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House Mix

Offbeat ideas on family, decor, and organizing for moms on a budget

Money

How to start a blog and make money

This a definitive post with EVERYTHING I know about blogging.

Exactly how we paid of $18,000 of credit card debt - With real numbers

How we paid $18,000 of credit card debt in a year

Ten years ago Marcello and I were renting an over-priced, dumpy apartment with rusty appliances ...

100+ ways to save money

This is the most comprehensive, complete guide to frugal living I have EVER done. It ...

How we afforded our dream home

I’m going to do something bloggers don’t do. I’m going to share ...

710 dollars a year for food - pantry stocking twice a year - whole foods plant based diet - vegetarian menu plan for the week

$1,650 a year for organic groceries!

Sasha has an amazing assortment of grains and flours here and even gives us a ...

How to do a spending freeze

What are you saving for? An emergency fund? Home renovation? Pay down debt? Vacation? Whatever ...

VIDEO: Super frugal home decor tour

I’m going to walk you through each room of my house and tell you ...

kids-and-chores-which-chores-get-paid-allowance-or-no-allowance-what-about-teaching-to-give-printable-chore-chart

Kids chore chart to earn money

Get the printable! Some family chores and some paid chores.

How to make homemade baby food in 45 minutes a week and save 50 percent

Make baby food in 45 minutes a week and save 50 percent

The biggest reason I started making baby food is to give my kids the most ...

Feeding a family on a tight budget

My monthly budget is at least $200 less than I was spending two years ago, and ...

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Hi! I’m Kate.

Hi! I’m Kate — child of God, wife, mother to three, creative type, who thinks too much. I blog to inspire and help with all things decorating, organizing, budgeting, family and faith. I keep things real and am not afraid to show you my mess and shortcomings.

ABOUT ME >>

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I cheated on my spending freeze for these clearance $6 candle sconces! 🤦🏼‍♀️ But aren’t they pretty! I pulled my pothos in because it’s pretty chilly here in SW Florida this week! But then I hung her up here and I’m in love. I don’t know how happy she’ll be there or how I’ll water it, but for now she stays.
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In stories I’m showing what I have up so far for Valentine’s day and the other spot I considered putting the sconces. As soon as this freeze if over I’m picking back up with MORE stenciling!

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My head is a whirlwind of thoughts! Here I’m busy doing my daily 5 things for 5 minutes. I’ve been talking about it in stories and it’s been SO GREAT! I’m trying to create better habits. I plan on having a printable for you next week. .
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I’m also doing a spending freeze, which is going well. We’ve only bought a gallon of milk. But my gas tank is less than a quarter full, so I’m not sure that will make it until Thursday! I’ve also been yacking your ear off about all different kinds of ways to save money — I saved it in a couple different “money” highlights. .
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Notice all the dark accent walls popping up all over the gram? I think it has something to do with all of us being brainwashed with white walls for a decade! And then pendulum swings the other way. Do you have any dark or colored accent walls?

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Eventually we’ll save for our dream kitchen, but right now I’m quite happy with the side of the fridge painted white and a stenciled backsplash! Those things probably cost $40 combined. .
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I’m on day two of my spending freeze and figure I’ve saved at least $100 already by saying no things that are wants, not needs. I stopped myself from adding $20 of makeup to my Amazon cart. I didn’t stop by Target after dropping Clara off at school for a few things for dinner — which always turns into other stuff landing in the cart too! I thought about stopping by Taco Bell yesterday with the kids on the way home last night because they were hungry and it would have been easy. These little things add up! And most of these things I will have forgotten about or will no longer need after the spending freeze.
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I’m talking in depth about how to save money on food, electricity, cable and cars in stories today! I’ll save everything to “money” in my highlights.

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Here is a picture of me not stenciling my bathroom! I’ve painted everything else — the tub, the shower, the tile — but I ran out of adhesive spray and can’t buy any for 10 days because we started a spending freeze today! I’m talking all about it in stories — specifically menu planning from the freezer and pantry. And I’m saving everything in highlights under “money.” .
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Here’s my #1 tip to living frugally and happily: Stop thinking about other people!
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If our friends go on a fancy vacation or remodel their kitchen, why should we be jealous? Why should we try to one-up them? We are not on the same path. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Maybe they saved a decade for it. Maybe they’re in debt for it. But it shouldn’t matter to you! You are on your own financial journey and need to be content with what you have now. Do not covet. Nothing good will come from it.
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• You do you. Don’t you worry about what your friends are doing or have.
• Live within your means. Don’t borrow from next month or even next week.
• The grass is not greener. Stop obsessing about the next thing you “need” to make you happy. The exhilaration of that new thing will fade, just as it did with the last one.
• Be content and grateful for what you have. How many people are praying right now to have what you have? You probably used to pray for them yourself.
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We’ll pick back up tomorrow with ways to save on food, electricity, cars, kid stuff, shopping sales, beauty, entertainment, dates…
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What’s your best money saving tip?

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I really like how this reading nook is coming together! I’ve been searching for a unique + cheap ottoman with no luck. I’m not even sure what I want there, I just know I haven’t seen it, haha! Plus when I say cheap, you know I’m SUPER cheap. But the search is on hold because we are on a 10 day spending freeze!
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In stories I’m talking about all my spending freeze rules + ways to save during the freeze to really rock that financial goal! (I’ll save it under “Money.”) Have you ever done a spending freeze? Want to try it with me?!

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Disclosure

This site contains ads and affiliate links. 20 percent of proceeds earned from my blog are donated to charities for children and clean water. See all policies here.

If you would like to support me, you can do your regular shopping on Amazon after clicking HERE. It costs nothing extra to you and I earn a small percentage. Thank you!

Copyright

Would you like to feature an idea or photo from House Mix? Great! Please use only one image, do not crop the credit on the bottom and provide a link back to the original post. You may not share a post in its entirety. Thanks!

I’m so excited to share my best-selling Ultimate Clean House Planner with you! It’s a 12-page printable with my favorite DIY cleaner recipes, the best cleaning hacks, a deep clean calendar and home maintenance checklist.

GET IT HERE >>

Lightroom Preset

My Tropical Sunkiss preset makes it so you can edit photos right on your phone with a click of a button! This preset elevates phone shots to look professionally edited, with crisp, sharpened details. Even gives you a little suntan!

GET IT ($5) HERE >>

Thought Life Challenge

I’ve created a 30-day Thought Life Challenge, one exercise a day — first working to identify negativity and weed it out, and secondly to find joy through gratitude. Included: challenge calendar, daily devotional and verse, thought and gratitude journal

GET IT ON AMAZON OR ETSY ($2.99)>>

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