Practical Positive Parenting Advice and Resources
Back in 2010, I quit my full time job to stay home with my son. It was an adjustment in many ways – especially financially. I had to get creative with ways to save money so that I could avoid going back to work. And while it wasn’t always easy, there are many ways to save money without it feeling like a sacrifice!…
Learn how to avoid food waste and save money!
Have you peeked into your kitchen trash can today? I’m serious. Take a peek. You might be surprised to discover that most of it is actually food waste.
Do you know what that means? (Other than “Time to take out the trash?”) It means wasted money.
I heard a statistic recently: On average, Americans waste 40% of the food they buy.
Whaaat?
That’s hard to swallow (pun intended)! Almost half of the food you buy is ending up in your kitchen trash can! So if you usually spend $500 each month on groceries, that’s $200 every month that you’re throwing away! I bet you could find some pretty fun ways to spend an extra $200 each month, right?
But let’s just say that stat is inaccurate. Let’s pretend that, on average, Americans only waste 25% of the food they buy. So, on your usual $500/month grocery budget, you’re “only” wasting $125. Is that more comfortable?
Not for me. An extra $125 each month could give me and the hubby a pretty decent date night out!
This article is written by Lindsey Cover
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
If you’re struggling to stick to a food budget each month, or just simply want to get the most bang for your buck when feeding your family, you’ve got to consider what you waste. (Additionally, food waste negatively impacts the environment.)
Here are some practical ways you can avoid wasting food. You may already be doing some of them! If not, and it overwhelms you to think of starting all of them at once, choose just one or two ways to implement at first, and then gradually take on more. You’re already on your way to saving more money and wasting less!
One of the easiest ways to avoid waste (and save money) before you even hit the grocery store is to go prepared. Make a list and stick to it. Sounds simple, right? But most people neglect to take a few minutes to write a plan for their shopping.
The end result? You know it—impulse buying! Basically, adding anything to your cart you didn’t have on your list. This is so easy to do, and will lead to buying more than what you’ll consume before your next trip.
Additionally, going shopping unprepared may cause you to buy items you already have at home. Take a quick inventory of pantry staples before shopping (and see #6!).
In addition to preparing your list before shopping so you know what to buy, you should also know why you’re buying it.
“It was on sale!”
“I had a coupon!”
I’ve said these phrases a lot, emphasizing how I’ve saved money and “beat the system.” However, I usually haven’t thought about how I will use the item that caught my eye and became impossible to leave on the shelf.
Every item you purchase should have a purpose. It should be one of two things:
1. An ingredient to a meal you’ve planned (for the week or month).
2. A pantry or household staple (that you’ll consume within the month).
If you pick up an item to add to your cart that isn’t one of those two categories, put it back on the shelf!
Research the best way to store fresh produce, dairy, meat and herbs to extend shelf life. Some vegetables do best when stored separately from other vegetables (such as potatoes and onions). Learn where to keep eggs in the refrigerator (in the back vs. on the door).
When you plan meals, prioritize eating perishable foods in the order which they will go bad, and consider freezing any unused ingredients. For example, if a recipe calls for half a bell pepper, slice or dice the remaining half and freeze for another use.
When you think about which meals you’ll make for the week (or month), intentionally schedule a few nights to eat leftovers for dinner.
This could literally be reheating a previous dinner as-is, or re-purposing extra ingredients into a different form (such as turning leftover cooked rotisserie chicken into a topping for salads, wraps, or pizza).
Planning to eat leftovers will also simplify your cooking! For example, you might try cooking only four dinners each week, schedule one or two nights to reheat leftover food (or make breakfast for dinner), and once a week dine out or have a date night.
Consider taking notes on the food you throw away every day for a full week, and evaluate your findings for any trends.
Does the same child throw away a large portion of food from their plate? Try serving them less. Are you tossing vegetable scraps that could be re-purposed? Carrot tops and peels, celery stalks, and onion ends are great for saving in a freezer bag to have on hand for healthy homemade broth.
Fresh produce ripening too fast to eat? Flash freeze individually or blend into a smoothie. Try blending a combination of fruits and veggies into a puree for babies or kids (or adults!) and freeze in reusable pouches to thaw for a refreshing snack later.
Knowing what kinds of food (and how much of it) you already have at home will remind you what is not necessary to purchase when you go to the store. Try taking a pantry challenge (or freezer challenge) to eat as much of the food you currently have at home before purchasing new ingredients.
A challenge like this can be a fun and creative activity for the whole family, and it’s sure to make you appreciate the availability of food at your disposal!
Possibly the best way to combat wasting food is to know yourself and understand where you’ll struggle.
Do you buy lots of fresh produce with good intentions, only to let it turn to mush in the fridge? Do you ignore leftover food all week and then toss it into the trash?
Think about how to adjust your habits, but realize that change doesn’t happen overnight. However, knowing where you are likely to fall short can help you set up a plan to succeed.
Food waste is a common problem in many of our kitchens and homes today. However, it doesn’t need to be! A little bit of awareness, planning, and intentionality can go a long way in preventing valuable food (and money) from going down the drain.
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
Featured Contributor: Lindsey Cover
Lindsey Cover is a work-at-home wife and mom of two young boys, Jadon and Owen. She blogs about affordable healthy living, money-saving methods, simple recipes, and more at SimpleSaverWife.com
What to Do When Your Kid Loses Their Backpack
I saw a commercial that went something like this… Again? He lost his backpack again? And he expects mom to replace it with another one because… he’s cute, he has that plaintive little boy tone in his voice, because he exists? The fact is he’s going to get a new backpack because this is a commercial for a company that pays you a rebate for all your online purchases. Mom is getting rebates and has money to burn, sort of.
This article is written by Fern Weis
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
Here are some parenting challenges that came up for me as I watched:
This one line said all of that. Admittedly, it pushed my buttons because he said “again”. But let’s face it, it isn’t just about a backpack. It’s about attitudes, expectations, fears and values. It’s what I write about, and what I teach. So let’s dive in.
Whose problem is it when the child loses his backpack, again? His, of course. It’s time for mom to step back and let him experience the inconvenience of not having one. It’s also time to put some conditions on how he gets another one.
(See #1) – Knowing that someone will replace a lost or damaged item means you never have to worry about taking care of it, or living without it. That doesn’t bode well for this child’s future.
It’s an attitude that says, “I am, therefore I deserve.” When you indulge that, you feed the attitude and starve the growth of your children.
As a society, we are accustomed to replacing things, whether it is warranted or not. Obsolescence, carelessness, or instant gratification, we do it. We also complain about finances, so there is a real disconnect here.
You know kids need limits because a) the experts and research tell us so and b) you see and experience what happens when there are no limits. It’s not pretty. So what keeps you from putting limits in place? See #6.
Fear is the greatest motivator for, or hindrance to, doing what needs to be done. Perhaps you fear your child’s anger, a tantrum or explosion, or the dreaded “I hate you!” In other areas of your life you may be fearless, but feel vulnerable within your family. Tap into that courage and use it where it counts the most, with your children. Remember, “I hate you” is a strategic maneuver on their part. And, unpleasant as it is, you will both live through the tantrum.
You work hard for your money. Many of you remember working for what you had as kids, that things weren’t just handed to you. My parents provided what I needed. Sometimes what I wanted just wasn’t in the cards. So what’s different now? Is it really as simple as buying for your kids because you can afford it? You can’t guarantee their financial future, and they need to be prepared to make choices. Start preparing them now.
8. Making assumptions (kids and parents)
In this commercial, the son has assumed (understandably) that mom will replace the lost backpack. Mom has also made some assumptions: that this is normal and how it’s going to be, that her son is incapable of functioning without the backpack, that he’s not competent, and that she has to jump in and fix it for him.
I’ve been the fixer, too. My son set me straight: when I lowered expectations (or asked to have them lowered for him at one time), what he heard was that I didn’t believe he was capable of achieving on his own. Instead of building self-esteem, I contributed towards lowering it. Some of you know what I’m talking about. Please, spend some time with this idea. Do it for your kids.
It’s only a commercial. However, if you look below the surface, it’s a ‘teachable moment.’ There are so many messages we unknowingly send our children. Some are inspiring; others not so much. What messages are you sending?
Look at the list again. What resonates with you? Which one makes you uncomfortable? Pay special attention to the one that makes you uncomfortable. This is the one you most need to look at. Do it for your kids.
I sign off on my messages with “Be well, be strong, be a courageous parent.” If you need some help with that, you know how to find me.
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
Featured Contributor: Fern Weis
Fern Weis is a Parent Coach and Family Recovery Coach. She helps parents of tweens, teens, and young adults who are going through difficult situations – from homework battles to addiction recovery – and all points in between. Fern works with parents to nurture the parent-child relationship, improve communication, and set firm and loving boundaries. Parents learn to confidently prepare their children to reach their potential and be successful through life’s challenges. Fern is regularly interviewed on Change Your Attitude…Change Your Life (WOR710 NYC), and is a contributor to Huffington Post and Ridgewood Moms.
Easy Ways to Afford Organic Food
You want to eat healthier and buy more organic food and products, but you’re worried about the cost?
I get that. I’ve been there! (I’m still there!)
When we decided to eat real food as a one-income family with an already tight budget, it was hard to justify spending more money on healthier food (especially while trying to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in school loan debt!).
But as we began making changes and choosing more high-quality foods, including many organics. We’ve been able to keep our grocery spending between $300-$350 each month for our family of 4. It’s not always easy, but realizing that it was actually possible for our family encouraged us to tell others that they can do the same!
This article is written by Lindsey Cover
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
As long as our family is living off of just one income, it will be a stretch to buy all organic food. However, we currently try to do the best we can to get the most for our money and health.
Meat is expensive, especially organic meat, and we often assume it needs to take center stage in every meal. Instead, try stretching it further by serving meat topped on a salad, mixed into a soup or chili, or even serve a meatless meal once or twice each week. If you do want to eat more meat, consider buying less expensive cuts (ground beef vs. steak; whole chicken vs. boneless chicken breast).
•Veggie Stir Fry (an easy way to toss together leftover veggies and rice)
•Baked Potato Bar (affordable and toppings to please everyone)
•Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (fast, fresh and versatile)
Tip: Get the most out of a whole organic chicken by making an easy and delicious Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken. Leftover shredded chicken is great to use in a variety of casseroles, or as a pizza or salad toppings. Save the bones and throw them back into the slow cooker for homemade broth!
Purchasing meat in larger quantities cuts the price per pound and only requires a few minutes to separate into smaller amounts and freeze for later. I like to divide bulk raw meat into 1-pound portions and freeze in quart-sized freezer bags. Alternatively, I cook the bulk meat (plain or seasoned for tacos, etc.) and then divide it and freeze. Bag holders with clips are helpful to hold the freezer bags open for you!
Check if your local farms offer the share of an animal, such as a quarter or half cow. If you have a deep freezer, this is an easy way to buy quality meat at a great rate and you’ll be stocked for nearly an entire year!
Other companies, such as Zaycon Fresh, bring high-quality meat to a pickup location in your community at low prices. Currently, my area has chicken breast for $1.69/lb, ground turkey for $2.19/lb, etc.).
Note: Zaycon meats are not certified organic, but they are high quality meats sourced from humanely raised animals and processed in the U.S.
Farmer’s markets and local farm stands usually have competitive prices on extremely fresh, in-season organic produce. Even if the produce they sell isn’t labeled or advertised as organic, talk to the farmer to learn about their farming practices. Small farms may not be able to afford the expensive process to become “certified organic,” but they may still utilize organic food practices, at least use less pesticides than larger farms.
If you don’t have many local options, choosing in-season fruits and veggies at the supermarket will still be your best bet.
Organic fruits and vegetables from the freezer section are often less expensive than some fresh options, and are just as nutritious. Frozen produce is processed immediately during peak ripeness, unlike the “fresh” items in the produce section, which are often picked before ripened, shipped around the country, and then sit in the supermarket until they are purchased.
This may surprise you, but convenient packaged foods like snacks, drinks, energy bars and cereals are more expensive than eating “real” food from the source. Decreasing the amount of boxed, bagged, and pre-made foods you eat will free up extra cash you can use toward healthier options. To keep grab-and-go snacks available, try making a large batch of homemade granola bars, muffins, popcorn, or other family favorites.
A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) offers you a share of what a local farm grows each month, which is often organic food. Sometimes they also offer shares of flower fields, or a share of cattle. But most often, you’ll get fresh, local produce for a great price. Receiving a variety of vegetables and fruits may force you to try new foods and ways of cooking, which can be fun for the whole family.
Visit a local farm to pick your own berries, apples, pumpkins, and more for an affordable price. Except winter, every season will have different seasonal favorites to try. It’s also an inexpensive and fun family activity!
To make your savings last throughout the year, learn how to freeze fresh summer berries so you can enjoy the ripe flavor of fresh-picked fruit even after the peak season.
Plant as much or as little as you want; even a small garden can reap large rewards. If you don’t have the space for a garden, try a few potted herbs and vegetables instead. Growing your own food means no pesticides and extremely fresh, convenient, organic food that is only a few steps away.
ALDI: In recent years, ALDI stores have expanded the number of organic products they carry, and these items almost always cost less than everywhere else (even without coupons!). Our family’s staples include these organics: peanut butter, coconut oil, quinoa, brown rice, plain yogurt, whole wheat pasta, pasta sauce, salsa, tortilla chips, and fresh fruits and vegetables. We also like to buy these non-organic items: old-fashioned oats, unsweetened applesauce, trail mix, nuts, dried fruit, etc.
Thrive Market: This online retailer offers natural and organic products at wholesale prices . Think Costco meets Whole Foods (with the convenience of Amazon!). You’ll find pantry staples, personal care and household products, vitamins, baby care, and more. There is an annual membership fee, but they also have a Saving Guarantee: If you don’t make your membership fee back in savings by the end of the year, they’ll automatically credit you the difference.
Amazon: It’s hard to compete with the perks of Amazon Prime membership! There are certain items we love to buy on Amazon, especially Subscribe & Save items like toilet paper, diapers and wipes, dishwasher tabs, and even snacks.
Eating more organic food will most likely be a gradual—not instant—change for your family. But don’t let the excuse that eating any organic food is out of reach. No matter your budget, it certainly IS possible!
Find ways to start small and incorporate just a few organic foods into your weekly meals. By buying some organics, you’re “voting” with your money and creating more demand for those items over the conventional alternatives.
For more on this topic, check out the full Saving Money collection
Featured Contributor: Lindsey Cover
Lindsey Cover is a work-at-home wife and mom of two young boys, Jadon and Owen. She blogs about affordable healthy living, money-saving methods, simple recipes, and more at SimpleSaverWife.com
Achieve Success as a Woman and Be Heard in a Noisy World
Over 4 billion Facebook messages are posted each day. Now do you understand why your Facebook page engagement is down? There is so much competition; and more and more content gets created every minute of every day. People cannot possibly consume every piece of content that might be relevant to them, but that doesn’t mean that we should just simply give up and just toss in the towel. Continue reading below to find out how to be heard and achieve success.
There are many ways to still be heard and have an online presence. There are many ways to find and engage with your audience. And there are many ways to be successful despite all of the competition.
But before I dive into those tips, I want to give you a quick reminder… Your content doesn’t need to be viewed by millions of people to be successful. Your content doesn’t need to be shared around the world. It only needs to encourage your audience to take action.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
You don’t need a perfect plan to get started. You don’t need the best equipment. And you don’t need a huge team. Just get started. If you want to reach a new audience, start creating content; and then you will be able to gauge what resonates with them, and what misses the mark. There is no reason to theorize and agonize over “best practices” because by the time you establish that plan, it will be irrelevant.
The more you put yourself out there, the better chance you have of being seen and achieving success
We all want to be noticed and build a following as quickly as possible, but be careful what you wish for… Because a lot of times, our work at the beginning is not all that great. It can be a good thing to practice your craft before people start taking notice. You will start to uncover your voice and play to your strengths so that people can start viewing you as an expert in your field.
Having patience, continue learning, and keep practicing so that you can be polished when people start to take notice.
Once you have gotten into the swing of things and are ready to showcase your work to a larger audience, networking and collaboration can be wonderful tools. See if you can guest blog, be a podcast guest, or contribute to someone else’s work. Many content creators are very open to this, and if you bring value to their audience, they are happy to make the introduction.
Find other content creators that compliment your niche, and collaborate with them to build your audience and help you achieve success.
[ Read: How to Win at Networking ]
Nothing happens overnight, and it is always a challenge to remain patient, grow steadily, and find that perfect balance. However, this is a very good way to grow. You can establish a loyal audience, you can improve as you grow, and you can maintain the workload without any sudden booms. Sometimes it only takes one post to get noticed, but even that isn’t a guarantee that people will remember you tomorrow.
Continue to put out valuable content and maintain realistic expectations.
The bottom line is this – If what you are creating is getting you closer to your goals, then it is worth your time. You need to invest your time before you can expect anything to come from it.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
Grant Langston is the CEO of eHarmony, is an Americana Music artist, has many hobbies, and has a young family! In other words, he is a very busy man trying to find his own work life balance just like the rest of us! I had the opportunity to ask Grant a few questions about the topic of work life balance, and I am excited to share his answers and insight with you!…
Women are changing the corporate world in so many ways. We value honesty, kindness, balance, integrity, and high quality work. We want it all, but we won’t stoop too low to get it. And, we understand that getting ahead in business, doesn’t have to mean that you leave a trail of destruction behind you. Keep reading for great career tips for women…
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
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Everyone has met a parent who thinks they know it all. Aren’t they the most irritatingly pretentious people you have ever met in your life? However, parents sharing advice is vital for overcoming a range of issues that you may encounter no matter how old your child is. Especially for new parents who are still finding their feet. However, you sharing parental advice doesn’t need to come off in such a negative way. Below are four tips on how to share parenting advice without being annoying.
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Nobody likes a parent who storms in and starts barking orders and advice to other people. This is no way to get people to respect your opinions, and it will only hinder relationships between you and other parents. Instead, approach any advice giving like a friend. They will not care about how much you seem to know if you don’t first demonstrate to them that you do in fact actually care. People will always take advice from friends better than strangers, and building relationships will ensure you create a superb parenting network.
[ Read: How to be There for a Friend in Need ]
There are very few people who accept unsolicited advice, especially when they don’t even know you that well. It’s always better to wait for someone to ask for your help rather than offering it without a prompt. Whether the questions relate to the benefits of a leading fertility clinic, or how to get their child to sleep, it’s always better to wait. However, once asked, asking questions will help you give a more thorough answer as you learn more about context.
[ Read: 7 Tips for Being a More Confident Mom ]
Too many parents tell stories of friends of friends that dealt with specific issues in specific ways. But this can quickly become like a game of Broken Telephone. Further down the line, the point of the message is lost. While it’s okay to reference friends who had similar parental struggles, you should only offer advice that you have experienced. Otherwise, you may miss out on critical details, or fail to grasp the nuances of what made something a problem, or even why the methods were so successful to begin with.
[Read: 50 Simple Ways to Help Others]
Everyone has a different parenting method. Some are overly positive, some are negative, but most find a healthy balance between the two. Regardless of how you parent, you should still make sure that you respect other parenting methods. For the most part, you don’t know anything about the other parent or their children, and you have no idea about their personal lives. Every family is unique, and each situation is very different.
So, while you can share general ideas and provide your thoughts about common issues, judging other parents for doing something that you wouldn’t do by saying ‘Well, that’s not how I’d do it, but…’ is not beneficial for anybody. Instead, show support for other moms in the community, and respect that they have a reason for doing everything.
Helping others with parenting is the very least you could do, but you must do so by respecting their parenting techniques as well as other individuals. There is no right way to parent. But there are plenty of ways to work alongside each other to ensure success for the parents and the child.
For more on this topic, check out the full Helping Others collection
Perhaps you are pregnant and completely giddy. (And yes, of course, exhausted, and you have heartburn.) Or perhaps you just gave birth to the most amazing and beautiful little human being. Time stands still while you’re gazing into those baby eyes, smitten with love. (And fatigue.) And perhaps you’ve had, to this point, a career with an upward trajectory. You’ve worked hard and found a field that excites you. You intend to return to the office when your maternity leave ends. But you’re just not quite sure how all of this is going to work out?!
Continue reading below to learn what 4 steps you should take when going on Maternity Leave; and then Returning Back to Work in a balanced, confident manner….
When I was pregnant with my first son (in 2009), I had the incredible opportunity to be a paid blogger for What to Expect When You’re Expecting’s website. This first introduction into the world of working online opened my eyes to the potential of working from home, and I haven’t looked back since! I always wanted to stay home with my children. Working from home as a mom allowed me to pursue a career, hone my skills, and give me flexibility to set my own schedule.
But… even though it is the ideal situation for me and my family, it is not easy!…