Oct
2016

20 Unbelievable Thomas the Train Gifts for Your Thomas-Obsessed Little Boy

categories: Gift Guides, Gift Guides for Children, Parenting
If you've got a little boy that loves Thomas the Train, then this is the list for you!

My son is obsessed with trains.  And leading the pack of all-things-trains is, of course, the one and only Thomas the Train.  I don’t know what it is, but something about that show has him completely mesmerized…so I’m always on the hunt for Thomas the Train gifts.   

Luckily, from that little boy obsession has sprouted an entire industry of Thomas the Train accessories and toys.  And while I’d love to say that my (not) crafty-self has discovered a way to make the equivalent of Thomas from scratch, the reality is that nothing makes me happier than discovering a new Thomas gift that sends my little guy over the moon.  He’s just too cute!

So if you’re in need of a new Thomas friend or accessory for your little one, check out these winners in our house:

 

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Sep
2016

6 Ways to Make Money as a Writer

categories: Blogging, Financial Freedom, Working from Home
Making money as a writer is a great source of income, whether you're looking for part-time or full-time pay. This list is a great resource to get you started!

Writing is a funny thing.  You don’t necessarily have to be an expert at it to make money doing it.  You just need to be an expert at something – and that’s what you write about.  If you do happen to be gifted at writing then you’ve got an extra leg up, but it’s not a prerequisite.

Better yet, writing is one of the most flexible, gratifying jobs out there. You’re creating something tangible (even if it’s only available in cyberspace) and you get better and better the more you write.

In my opinion, everyone should spend some of their time writing.  The benefits are endless, but the obvious ones can’t be ignored –

  • You can do it from anywhere, at anytime
  • You can write about anything
  • It makes you better at whatever you’re writing about
  • You can make some easy money!

If you haven’t considered writing for a living (or just on the side), it’s time to think about it!  And if you’re ready to start dabbling, consider some of these ways to make money as a writer (whether full-time or part-time):

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Aug
2016

7 Reasons to Consider Living in a Small House

categories: Financial Freedom, Real Estate Investing, Saving Money
Tiny homes are all the rage these days and there's a good reason why! Here are 7 great reasons to consider forgoing the mansion and settling in a smaller home.

When my husband and I bought our first (and current) house, we loved it because we felt like it was the perfect starter home.  It is small and cozy and perfect for two people – maybe a little baby too.  The plan was to live there for 3-5 years and then move onto a bigger, more spacious McMansion-style home where we’d raise our kids.

We’re now 6 years in and each additional year we seem to dig our heels in further, finding new reasons why our small starter house may actually be our perfect forever home.  Because believe it or not, there are some amazing perks to living in a small home.

So before you sign up for 30 years of paying off your mansion, consider these reasons for picking a small house right from the start:

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Aug
2016

6 Tips to Save a Ton of Money with Coupons

categories: Financial Freedom, Saving Money
Coupons can save you a ton on money in the long run if you figure out how to use them right. Check out these tips to help save even more!

Coupons can be a confusing thing. On one hand, we know that most coupons are a gimmick to get us to buy products we don’t really need. On the other hand, we’ve all seen Extreme Couponing and know that it’s possible to not pay for groceries at all. And for many of us, that would be a gold mine.

Even the best budgeters usually spend $500+ a month on groceries for their family! Imagine how much could be saved by figuring out how to really make the most of coupons….especially when it means getting free products. If this is something that you are interested in then you could take a look at doing something like fresh & co coupons, to get you started on your coupon life.

Here’s what you need to do if you want to start saving a bundle (and not spending more!) using coupons:

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Jul
2016

How to Transition a Co-Sleeping Toddler to Their Own Bed

categories: Attachment Parenting, Parenting, Tips & Tricks
Transitioning a co-sleeping toddler to their own bedroom can seem like an impossible task, but it's easier than you think and it WILL happen. Here are some tips to help!

Making the decision to transition a co-sleeping toddler to their own bed is a joyous occasion. Sure, you’ve looooved co-sleeping with them.  But as with all great things, at some point you realize it’s time to move on.  

And in this case, moving on means transitioning from co-sleeping to a toddler bed.  Whether it’s overcrowding, time to welcome a new baby, or just the right time for your toddler, you will reach a point where your co-sleeping toddler needs to move out! 

Related Post: 12 Ways to Make Co-Sleeping Safer

So how do you do that?  How do you get your toddler to sleep in their own bed after co-sleeping? Or, as so many like to point out, are you destined to sleep with your child until they leave for college?    

My husband and I co-slept with our son until he was 2 and then began the transitioning process.  And believe it or not, it was way easier than we thought!  Just like with breastfeeding, the transition seemed to be 1,000 times easier for my toddler than for me…which was a relief because I ended up being the only one that needed to cry-it-out. 🙂

Obviously every child (and parent) is different, so some tips may work better than others, but this is what worked for us.  And as I said, we were able to pull it off without any crying-it-out (at least from the toddler).

So if you need to figure out how to get a toddler to sleep in their own bed after co-sleeping, give some of these tips a try:

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Jul
2016

How to Pay Off the Mortgage Early

categories: Financial Freedom, Investing, Real Estate Investing, Saving Money
Thinking about paying off your mortgage? Now's the time to do it! Here are some great tips to help with the process.

One of my BIGGEST goals right now is to pay off the mortgage.  I won’t lie, it’s sooo hard to stay motivated when you’re chipping away at such a big number, but the benefits are just way too huge to ignore.  It’s a critical element of financial freedom, peace of mind…and of course, more disposable income.

But the reality is that if you prioritize getting it paid off, it CAN and WILL happen. And your future self will thank you for it!

Related post: 10 Things I’m Doing to Pay Off My Mortgage Early (and the One Thing I Won’t Do)

So if you’re in the same boat as me, consider these different ways for paying off your mortgage way earlier than you ever expected:

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