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Twin Cities Frugal Mom

Living well and centsibly in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area

Little luxuries: Ten things I buy that cost more (and how to save on them)

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Some little luxuries are worth spending more but there are still ways to save on them. Part of being frugal is deciding where to spend less money, and where to spend more.

Susan Gregory Thomas suggested this in her post “Little Luxuries Lift You Up” on dailyworth.com, a website about money written by women for women. Even when money is tight, if you can, it’s worth saving even just a few pennies a day for that special lipstick or other treat that lifts you up.

These are 10 things that to me are worth the higher cost. Call them “treats” for myself and my family, or just call them wise buys. Though I’ll buy clothes at thrift stores and use coupons wherever I can, some things are not worth buying cheap, especially when you consider their long-term usefulness and life improvement value. For example, why buy something cheap if you’re going to have to keep replacing it, if you could just spend more money up front for an item that lasts longer? [Read more…]

Confessions of a Frugal Bride: Spend Less on a Wedding

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I just read two articles on the interesting site Easy Finance; one on wedding costs and one on future college costs for kids. They really made me think about how we could spend less on our weddings and be a frugal bride!

After looking at the average wedding price tag of $26,984 (see infographic below), and then seeing the current yearly costs of college tuition ranging from $17,131 to $38,589, I couldn’t help but wonder “Why are people spending so much on weddings when that money could put to better use, like saving for a down payment on a house, college for their future children, or retirement?”

Sure, it’s not as much fun to put money into the bank as it is to spend it on a fancy reception or wedding ring. But with the rapidly rising costs of everything nowadays, from medical expenses to home repairs to college tuition, is it really necessary to spend so much on one day of your life? Is it the cost, or the people and celebration itself that makes it memorable?

Confessions of a Frugal Bride

We had a great wedding and it cost under $4000. Though honestly, I think it was still too much (we split the cost with my parents). For me, getting married wasn’t about the wedding itself. It was about simply being married and looking forward to spending our lives together. [Read more…]

“Just Between Friends” Back to School Sale in Hopkins this weekend, Aug 16-18!

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I just found out about this sale event from a friend this week! (Thanks, Kathy!)

Just Between Friends Sale in Hopkins, MN – August 16-18

Hopkins Pavilion
11000 Excelsior Blvd
Hopkins, MN 55343
See their Full Sale Schedule
(half-price sale begins August 17 at 7:00pm!)

Just Between Friends sales are happening all over the country including right here in the Twin Cities, and you can buy all kinds of gently used items for low prices directly from other moms and families in the area!

At a Just Between Friends sale you can expect to find everything you can possibly imagine for your kids, but primarily kids clothing, toys, baby equipment, strollers, maternity wear, shoes, costumes…and the list goes on and on! [Read more…]

Use Meetup.com to find many local groups for Moms (and Frugal Moms!)

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This week I attended my first “Meetup” with a local mom’s group I found on meetup.com. At least a half dozen of us moms met at a park in our community while our kids played together at the playground. It was very casual and informal, and nice to meet others who live near me.

find local mom groups

I discovered meetup.com a few months ago while searching the Internet for low-cost activities for moms & their kids in the Twin Cities. Since my husband and I both work outside our own city, I wanted to meet other moms in our area while introducing my kids to other kids their ages as well.

[Read more…]

Sweet! Nadia Cakes in Maple Grove (Review)

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Nadia Cakes Cupcake Shop & Custom Cake Studio is a fun, new place to get yummy treats with your family in the Twin Cities area. Here’s my family’s review of this amazing cupcake shop!

Heidi at Nadia Cakes
Heidi & her Vanilla Vanilla cupcake!

Where is Nadia Cakes?

They just opened up a new shop in Maple Grove (on Fountain Drive near Costco) in July, and it’s been popular! Originally started in California by Abby Jimenez, a busy mom of three, her cupcake shop gained fame on TLC’s show “Fabulous Cakes” and as a winner of the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars.” If you didn’t see those shows (I missed them as I don’t have cable!), you can see pictures of her unbelievable cakes on her website. (Seriously…check it out. You’ll be amazed!)

[Read more…]

Three Ways to Save Money for Back to School!

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1. (Expired) Call your local JCPenney NOW to schedule a free haircut for your child! JCPenney is offering free haircuts for kids ages Kindergarten to 6th grade throughout the month of August. $14 value. Make an appointment NOW before space fills up! Find your nearest JCPenney salon. Twin Cities area salons include Rosedale (651-631-3330), Southdale (952-920-8101), Ridgedale (952-544-6000), Eden Prairie (952-944-6807), Maple Grove (763-416-1708) and Maplewood (651-779-3040).
[Read more…]

Ten Reasons I Haven’t Yet Lost Those Extra 10 Pregnancy Pounds

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It’s hard to lose weight. But realistically, it’s mind boggling when we can’t figure out why we haven’t lost those extra pregnancy pounds!

1. Moms need coffee. Moms like me need a large iced triple expresso with chocolate and hazelnut syrup. And whipped cream.

2. Wake up at 6am. Chase, change, feed kids. Work. Go home. Chase, change, feed kids. Clean house (at least try to…). Chase, change, put kids to bed. Collapse into bed. When exactly was I supposed to fit in exercise?

3. Taking care of kids does not, unfortunately, technically count as exercise. However, once I can finally collapse in bed every night, I’m out so fast you’d think I just completed a triathlon (in my mind, I kinda did…).

[Read more…]

New Summer Fairs List!

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Check out my new Twin Cities area Summer Fair List for 2012 (Link Removed as list is no longer available).

Also included are links to fair websites plus my tips for enjoying the fairs with kids.

We went to the Ramsey County Fair this year, and had fun (& got lots of free stuff for the kids including custom-made balloons at the Children’s Activities Area)! We’re hoping to go to a few more fairs this summer.