaves and is thought to improve one's overall well being and health. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on health, homeopathy and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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7 Homeopathic Medicine Cabinet Must Haves!

“Homeopathy is a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. Those who practice it use tiny amounts of natural substances, like plants and minerals. They believe these stimulate the healing process. It was developed in the late 1700s in Germany.”

I feel like it’s important to be honest here and say I’m not one of those brave and radical people that never go to the doctor or seek medical attention when something ails me. I will say, however, that I will exhaust homeopathic and holistic alternatives before ever resorting to western medicine. 

Most times, I have found, if I do this, I eliminate the need for a doctor after a few days. Of course, there have been exceptions where I found I really did need to go in. I've even had instances where I benefitted from seeing a doctor so that I could determine exactly what was wrong with me, thus giving me valuable information in knowing exactly how to target it with homeopathic medicine. 

That all being said, listed below are my seven favorite homeopathic must-haves. 

1. Colloidal Silver

“Silver, which occurs naturally in mushrooms, whole grains, water and mammalian milk has been used for centuries to safeguard human health. For over 125 years, colloidal silver has been used in countless applications. Bio-Active Silver Hydrosol has represents the ultimate refinement of colloidal silver. Due to its extraordinary finesse and energy, Sovereign Silver may be your most effective tool to maintain, sustain and support your immune system in an ever challenging and changing environment”

Many people think of Colloidal Siver as natures antibiotic. They prefer it as it is believed your body does not create natural resistance to it like it would traditional pharmaceutical antibiotics. It is available in various application packagings such as nose spray, for use with sinus issues, a spray bottle, to treat throat issues and to be sprayed on cuts or scrapes, and, most commonly, in a dropper bottle, which people use as a way to measure and take internally. 

Linked is my favorite brand and the brand most trusted by everyone in my social circle. I’ve had fantastic results from this products and highly recommend it for your medicine cabinet. I use it as the first line of defense before resorting to pharmaceuticals.

2. Elderberry Syrup or Crystals

Elderberry Syrup and Crystals provide a burst of antioxidants and are believed to supercharge immune support when seasonal issues strike. Elderberry Crystals can be taken daily to help maintain a healthy immune system or at the first sign of seasonal symptoms.

Most of my mommy friends swear by Elderberry for their little ones during cold and flu season or when first starting the school year. 

It’s super simple to take and has a pleasant taste. I take at the first sign of a cold or allergies.

3. Echinacea Extract

This is my favorite brand of echinacea extract and the one I have had the most success with. It also happens to have the best taste of the varieties I have tried. There are certainly more expensive brands but I don’t find in this case you need to spend more. 

Echinacea extract is a serious immune booster and is fantastic to take any time you feel your body could use a little support.

4. Probiotics

Probiotics are something I take every single day without fail. This isn’t entirely necessary for most people but I no longer have an appendix so I’m to understand it is recommended. Essentially probiotics aid in creating healthy gut flora. The more good bacteria we have, the less bad bacteria can cause damage. They are notorious for help keeping away tummy bugs but are known to have a whole host of benefits ranging from skin health to digestive aid. 

5. Magnesium Spray

This may be my favorite homeopathic recommendation! Magnesium spray is what I use as a natural pain reliever. I can spray 5 pumps on my forearm and within minutes my backache or headache will disappear. It’s also wonderful for nausea, migraines, muscle and joint pain, mood stabilization, digestion, and acts as a sleep aid! 

The brand I use and like best is marketed toward pregnancy but there are many brands to choose from so if you’d like to try something different I recommend looking around and reading reviews.

6. Vinegar

Vinegar is fantastic to keep around! Applied topically it will disinfect cuts and scrapes and even make quick work at irradicating yeast and other fungal infections. You can also take ACV with mother internally to boost immunity and act as a natural antibiotic. I won't lie though, it’s not the most appetizing taste. 

7. Neti Pot

Finally, the Neti Pot. The Neti Pot is wonderful for cleansing the sinuses. This is fantastic to do when you’re having any allergy or sinus issues, have congestion, or perhaps have been exposed to some yucky germs you’d like to wash out best as possible.

There are many different kinds of pots but I find the squirt bottles like this one easiest to use. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on health, homeopathy and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Legal Disclaimer

Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Please use your best judgment and seek professional medical help when needed as I am a blogger, not a doctor.

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FREE RESOURCES Every Business Startup Should Know About...

1. CANVA

Between social media kits and promotional materials, the need for a graphic designer for any new business is unavoidable. Canva has you covered! Open an account for free and start designing on your own! This is an invaluable resource and huge money saver. You can even upload your unique logos and business branding to make designs that much more custom.

2. GRAMMERLY

Grammerly is like spell check on steroids. You can download and launch Grammarly with just one click straight from your desktop. Mistake-free writing has never been easier. This is so important in maintaining professionalism and putting your best foot forward. Spelling errors and grammatical mistakes and easily discredit any business in a hurry.

3. SOCIAL MEDIA

I know this one should go without saying but you would be surprised how many people launch businesses with no plans or foresight on how to optimally utilize social media. A shame, really, being that it is one of the fastest ways to gain SEO and it’s completely and totally free. So, if you have a new business and you’re not already the proud owner of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts, I suggest you make that priority numero uno for the checklist.

4. VISTA PRINT

Vista Print is an incredible resource for new businesses on a budget because of their affordable marketing materials. You can order anything from business cards, letterhead, banners, coffee mugs, to pens and thank you cards. To create an account with them is free and they have tons of templates you can customize and make work for your business. Like Canva, this is an excellent alternative to hiring a graphic designer for every little project.

5. UPWORK

UpWork is a website that allows you to hire highly qualified freelancers for affordable pricing. Again, it is free to create an account and utilize this website and there is no commitment required. You can post an ad for anything you need ranging from an attorney at law to a line editor for a book. You’ll say what your budget is and what experience level you expect along with a description of the services you’re after. You can select and invite freelancers to bid on your job if you have favorites or they will come on their own.

Website and graphic designers are plentiful on UpWork as well so this is a great resource to utilize if you have an extremely limited budget. I know people that have gotten gorgeous branding packages that should have cost thousands of dollars for merely $50 on UpWork and their logos look amazing! I really recommend at minimum investing in a good logo as using your own custom branding will take any Vistaprint or Canva creation to a whole new level.

A lot of the freelancers on UpWork do this as a way to build or expand their portfolios or simply pick up some additional work to supplement their incomes. It’s usually a win-win for everyone!

6. YouTube

Some people would lump this in with social media and in a way, they would be correct in doing so. You can certainly create a youtube channel and use it as a tool to drive traffic toward your site or business. That is not how I utilize this free resource though. I often joke that no one needs to go to college anymore, they just need a youtube account. While this is obviously a bit far reaching, there is definitely some validity in the statement. You can learn almost anything you can imagine on youtube. There are tutorials on just about everything. Want to be a photographer and learn camera settings? Youtube tutorials. Want to be a graphic designer and learn photoshop? Youtube tutorials. Want to learn how to make raisin bread from scratch? Youtube tutorials. ANYTHING you want to know, there is most likely a tutorial for it on youtube.

How does this help you in business? Say you want to take advantage of resource number one, Canva, but when you log on to the site you get overwhelmed and don’t know how to work it. There are countless youtube tutorials walking you through everything you could possibly want to know. How about if you want to advertise on Facebook but don’t know where to begin... youtube has you covered.

There are paid sites, like Skillshare, that market lessons, classes, and tutorials for a small monthly fee, but the truth is, you can likely learn anything found on that site on youtube for FREE.

7. 99Designs

As with all the other mentions, 99 designs is a website where it is totally free to create an account. The services are definitely not free (or even cheap), however, they have a 100% money back guarantee. The reason I think this is a valuable resource to share is that it offers you a tremendous amount of options design-wise which is fantastic for people who may not actually have a clue as to what they want creatively in a business in regards to a logo, book covers, press materials, business cards or even websites.

99 Designs offer different packages and depending on the level of package you choose you’ll have a set number of designers bid on your project. What makes this different than UpWork is that they big with spec! This means that actually submit design ideas.

For example, I recently went through 99 designs for a book cover. I was completely clueless as to what I wanted so this was the best route for me. I bought their least expensive book cover package for $399 and that was advertised to include around 30 designs. My plan was simple, I would throw out a line and see if I caught anything I didn't want to throw back. Rather than the 30 designs advertised, I actually received over 50 pitches! What's more is I actually fell completely in love with one of them and ended up using it.

Had I not absolutely loved one of the designs, I would have simply told them I didn’t find what I was looking for and walked away with a full refund and hopefully a better idea of the direction I wanted to go.

There are many unavoidable costs in starting a business such as custom domain names but if you’re smart, you can get away with spending very little in comparison to most. This is important because the less you invest, the faster you’ll be profitable and saving in one area may afford you to invest in others.

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on frugality, business, and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

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How to SAVE BIG MONEY during the holiday season!

It’s the second week of October as I write this blog post and that means it is the start of the holiday season! This is both so exciting and so so stressful.

Many people go into debt just to afford the season of giving. By this, I mean credit card usage skyrockets so that people can keep up with the social standards of the most expensive three months of the year.

There is Halloween costumes and candy, huge thanksgiving grocery budgets or hostess gifts, holiday parties that require a new attire and the holy grail budget killer, Christmas!

In this article, I’m going to share with you my favorite tips and tricks to make it through the most wonderful time of the year without breaking the bank.

First up, Ebates!

Seriously, if you’re not utilizing Ebates yet, where on Earth have you been?!?

Ebates is an online platform in which you use to do ALL of your online shopping. Very simply, stores pay them a commission for sending their members to their websites, they then share part of that commission with you via cash back!

If you look at the above image, you’ll see that I’ve made $209.02 cash back off purchases that I would have made anywhere. With the exception of usually Amazon, I NEVER do any online shopping without going through Ebates.

Utilizing cash back opportunities stretches your budget and allows your money to go further. Furthermore, online shopping is far more efficient than aimlessly browsing at brick and mortar stores and you can do it from the comfort of your big cozy bed while wearing fleece pajamas and sipping hot cocoa.

Win-Win-Win.

Another amazing resource for saving money while online shopping this holiday season is Retail Me Not.

Much like Ebates, Retail Me Not will offer cash back on purchases but I honestly think Ebates is way more lucrative for this. What I really love to use Retail Me Not for is their coupon codes.

So, when I’m ready to get down to some serious online shopping business, I will log into my Ebates account and browse the stores through there. When I am ready to check out in Ebates, I will open another tab in my internet browser and go to Retail Me Not. I’ll quickly type in the name of the store I’m about to check out at and see if they have any coupon codes that may be applicable to my order. If so, I hop back over to my Ebates tab, insert the copied coupon code, and check out.

Now I have saved money with a coupon code AND earned cash back on my purchase. Where this becomes REALLY powerful, is when it is strategically combined with sales. You won't believe the amount of money you save by using these two resources in combination with a special holiday or store sale. 

That brings us to the next tip! Simply knowing WHEN to shop.

Many people think that you have to go out in the freezing cold at 4am on Black Friday to get the best deals. WRONG! You can get the majority of those same deals by sitting on your couch. Not only will you get the sale prices, but Ebates usually bumps up their cash back percentage as well! Normally, for example, Old Navy may be 3% cash back, but during the holiday season, it may be 10% cash back or more. This is the perfect example of when to shop.

The entire two weeks surrounding Black Friday, every store in America will be email-blasting you to death with their sales. You may be tempted to wait until Black Friday to do all your shopping but this isn’t always the best strategy. Sometimes the store may have the items you’re most interested on extreme sale the week before, but on Black Friday, they are only marginally discounted. When you see an incredible deal for something on your list, it’s best to get it while the getting is good. Chances are, once combined with Ebates and Retail Me Not, you’ll be walking away with a complete steal.

Failsafe, if you by chance see a better deal on Black Friday, go ahead and purchase it again and be sure to return the original purchase.

These next few things I’m going to talk about aren’t quite as exciting but the fact of the matter is, being preemptive is key.

The holidays come every single year at the exact same time. Knowing this, we should be planning for them all year long so that we aren’t caught with our pants down trying to figure out how we are going to afford it.

I use an app called Qapitol for that.

I’ve used this app for over a year now and I absolutely love it! If you use this link you’ll get $5 just for signing up. (Who doesn’t love a company that gives you money?)

The reason I love Qapitol so much is that you get to custom tailor it to suit your individual needs and meet your individual goals. You can do the common “round-up” deposit which rounds up your purchases and applies your loose change to your goal. For example, if you bought gas for $23.98, Qapitol would deposit 2 cents into the goal account of your choosing. Lots of apps do this.

What makes Qapitol unique is that it has a “rules” function. If you shop at a particular store or eat at a fast food restaurant, for example, you can set custom rules as consequences to these purchases. Maybe you created a goal savings account called “Tummy Tuck” and set a rule that if you eat at McDonald's, it automatically deposits $2 into your goal account.

So, you set it and forget it. Go about your life and then, sure enough, every time you eat at McDonald's, you’re $2 closer to affording that tummy tuck.

Of course, in this article, we are talking about Christmas, and personally, this is what I utilize this app for. I only have one goal account and it is called “Christmas” and I have several rules set up to deposit various amounts of money into the account depending on what my purchases were. I deposit $3 every time I make an Amazon purchase and $2 every time I get Starbucks. I have other purchase rules as well, but those are the ones that contribute to my account the most.

I do not acknowledge this account in my day-to-day life, but around October, I transfer all the funds to my regular checking account and start my Christmas shopping. I do this just for ease of check out since all my favorite sites have my debit card on file.

Qapitol will also send you a debit card so if you do decide to set up a Christmas account and save all year like I do and you decided that the $721, or whatever sum you’ve accumulated, in that account, come Christmas time is all you’re going to spend on the holidays, you can very easily just use that debit card. That way, when the funds are gone, they’re gone. Your personal debit card and every-day budget completely separate and unaffected.

You can download the Qapitol app and save all year or you use credit cards and pay on them all year... the only difference is one is costing you way more in interest. 

Finally, spend some time and really map out a realistic budget. 

Think of everything.

Think of food...

Whether you live in a neighborhood that goes through several bags of Halloween candy or you’re hosting Thanksgiving, participating in holiday party potlucks or planning a Christmas dinner... do some rough planning and get an idea of how much money you’ll need.

A great app for saving in this area is ibotta. Essentially you find offers before you shop, go shopping, buy the products you selected at any participating store, and make sure you don't forget your receipt! You redeem your offers by taking a photo of your receipt and uploading it to the app. They'll match the items you bought to the offers you selected and give you the cash! Your cash back will be deposited into your Ibotta account within 48 hours.

Think of gifts...

Write down every single person you need to shop for. If you have a strict budget, now is the time you allocate an allowance to each individual.

Think of clothing...

Write down every party, gathering, fellowship, or event you’ll be attending and map out your attire for each in advance. Rather than assuming you need to buy new, perhaps you can borrow something from a loved one or get creative with thrift store finds.

Think of packaging...

Wrapping paper and gift bags are expensive and add up quickly! Personally, I find a large roll of craft paper much more versatile. You can not only use it for Christmas, but also every other gift giving occasion as well. You can buy it in white or brown and dress it up with different ribbon, bows, or twine.

You get the idea. You want to really contemplate every single expense and make a plan accordingly. Creating a budget is simply you telling your money how to work for you. You will ALWAYS save more money with a budget, than flying by the seat of your pants without a plan.

My favorite budgeting app that I use every month without fail is Every Dollar.

You can download Every Dollar and every other app mentioned today in the app store.

Regardless of your income, you can plan for the holidays and make it through debt free. 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on frugality and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

PLANT-BASED (SOS Free) Perfect Spicy Tortilla Soup!

I love a spicy tortilla soup! Especially on cold rainy fall days like today.

Typically, this soup would be known as “Chicken Tortilla Soup”, but you know that’s not happening around here. So, this is our plant-based, oil and sugar-free, take on the classic. 

With simple ingredients straight from your garden and pantry, you can have this soup served up in less than 10 minutes! Yes, really. TEN MINUTES.

RECIPE

8 Medium Tomatoes

1 Jalapeno

1 Can of Corn

1 Can of Black Beans

Spices to taste:

Onion Powder Cayenne Pepper Salt (optional) Pepper Cumin Mexican Chili Powder

Water (Optional: Plant Milk or Vegetable Broth)

Tortillas

Grab some ripe juicy tomatoes and throw them in a blender. I use a high speed blender, the Vitamix specifically, but any blender should do the trick, it just may not end up being quite as smooth. 

You’ll need about two medium tomatoes per bowl of soup you plan to serve. Then toss in some seeded jalapeno. I use one half of a jalapeno per four tomatoes.  You can omit this if you’re not super into heat. In my case, I use eight tomatoes and a whole jalapeno so that we can have two servings. 

Next, simply add your spices to taste. I use pink salt, ground pepper, cumin, Mexican chili powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. You can play with this and really customize the flavor profile to create the perfect soup for you!

I know typically a recipe would have the spices measured out for you but everyone's pallets are just SO different, especially in a plant-based community where many are SOS free, so I really prefer to say “to taste.” 

Blend with a tiny bit of water just to get it started. The tomatoes should have enough juice that you don’t need to add too much. Once thoroughly blended, add more water or vegetable broth until you get the soup consistency you enjoy most. You can also use plant milk for a richer and creamier soup base. (I do this when I make a more Italian seasoned tomato soup.) 

When making this spicy tortilla soup just for myself, I love to add a little chunk of red onion to the blender. My partner has a severe aversion to onions so I substitute it for onion powder, but if you like the flavor, I highly encourage it!

Once you have your soup base blended, pour it in a pot on the stove and add black beans and corn. I usually just do canned for convenience. (You can also throw the soup in the instant pot for 10 minutes on manual and the flavors blend and melt beautifully taking it to a whole new level!)

I  bake my tortilla strips while the soup is heating as I prefer to be in control of the ingredients. That said, I know you can buy bags of crunchy tortilla strips at the store premade in the salad dressing isle if you don't have the time or desire to mess with all that. 

To make the strips, simply set the oven at 350 degrees and on a cookie sheet, in a thin layer, lay out the tortilla strips that you’ve made by simply slicing your favorite tortillas. My favorite is almond flour tortillas. These never take longer than around 5 minutes to bake up and become crunchy. 

Heat the soup to the desired temperature, top with the baked tortilla strips and serve! 

OPTIONS: 

I prefer to top with a plant-based vegan cheese and cashew sour cream with a sprinkle of green onions. 

My partner, who is not a vegan or vegetarian, tops his with shredded Mexican Blend cheese and a dollop of dairy sour cream as pictured above. This makes it a little less plant-based and takes it from being vegan to vegetarian, but it’s certainly a viable option!

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on vegan and vegetarian cuisine, homesteading, gardening, frugality, prepping, homemaking, and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

Meatless Monday

I am so excited to see SO MANY PEOPLE on my social media feeds using the hashtag #MeatlessMonday! I know it’s only one day a week, but that's a huge start! 

If you know me in the real world, it is no secret that I do not consume meat. In fact, I haven’t in many years. For me, it was a fairly effortless transition as I was never a huge fan of meat anyway. The entire idea of eating a dead animal carcass, regardless of how pretty it was packaged, always kind of grossed me out. I’m not saying I never ate it, I did. I grew up on a farm in the south... of course, I ate meat. My point is, I understand it was likely easier for me to kick it out of my diet than say, someone who really actually enjoys it. 

When I transitioned away from eating meat, I went cold turkey, as they say. Because I wasn’t a fan of meat to begin with, as previously stated, this went really smoothly. This also meant that I wasn’t really in the market for trying to find meat substitutes. The veggie-based “ground beef”, “sausage”, or “chicken patties”, never really called out to me. 

It wasn’t until a year or two into it that I ventured out to try my first black bean burger. It was delicious, by the way! 

Well, I lived alone then and was only catering to my own needs. Needs that were easily met with fruits, vegetables, rice and beans. Things are a bit different now. 

You see, my partner LOVES meat. Like, he can never see himself giving it up. Trust me, I tried. I even made him watch all the appropriate Netflix documentaries and even took it to the extreme of having him watch the full length of “Earthlings” on youtube. (If you haven’t seen it, you really should.) 

I had done all I could to give him a proper education as to the environmental, economic, ethical, and health consequences of consuming animal products and he still had no interest in giving them up completely. Something else DID happen though...

He became very open to the idea of using meat substitutes for the majority of his meals. Now, I like to think that this is because he is now aware of all the implications that eating dead animals has on our world. A more realistic thought, however, would be that he knew I was NEVER going to cook with meat and if he wanted to eat a homecooked meal that he didn’t have to make himself, he better get on board. 

At the beginning of our relationship, I was feeding him what he enthusiastically  calls “superfood.” This included a lot of green smoothies for breakfast, the occasional overnight oats with plant milk. Dinners may be veggie fajitas or vegan chili. He always tried it, usually finished it, and complimented me on how good it was. He never once pretended to be fully satisfied though.

Then... magic. 

One day he came home with a bunch of groceries. This isn’t out of character for him, he often brings home groceries after work. Usually, the bags contained refrigerated just-bake cookie dough or boxes of cake mix with cans of frosting... things he knew I would never pick up at the store, but this day was different. He came home with a whole plethora of vegan and vegetarian meat substitute products.

What?!?!

He, in passing, asked if I thought I could do anything with them. Naturally, hiding my elation, I said “sure.”

Many were hits, few were misses, but they were all wins. 

I made him Morning Star sausage biscuits that tasted exactly like the real thing. Huge hit! Then we did spicy black bean burgers, veggie burgers, chik-n patties, soy-based taco meat, etc. 

He was finally satisfied! He even came home one day with vegan sausages and I found him in the kitchen making his own specialty pasta with the vegan sausages rather than his typical pork ones. That was the first time I heard him say he liked the vegan product more than the animal product. 

It certainly wasn’t the last though. He is now a huge fan of Chao cheese and prefers it above all other cheeses. 

These days, many of the meals I prepare use one of these meat substitute products in it. I don’t always partake, but it’s an act of mutual love. Once in a blue moon, he will come home with real burgers or a steak and he always, without fail, grabs an extension cord and his George Forman and heads outside to cook it. Why? So I don’t have to smell the cooking flesh of a dead animal. 

*swoon*

Regardless of whether you’re adopting Meatless Monday, looking for transitional foods as you adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet or you’re just an avid reader... if you haven’t tried these products yet, I would strongly suggest you give them a go! You can find them in the freezer section of your local grocery store and our favorite brand is Morning Star. You can find the vegan and vegetarian cheeses and mayos in the refrigerated section of the produce department, usually. 

According to my partner, unless you knew in advance it wasn’t meat, most the time you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Perhaps you can do an at home family experiment?

Don’t be confused that they are health foods, they are not. These products are what I lovingly refer to as “veggie junk food” due to their processed and packaged nature. That being said, they are worlds better for you than the alternative! 

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on vegan and vegetarian cuisine, homesteading, gardening, frugality, prepping, homemaking, and the like… make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

[ethicalurthling-blog]

Summer Garden. Winter Prep.

Whether you are an extreme prepper, passive hobbyist gardener, a homesteader, a person looking to extend their budget and save some money, or someone just trying to be more conscious of the quality of food you’re putting in your body... this post will be beneficial to you. 

Gardens are fantastic for both pinching pennies and taking some control over the food you’re consuming. It also has really positive environmental impacts. One example of this is that if you're grocery shopping in your backyard, you’re not supporting the carbon footprint of food transport.  Also, when optimally utilized, your summer garden can feed you and your family for the entire year! I’m going to tell you how.

Now, preserving the overproduction of your garden is not a new concept. This is something that has been done since the beginning of time and there are multiple methods you can use to do it. 

My favorite is dehydration and here is why...

Dehydration, unlike canning, for example, uses controlled temperature when done correctly. Why is this important? If you can control the temperature of the air being used to dehydrate your produce, you can preserve and maintain nutrient density. 

Yes, you read that correctly, with dehydration you will retain the nutrients making your food as rich and nutritionally beneficial whether you consume it just off the vine or six months later. 

With canning, another popular option for preservation, you typically process the food by heating it to high temperatures, unfortunately, this severely impacts it’s nutritional integrity. Another drawback of canning is the many various supplies it requires and how time-consuming it is. 

Dehydration is very fast and easy. Not to mention you need exactly one thing to accomplish it... a dehydrator. 

Several years ago, after a tremendous amount of research and blowing through many inexpensive dehydrators, I invested in a restaurant quality one for about $200. I decided on the Excalibur 9-Tray Electric Food Dehydrator with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature Control. It is fast and efficient and also includes a very helpful temperature guide. Bonus, it’s made in the USA! If you don’t anticipate needing nine trays, they make a less expensive four tray option as well. 

Of course, you don’t have to go with this brand. The most important thing is that it has temperature control. Here is an option with great reviews for about half the price of mine at about $100.

As I’m sure you’re aware, you can easily pick up a basic dehydrator for $30 or so. This is actually similar to what I started with all those years ago, unfortunately, in trying to be frugal I actually ended up spending more money. You’d be lucky to make it last a season. What's more, they don’t have a temperature control so you’re not retaining all of the nutrients in the food you’re preserving. Because of these things, I can’t, in good conscience, recommend you go this route if you have the option to go the other. It’s worth saying though, if this is all your budget supports, by all means, purchase it. It will get the job done and help you make the most of your garden yield until you can afford something that will produce a higher quality product.

Regardless of what dehydrator you choose, the process is very simple!

1. Harvest your ripe produce.

2. Thoroughly wash your produce.

3. Spray or rinse your produce with vinegar. This is an optional step but serves to kill any lingering bacteria that may be living on it.

4. Cut, chop, or slice your produce.

5. Lay your produce flat and even on the dehydrator trays with space for airflow in between. 

6. Dehydrate at the recommended temperature and for the duration explained in the dehydration guide that comes with your unit. 

Now, I’m going to let you in on a secret. After years of doing this, I rarely, if ever, look at that guide. As a general rule, I dehydrate between 110-125 depending on moisture content. A big ripe juicy tomato for example really needs that 125 temperature to get the job done. 

As far as duration, it usually goes one of two ways. I almost always start the dehydration process upon waking up in the morning. I then forget about it until I’m about to go to bed. Before bed, I will check and it will either be done then or it will be done when I wake up the following morning. Bananas, for example, are generally done the same day, and tomatoes always take the full 24 hour period. 

Some things will snap in half with any pressure when they’re done (jalapenos, bell peppers, citrus), while other things will remain pliable (mangoes, bananas, tomatoes).

I know I will get this question so I will be preemptive. Yes, if you bump up the temperature, the process will be much faster. However, when you do that, you sacrifice nutrients. So, the choice is yours. 

When the dehydration process is finished, I just use glass jars and store in a cool dry place like a cupboard. Many people use vacuum sealing methods but because I try to limit my use of plastic whenever possible, this isn’t an option I would personally choose or promote. I also, honestly, don’t love the idea of packaging my homegrown, organic, high quality, nutrient dense food in chemical laden plastic, but some may think that is a bit radical. 

Don’t quit with traditional produce, make sure you preserve all the herbs in your outdoor herb garden as well. They are perfect for making custom spice blends and tea. I also love to dehydrate citrus for use in teas and it also smells divine simmering in a pot with a cinnamon stick and cloves as an alternative to candles or air fresheners. 

When you’re ready to use your produce simply rehydrate it in a bowl of filtered water before using it in sauces, stews, soups, casseroles, or any other meal you have planned.

I hope you found this post beneficial and if you’d like to see more on homesteading, gardening, frugality, prepping, homemaking, and the like... make sure you follow us on social media! We are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Happy dehydrating!