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Having children does not need to be a financial death sentence. As reported in Time , the costs for raising one child through the age of 17 is $233,610! We have three! That does not even include the cost of college, medical expenses, or other unforeseen costs. While I love my children and want to provide the best for them, I believe part of that is also raising fiscally responsible children. Here are some of the ways that help keep the costs of raising children more reasonable and teach them the life skills necessary for a bright financial future. Buy Used We buy a lot of used merchandise. Although a product may have been loved by another family before does not mean that it does not still have a useful life left. This really keeps down on the high cost of buying new. It seems like the kiddos are always outgrowing clothes, venturing into new sports, or requesting new toys. I'm a huge fan of the bi-annual consignment sales that are often provided by local churches and school

Okay, I know this sounds like a weird recipe, but believe me it is delicious. It has the perfect balance of taste and texture. The sweet potato is sweet and mushy. The kale is bitter and crunchy. The bell pepper is sweet and crisp. The pecans are nutty and the dressing is tangy. It really may be the most perfect bite. It's also perfect to make ahead for lunch or as a side at a party. Did I also mention it's healthy and cheap to make? Ingredients for a single lunch serving: 1 large sweet potato - baked, peeled and cubed 1/2 cup chopped kale 1/2 red bell pepper - diced 1/2 cup pecans - chopped 1-2 tbsp. Italian dressing Instructions: Pierce a whole sweet potato several times with a fork. Bake the sweet potato at 400 degrees on a baking sheet for about 40 minutes until tender. If you don't have time (which I always seem to be short on), microwave on high in 5 minute increments until tender to the touch (be careful it will be really hot). Depending on its size, it u

In my first installment of Stop the Grocery Store Monster - Effective Ways to Cut Food Costs , I discussed some of my tips for keeping food costs under control when grocery shopping. In this installment, I discuss ways to effectively use the food you already buy and keeping food costs in check by purchasing the correct items. Shredded Cheese I rarely buy shredded cheese because the price per pound is too high. I also learned that they add starch to shredded cheese as a preservative. With some family members subscribing to a Keto-friendly diet, we prefer to make our own shredded cheese. But, frankly, who has the time and arm strength to shred a block of cheese? Therefore, I cut blocks of cheese into smaller cubes and shred them in the food processor. I pulse the food processor several times until the blocks of cheese are broken down and then place the shredded cheese in a re-sealable bag to be used throughout the week. Voila - shredded cheese at a fraction of the price with

I love brunch food. It's easy and I always love to have an excuse to have a mimosa. Next time you are entertaining think about having brunch instead of dinner. The ingredients are much more cost effective and your guests leave before you are completely exhausted for the day. Nothing says brunch quite like a quiche. And, of course, it must have bacon. Here's a simple recipe for spinach and bacon quiche. This recipe makes two quiche pies so feel free to halve the recipe for a single pie, but even as a leftover this quiche is a win. Ingredients: 12 eggs 1 pint of whipping cream 1 package of 16 oz mild cheddar cheese - shredded 1/2 sweet onion - diced 1 6 oz package of fresh baby spinach 1 lb bacon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg Salt and pepper to taste 1 package of 2 frozen pie crusts - thawed Instructions: Preheat oven to 325F. Dice bacon and cook in a pan. Dice onions and sauté lightly in a tablespoon of remaining bacon grease. Once softened, add baby spinach and wilt leave