#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

The Live Better for Less Challenge Kick-Off

April 1, 2012 · Narrative

Live Better for Less Challenge
No matter your station in life, we could all probably save a bit more money.

Or make our money go further.

I am all for getting the most amount of enjoyment possible out of the least amount of funds.

To get the biggest bang for all our bucks.

And for living simply.

And so the kick-off to the Live Better for Less Challenge is born.

I would love for you ALL to join in with me.

Recently, I mentioned a few ways that I have slashed our spending in terms of groceries (and the related health and beauty aids, dog and cat food, and the like).  Readers chimed in and shared even more ways to track spending and cut costs.

Let’s take that ball and run with it.

If you are IN on the Live Better for Less Challenge, it’s super simple.

1.  Comment on this post and tell me that you are in.

2.  Pick one of the tips shared in this post, or one of your very own, and put it into practice this week.  It doesn’t matter which one you do, just choose something to work on (however big or small) and work on it.  This week.

3.  Then next Monday, April 9th, we are all going to check in on each other.  You will comment on that night’s post and share what you did, and how it went.

Think of how we can all inspire each other!

If you join in by doing steps 1-3 above, one commenter will be chosen from that April 9th post to win a new lunch tote generously given by the folks at BUILT NY.

I will be doing a separate review on their lunch totes soon, but in the meantime, how perfect is a fun, new lunch tote to kick off our Live Better for Less Challenge (and this one is gorgeous)?  Because y’all know how much money you can save by brown-bagging it.

Now, I’m asking for one small favor.  I would love for you to Tweet and Pin this post to share with as many people as possible.  Because the more people that join in, the more tips, ideas, and all ’round awesome inspiration we can collectively share.

Deal?

Alright … ready, set, go.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: brown-bagging, BUILT NY, Live Better for Less

Comments

  1. Betsy says

    April 1, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    I will be calling some of the companies for the bills that I pay. I’ve sometimes had great luck calling my phone company, cable company etc — and ask for a bill review/say that I’m looking to save money/compariing vendors etc. I often get some money knocked off my bill. I’m just not good about consistenly doing it — its been over a year since I called a few.

    Reply
  2. Betsy says

    April 1, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    Oh and great time to see if you need all the features before you call, so you can go over the features that you have/what you use/might be able to cut back on.

    Reply
  3. Jeri says

    April 1, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    I am starting at the very beginning by tracking every purchase. To get a read on what truly gets spent, I don’t plan to alter the day to day pattern yet. When I know what goes out and where it really goes, I will definitely be looking at the ideas that are posted here. Hopefully, there are things I can find to just eliminate besides cutting back and save more.

    Reply
  4. Casey says

    April 2, 2012 at 12:14 am

    Love this idea!

    I just posted details on our 3 day trip into the city to explore transportation, city life, etc. I detailed my spending, too, to show how we can afford to travel as much as we do. Lots of brown bagging, both on vacation and not!

    Reply
  5. Joanne says

    April 2, 2012 at 6:22 am

    Yay! This sounds awesome. I’m going to work on not going to my local supermarket this week for extra groceries. I already went to Whole Foods AND trader joe’s this weekend so I SHOULD be fully stocked. And if I’m not, I’ll just have to make do!

    Reply
  6. Kelly Savelkoul says

    April 2, 2012 at 6:03 pm

    I’ve been working on this since September by tracking every expense, then using a couple months of data to set a budget of sorts. The biggest change for me, so far? No more drycleaner! As much as I hate it, ironing shirts is more than worth the $75+ bucks a month we are saving.

    Reply
  7. Sarah says

    April 2, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    I’m going to do this too! My challenge will be to start tracking every expenditure. I’ve done that in the past and it worked wonders for my spending habits.

    Reply
  8. Laura says

    April 5, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    I am in!
    I have been cutting down on the trips to the store. I am going to do the writing everything down!

    Reply
  9. Michelle says

    April 6, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    Is it too late to join? I’m going to try to be conscious of and cut down on thoughtless spending, such as grabbing a cup of coffee because I didn’t feel like brewing my own, or picking up a salad when I could make one for much cheaper.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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