By Brigette Danielle: May 2017

Hello there lovely people!

Let me just get this out of the way... KIDS EAT TOO MUCH! lol There I said it! When your kids hit a certain age they seem to just grow two extra stomachs, endless amounts of energy and taste buds that only like the craziest, non nutritional and expensive things on the grocery store shelf. Since moving up to KC and homeschooling, I have realized that this is an epidemic in our household and It must be stopped lol.

When we were living in Dallas, we had very low sales tax. So when I bought something for $1 it didn't come out to $1.99! I'm no tax or math expert, I just know that in some states there are higher taxes and KC is one of them! So there was an instant jump in our grocery bill there. Then not to mention, instead of one meal and snack a day it changed to 3 meals a day and multiple snacks throughout the day since we HS. That right there drove up our grocery bill again!

Now we have older kids, one who is bordering her "tween" stages, one who is going through a growth spurt because 9/10 is so awkward. Then there is a boy and they just EAT! Lastly we have the most wasteful, picky and all around food snob in our house... the baby lol. She only eats what she LOVES. Tack on a grown man that loves to cook and a grown woman that is trying to eat the absolute healthiest food she can and that drives it up even MORE!

So how did I cut our grocery bills? How can I stay on budget, eat healthy and not break the bank?!

Here's how:

1. Apps- yes I know you probably have seen so many bloggers talk about these apps, seen them advertised on Facebook or heard family talk about them. Here's the deal. You don't save money off the initial purchase (like a coupon) but you get cash back! How awesome is that!? My favorite one is Ibotta, You get bonuses for purchasing paired items, if your team hits a mark or even if you shop[ during the week ( some weeks). One week I turned a normal shopping trip into a $6 return which then more than doubled to $14 because of bonuses. Not to mention you get $$$ just for signing up and having your friends get on board. Don't have an account yet? Sign up HERE and get $10! This is the first thing I do when planning out our weekly meals.

2. Planning- As mentioned above I plan our meals weekly so I'm not just buying random things. I know my step daughter doesn't like peanut butter so I only plan for pb&j for during the week. I know the 3 youngest like granola so I use my app and stock up on those to get them through the day. We try to eat the healthiest foods possible so we plan our meals based off what's in season and what I have a rebate for.

3. Shopping at Aldi- I have blogged about shopping there in the past ( see it here). Aldi always has some of the lowest prices on meat, produce and even home necessities. Once I purchase all my rebates from Ibotta ( not valid at Aldi, hopefully soon) I head over to Aldi to complete my list. They have have amazing stuff!

**tip, shop at your local farmers market during the early part of the week. prices seem to be lower!**

4. Coupons- I wish I can say that I am a major couponer but I'm not. I do use the occasional coupon but they are mostly for home essentials like soap, dish liquid and tp. What's great about coupons, is you can double them with your Ibotta rebates!

5. Walmart app- When getting my rebates from Ibotta, I shop at Walmart. They tend to have the lowest prices and are closer that Super Target. But the thing that keeps me coming back is their app. Walmart's savings catcher was introduced to me by my SIL and I can't not get enough of it! When ever you are done shopping, scan your receipt and it will check all the surrounding stores for cheaper prices. If they find it cheaper somewhere else, they will refund you the difference. When you are ready to use your savings, you can use it in store or online as an e-gift card. I use most of my cash back on more personal items like stuff for my hair, makeup or if there is a great rebate on Ibotta.

This is how I was able to reduce our monthly grocery bill! I don't have exact numbers and I apologize, but I would say I roughly saved $200-$250 a month on grocery bill. What tactics do you use? Let me know in the comments below!

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Hello there lovely people! I am super excited about this post! This is my first EVER guest post and it is something that I have been wanting to talk about for a long time!! SKIN CARE! The seasons are changing and that can always cause "issues" with our skin.

Well Emma has some great tips to help you get your skin glowing! Check it out!

Nothing can boost your confidence and help you feel good about yourself like having naturally glowy and radiant skin. This is especially true during warmer months when the fresh air and pleasant sun can help you feel free and fulfilling. So, why trouble yourself with the pressure of covering your face with heavy makeup that can often make you feel all self-conscious, when a little bit of your daily efforts can help you feel and look amazing? Great spring skincare is not all about the products you use and the way you apply them. It’s actually a combination of your lifestyle habits and effective beauty routine. Let’s take a look at what you can do to make your skin glow this spring.

Adjust your diet

Don’t get too worried when you hear the word “diet”. You don’t have to restrict your meals. However, if you want to make sure that your skin looks healthy and radiant, the first thing you should do is take care of it from the inside. There are various foods and drinks that are actually beneficial for the look and texture of your skin. Try to include fish and nuts since they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, spice up your meals with a lot of leafy greens and drink plenty of water. Also, green tea is perfect for a complete detox, healthy gut and great skin.

Exercise more

If you’re not a gym-goer, you don’t have to force yourself to sign up for training sessions. However, regular physical activity can tremendously help with improving the look of your skin. You can exercise a bit at home, go for walks, ride a bike or do anything else that seems fun to you. Once you get into the habit of moving your body regularly, you’ll be able to notice a positive change in your skin as well. Essentially, exercise boosts blood circulation which in turn makes your skin bright and supple. Furthermore, through sweating you’ll get rid of toxins, which can effectively minimize your breakouts as well. Not to mention that you’ll feel happier and more energetic overall. Perfect for springtime!

Exfoliate regularly

When it comes to the necessary steps that you need to take in order to update your skincare, exfoliation is first on the list. Depending on your skin type, you should exfoliate your face (and your body) once or twice a week. This will help remove dead skin cells that would otherwise stick to your skin, as well as get rid of stubborn dirt particles that can’t be removed with simple cleansing. You should never be too rough on the skin though. If you want to make sure that you’re not damaging your skin even more, you can try some natural homemade scrubs, too.

Cleanse your face

It’s recommended that you wash your face in the morning and evening. Moreover, you should never go to bed without washing your face thoroughly, and since you have to wash your face pretty often, it would be best to opt for mild and natural cleansers. However, this is not enough to remove makeup and dirt. Therefore, in order not to dry out your skin, add an additional step to this routine and use a cream cleanser before your usual one. In the evening, wash your face with lukewarm water, and in the morning, you can use cold water to tighten the pores and make your skin brighter and less puffy.

Use adequate skincare products

As mentioned, your skin needs proper care from both inside and outside. In that respect, you shouldn’t neglect skincare products. Moisturizer is essential part of a healthy skincare routine. Of course, you should choose the products that suit your own skin type and needs. With a wide range of Alive Skin and Hair products, you can find everything you could possibly need. This is especially true when it comes to sunscreen. SPF is a must throughout the year and even more so with the arrival of warm weather. If you don’t want to put several layers of products on your skin, you can also opt for moisturizers that already have an SPF.

As you can see, the above-mentioned skincare tips depend solely on you and your efforts. Taking good care of your skin and having a radiant, fresh and youthful complexion in spring is not something unimaginable, or hard to achieve. Once you get into the habit of taking good care of your overall health with a proper diet and exercise, all that’s left is to listen to your skin’s needs and soothe it with products that work best for you.

Thank you so much Emma for sharing these great tips with us all! What are your secret tips for your skin? Let me know in the comments below!