Take a sneak peek into my A Light Heart in Dark Times magazine today!

Coping with Job Loss: A Lesson From the Trenches

by Christina Wong

I was completely unprepared for my husband’s job loss. Some people think that the hardest part about losing a job is the financial side of the equation, but there are so many other worries. Most people who lose their source of income don’t plan for it; I know we certainly didn’t. We were not prepared for the financial and emotional consequences of going from a nice income with benefits to having to draw unemployment and doing whatever we could to make ends meet. If you are in a similar situation, you might wonder how to cope. Let me share with you what we did to help keep ourselves afloat.

I had just signed a lease on a bigger, newer apartment that cost about $300 more a month. I was also having some health issues, and the bills were already beginning to stack up. I had anticipated following my husband to wherever the Army sent him, so I had taken the semester off from school and had no paying job. I had started my blog, Youthful Homemaker, and intended for it to one day become a business, but that day was far into the future.

Instead of letting the bills pile up, I found a few easy solutions to help infuse a little income into the budget. The first was through a friend of mine. She has two beautiful twin girls who needed a nanny, and I took the job. She dropped them off at my house four days a week, which meant I could watch them and work on my website at the same time. The other way I added a little more income to our budget was to spend more time working for my family’s business, Wheat-n-Things. My parents were selling their whole grains and homemade bread at one of the local farmers markets and needed an extra hand baking and selling. I also started baking my own specialty breads and made an occasional craft item to sell, bringing in a nice little income that way.

Ways We Saved More Money. . .

For more of this article on coping with job loss, CLICK HERE to purchase A Light Heart in Dark Times as a single issue.

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Weed killer(s) don’t have to be toxic. Chances are you’ve got some of these “natural” ingredients around the house to make a frugal yet effective weed killer.

First you’re going to need some kind of spray bottle. Be sure it wasn’t previously filled with some other kind of chemical, you never want to inadvertently mix ingredients.

Vinegar is my personal favorite ingredient to kill weeds. The acedic acid is what allows vinegar to shrivel up those pesky, problem plants! Take a look at the different kinds of vinegar, the one with the largest amount of acedic acid should be the most affective for killing weeds.

*A word of caution* Vinegar is so effective in killing weeds it will also kill your plants! If you are spraying around flowers, plants or even in your yard- spray carefully!

Boiling water is also another great method to kill unwanted vegetation, especially on sidewalks and driveways! You are basically cooking the plant right there in the ground when you pour boiling water over it. Simply put a kettle of tap water on the stove, heat it to boiling and pour on the weeds you wish to kill. *This method also kills good plants so pour with caution!*

Salt is another frugal yet effective choice. You can simply drop a small pinch of table salt at the base of undesirable plants. It will kill the plant and dilute down to harmless in the next few rainfalls. If you happen to have a gravel driveway and there are weeds popping up here and there, simply sprinkle it with salt and the ground will be unsuitable for plant growth (mostly likely for months!).

Natural weed killers work for me! What do you use to kill weeds?

Today’s guest post is brought to you by : Annabelle Smyth, www.dailypencil.com

Over time, it’s common for children to simply have too many toys and some that they do not play with anymore. When they outgrow a toy, whether it is because they are past the recommended age range or are simply bored with it, there are several things that you can opt to do with the toys so that they do not get thrown away or go to waste. Toys for indoor play, outdoor play, large rocking horses, bean bag chairs, stuffed animals and kitchen sets are just some of what you may have that you do not know what to do with. Take advantage of these options to get those toys out of your house and into the hands of someone who can use them.

1. Storage

If you are unsure if you will need the toys that your child have outgrown at a future time, putting them into storage is a great option. This is ideal for those who are thinking about having more children in the future or those who are expecting grandchildren and would like to pass down the toys that their children played with. Tampa FL storage facilities, Mesa self storage units and other storage buildings are available for rent all around the country.

2. Donations

Donating your child’s old toys is one way that you can give back to the community while cleaning up the things that your kids do not play with anymore. There are many different causes that accept toy donations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and Goodwill. Toys can be dropped off at these facilities or can be picked up by some on select days right on your doorstep, making it easy to donate.

3. Garage Sales

Gain some money back from all of your outgrown toys by selling them at a garage sale. First, you will want to clean up all of the toys that you plan to sell and test with batteries to ensure that they are still in good working condition. Mark them at low prices to draw customers in, getting them to buy multiple toys that their children will enjoy. To price competitively, look up current prices for the toys that you are selling online before marking them at your garage sale.

4. Consignment Stores

Consignment stores and shops that buy and sell gently used children’s clothes and toys are ideal for selling your used children’s toys. These toys must be in good condition. By bringing them to these stores you will either receive an upfront price for your goods that will then be re-sold for a profit or will earn a percentage of the sale price after they have been sold.

By taking advantage of these options, you will make room in your house while getting rid of the toys that your children have outgrew. Whether you opt to donate, put them into storage or sell for a profit, there are plenty of things to do with your old children’s toys that still have life left in them.

Annabelle is currently a loving and caring mother of two children. She lives outside of Milwaukee, WI and loves cheering for the Bucks and Badgers. She is a blog enthusiast and loves writing, if she is not writing she is cleaning up after her two lovely angels.

Watch Out! Molly’s on the Move . . .

Join her for the ride!

$4.95

Spring is in the air and Molly is on the move! She’s donned her “mover” hat and is ready to provide tips and ideas for anyone “on the move”. With the end of the school year nearly here, vacations are on the minds of many families. Let Molly help you make those vacation plans. Are you planning a road trip? Maybe you’re planning to save some money and stick closer to home? Or maybe you’d like to try out couchsurfing? There are many different types of vacations and Molly has you covered for each of them! Or maybe you are making a move to a new home. We’ve got you covered there as well with tips and tricks to make that move as smooth as possible.

Look for these topics as well as many more-

• Alayna Cann helps you find ways to celebrate each day of May in a special way.
• In Packing It In! Molly Green, shares tips to make your vacation away from home more enjoyable by learning to pack for comfort, but keep it simple!
• If you’re flexible and open minded, let Lisa Strader show you what volunteer vacations are and how to get involved.
•  Learn how to eat on the go without losing your grip on the budget with Molly the Frugal Foodie: Frugal Travel Treats
•  Is it time to de-clutter? Let Molly help you discover one of the best defenses against the unpleasant task of moving.
•  Have you heard of Couchsurfiing?  Lisa Strader will show you how to avoid paying for a roof over your head when you travel. Read on to see the benefits of couchsurfing and how to get started.
•  Sharon White shares another use for an old t-shirt. How about turning it into a water bottle holder?!
•  Frugal Family Fun: How to Vacation in Your Own Hometown – By Connie
• Robertson helps when the budget just doesn’t allow for a road trip vacation. Learn how a staycation vacation can be just the ticket for a frugal, yet fun vacation!
•  We’ve all experienced tangled jewelry when packing it away for either a trip or a move. Let Molly show you how to keep your baubles and bangles untangled and damage free the next time you’re on the move.
•  Are you looking for a frugal way to help the miles speed by on your next trip? Molly’s Road Trip Binder is the just the ticket!
•  Maybe you’d like to take your Molly magazines and E-Books on your trip with you, but you’re not sure how to get those items onto your mobile device. If that’s the case, you’ll find step-by-step instructions on transferring them to your mobile device in this month’s issue.
•  Inger Koppenhaver shares her Do’s and Don’ts of Frugal Family Vacations. Read along as she shares her tips to help you keep on track with your budget, while still being flexible and open to new adventures.

See why homemakers love Molly Green Magazine – see what’s inside!

Click here to view a sample.

 Molly makes it fun and easier to be frugal! Think about it – with so much to learn and save, if you apply just one money-saving idea, you’ll recoup the cost of this E-Book right away!

Join Molly daily and follow her

adventures in fiscally responsible homemaking at

www.Econobusters.com.

Project Manager: Dena Wood, Becky Gustafson.
Contributing Writers: Alayna Cann, Patricia Hunter, Becky Gustafson, Rhonda Barfield, Dena Wood, Inger Koppenhaver, Sharon White
Publication: 2013
Pages: 68
File Size: 12.6 MB

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Every month, Molly has a wealth of information and support to share in one easy-to-read, handy resource! Discover for yourself all of the exciting and imaginative ideas Molly has to offer—ideas that could save you big money and needless headaches!

You’ll glean some of the best inexpensive ideas and projects for everyday living that you can find and be inspired to be self-confident, creative, and resourceful too.

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Take a sneak peek into my Making Money From Home magazine today!

This is an easy to read money-saving guide. Each tip is presented as a bite-size, easy to digest list, perfect for list lovers! The book begins with general rules for saving money in today’s world. These guidelines help you develop a frugal living mentality without sacrificing your quality of life. In this book, you will also learn about web sites, online tools and apps that you can use to buy cheap and even get free stuff.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREEBIE!

*As always, Kindle freebies are free at the time of posting. Be sure to check the price before purchasing.*

Here’s an exercise freebie for you!

Best Core Exercises for Women (Fit Expert Series – Book 10) [Kindle Edition]
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREEBIE!

*As always, Kindle freebies are free at the time of posting. Be sure to check the price before purchasing.*

I know how much you like these grain free E-Books that I find.

Here’s another!

Grain Free Cooking [Kindle Edition]

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*As always, Kindle freebies are free at the time of posting. Be sure to check the price before purchasing.*

Here’s another gardening freebie for you!

Grow Your Own Indoor Organic Vegetable Garden

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREEBIE!

*As always, Kindle freebies are free at the time of posting. Be sure to check the price before purchasing.*