Wifestyle Hustle

Today we continued our garden editions of our saving money series. Saving money in the vegetable garden is so important to make the garden a sustainable enterprise for your family. I try to make the vegetables I grow be as cheap as possible. This often means a little more work and elbow grease for me. But that is OK. The work is good for me and makes my vegetable garden all the more rewarding.

If you missed part 1 in this series you can find that HERE. Both episodes in the series had great information. Give it a listen for more tips.

Did you know we can now be found on a new platform? Come check us out on Pinterest! We are pinning new things daily and developing our pins to go with some of our most popular episodes. Let us know what you think!

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

00:27 Tip 12: Propagating Existing Plants

01:26 Tip 13: Dump Old Potting Soil

03:06 Tip 15: Mulch Wisely

05:08 Tip 16: DIY Garden Decor

06:13 Tip 17: Community Gardening

08:11 Tip 18: Learn About Each Plant

09:08 Tip 19: Use Natural Pest Control

10:41 Tip 20: Preserve Your Food

12:16 Tip 21: Successive Planting

Part 2 Recap

Propagate existing plants to save money and increase your garden's productivity.

Dump old potting soil into your garden or compost to improve soil quality.

Choose perennials and plants that reseed to save money on replanting.

Mulch wisely using materials like wood chips, leaves, or straw.

Engage in DIY garden decor to personalize your garden and save money.

Consider community gardening to share resources and build a sense of community.

Learn about each plant's needs to optimize their growth and productivity.

Use natural pest control methods to protect your plants without harming beneficial insects.

Preserve your food through canning, drying, or freezing to reduce waste and enjoy homegrown produce year-round.

Practice successive planting to maximize your garden's productivity throughout the growing season.

Today, we dove into a topic we have only touched on in the past. Meal planning helps so much with taming the chaos in a busy household. Whether you're the kind of person who has every meal for the next two weeks planned or the kind person who just keeps the ingredients for your most made dishes in the house, this episode is for you. Knowing what is for dinner early in the day can make the whole day more peaceful. It is so stressful to have dinner hanging over your head.

Neither of us are firm meal planners. But we both like to have an idea of what is for dinner during the week. We also both like to, at least, have the protein for dinner planned early in the day. Just figuring out the protein is half the battle.

A few months ago we did a series of doubling recipes. Doubling a recipe is a great way to have a meal ready to go on a busy night. Check out THIS post to learn a little more about our method. We are big believers in making life easier by doubling our recipes. Another thing we did in this episode is talk a little about how we are cooking rule breakers and rarely use real recipes. We are big believers in being creative in the kitchen. Give this episode a listen to see what we mean.

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Recap

• Keep easy heat-up-and-go meals on hand to avoid the temptation of takeout.
• Maintain a well-stocked pantry with dry goods for easy meal planning.
• Utilize frozen ravioli and other convenient foods for quick and easy meals.
• Explore new recipes and cuisines to add variety to meal rotations.
• Teach kids to cook for their independence and growth as a family.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Meal Planning

01:08 Easy Heat Up and Go Meals

04:23 Frozen Ravioli and Other Convenient Foods

06:30 Starting Small with a Well-Stocked Pantry

08:06 Meal Planning Apps and Online Resources

09:17 Creating a Rotation of Recipes

10:26 Trying New Recipes and Cuisines

13:57 Meal Prep: Preparing Ingredients in Advance

15:34 Grilling Extra Meat for Future Meals

18:48 Hiding Vegetables from Veggie Hounds

19:40 Cooking Food from Other Countries

25:17 Using Up All Purchased Food

26:37 Letting Kids Cook and Learn

30:02 Teaching Kids to Cook for Independence

30:35 Conclusion: Growing as a Family through Meal Planning

Today we got a little personal about our decision making process on our families sizes. It can be so hard to decide when your family is complete. For some people nature helps with the decision. But, for most people, it has to be a conscious choice to stop having more kids or not.

Some families never make the choice officially and usually have large families. We talked a bit about big families today in an admiring sort of way. In their chaos they always seem so happy.

How did you make the decision that your family is complete? Did you think long and hard about your family size? Or did you let nature decide how big your family is?

Come check us out over on Pinterest! We're adding new stuff all the time. As with all we do, we try to make it a fun and interesting place to visit. We have pins from a lot of our most common topics. There's a lot going on.

Have you heard our episode on effect of birth order on personality? Listen to that HERE. We have some characters in our families. Let's see if the order of their birth is a contributing factor.

Do you have a show idea for us? We would love to hear from you. Reach out to us on any of our social media account to share your idea with us.

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Key Points

The decision to have children is deeply personal and can be influenced by various factors such as infertility, job stability, and personal circumstances.

Adding child after child to a family can bring both challenges and joys, with each child contributing to the dynamics and growth of the family.

Deciding when to stop having children is a complex decision that can be influenced by factors such as age, financial considerations, and the desire for a certain family size.

Every family's journey is unique, and there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the number of children a family should have.

Chapters

00:00 Deciding to Have the First Child

06:15 Adding the Second Child

11:05 Expanding the Family with the Third Child

23:16 Knowing When to Stop Having Children

Today we continued our saving money series with a gardening episode. The garden season is almost here and we are so ready to dig our hands in the dirt again. Depending on where you hail from, you might already be outside. For us, we have to be patient a little longer. That doesn't mean we can't start thinking about and planning for an amazing harvest. In fact, the best way to save money is to start early with a plan. Buy those seeds now! It will make the end of winter a little more cheery.

We discussed all the little things we do to make the garden more affordable. It is so easy to blow the budget at the garden center when you see all the beautiful plants and garden supplies. $50 a piece tomatoes anyone? Been there! Having a bit of restraint and a plan can save so much money! Then those fresh garden tomatoes don't have to break the bank. Join us for our talk about it.

We mentioned our favorite fertilizer in this episode. Find a link for that HERE

Hey, did you know we are on Pinterest? That's right! You can find us there. We are still learning this new platform. We have pins for some of our most recent episodes. Come on over and check it out.

Have you heard our episode on Fall Gardening? Listen to that HERE. This episode is when all of our hard work pays off. Give it a listen to hear why it is all worth it!

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Takeaways

Shop the sales and buy seeds at the Dollar Tree to save money.
Consider making your own structural pieces and using a water catchment system.
Harvest at the peak of ripeness to avoid stress on your plants.
Start seed saving and planning early to save money on seeds.
Start a compost and purchase amendments in concentrated form.
Buy used tools and buy flower seeds, soil, compost, and wood chips in bulk.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
00:58 Seeds
01:14 Shop the Sales
04:18 Buy Structural Pieces at the End of the Season
05:06 Make What You Can
07:26 Water Catchment System
10:05 Harvest at the Peak of Ripeness
11:33 Start Seed Saving
15:31 Start Planning Now
16:35 Start a Compost
17:42 Purchase Amendments in Concentrated Form
19:17 Buy Used Tools
21:38 Buy Flower Seeds at the Dollar Store
22:45 Buy Soil, Compost, and Wood Chips in Bulk

We took on a big topic today. We discussed how we handled our kids being online through the ages. It is so hard to know, as parents, how to let go of the reins and let your kids start to go online. For us, it was something we avoided for a long time. There was no reason to let our preteens loose on the internet so we didn't. Did we handle it correctly? We think so for our kids. But that doesn't mean that is the way it should be or has to be for all kids. Every family has to make these decisions for themselves on the right timeline for them.

We tried not to scare the parents of young kids too much. There are some really good things on the internet that can provide real value. The hard part for parents is allowing those good thing through while providing a safe environment for our kids to explore. It can be a challenge. But it is possible.

Did you know we are on a new platform? Come check us out on Pinterest. We put more interesting things on our boards everyday on a wide range of topics.

Have you heard our episode on all the things we love about babies? You don't have to worry a bit about tough topics like the internet when you have sweet cuddly little babies. Listen to that HERE

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Chapters

00:00   Introduction

01:06  The Importance of Allowing Kids to Be Online

02:00  Different Approaches in the Early Years

03:05  Screen Time and TV

04:05  Gradual Introduction to Internet Access

06:07  Benefits of Internet Use for Learning and Research

07:33  Positive Aspects of Social Media

09:18  Growing Up in a Digital Age

10:28  Transitioning from Traditional Research to Internet Research

11:58  Avoiding Absolute Statements and Adapting to Changing Times

13:39  The Permanence of the Internet

15:48  The Influence of Social Media and Perceived Perfection

18:28  Guiding Children in the Online World

19:49  Challenges and Risks of Internet Use

23:36  Parental Control Apps

25:12  The Internet Never Dies

26:38  The Impact of Online Bullying

28:15  The Role of Parents in Addressing Bullying

32:08  Gradually Letting Go and Trusting Your Teenagers

35:42  The Passage of Time and Cherishing Moments

36:20  Conclusion

Recap

Takeaways

• Gradually introduce internet access and monitor online activities to ensure a safe and positive online experience for children.
• Social media can have positive aspects, such as connecting with friends and learning new skills.
• Teach children about the permanence of online content and the importance of being mindful of what they share.
• Parental involvement and guidance are crucial in helping children navigate the digital world and address challenges like cyberbullying.
• Adapt your approach to internet use based on your child's maturity level and individual needs.

Buying a car can be such a stressful experience. Hearing the horror stories for other consumers is enough to send shivers down your spine just thinking about it. But it is something everyone has to do eventually. Going into it prepared is so crucial to saving money

Today we discussed a few strategies to make car buying a little more bearable. These tips can help you get the best deal on your next vehicle. Shopping around is the biggest take away for the episode.

We mentioned a car buying site. Cars.com was the one we mentioned. Cargurus.com is another good one to check out.

One thing we missed talking about during the episode is starting early. We did discuss driving your vehicle into the ground. But there is a balancing act there. You have to start shopping for a new vehicle before your old vehicle breaks down for the last time. This gives you the time you need to look around and find the right car for you. If you wait too long, you limit your available search window. For us, we like to buy vehicles from farther south where things don't get as rusty. We have to balance the life left in our vehicle with our need to travel a little ways to purchase.

Have you heard our episode about holiday budgeting. Listen to that HERE A big part of budgeting for the holidays is starting early. No time like the present.

Thanks for listening today! If you're loving our podcast please consider sharing it with your friends. Post a quick link on your social pages can really help us out. Thanks!!

The effect of birth order has been studied through the ages. You've heard them. The oldest is an organized leader. The middle child is a peacekeeper. And the youngest is a free spirit. These generalizations seem to hold true across many families. Today, we compared these findings to our own families to see if it all holds true for us. Over all, the generalizations held true for the most part. But we had a few exceptions as most families do. Kids don't like to conform to generalizations.

Even within our two families we have some unique dynamics that probably plays a role in our non conformity.

Lastly today we discussed a few ways to help overcome some of the more negative generalizations associated with birth order. We, as parents, can help through our actions alleviate some of these pressures. Our kids shouldn't have to feel like they have to be a certain way just because of the order they were born.

How about your family? Do these birth order generalizations work in your family? We'd love to hear about it. Reach out to us on one of our social accounts and tell us about it.

If you're interested in hearing more from us, we're in a new space. Come find our pins over on Pinterest. We are pretty new but we're looking forward to growing into this new platform.

Have you heard our episode on mom guilt? Go listen to that HERE. Mom guilt and birth order can go hand in hand.

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Few things are more pointless than guilt. Sure, we should feel guilty about truly wrong things we've done. But too often we beat ourselves up about things that really weren't worth feeling guilty about. Mom guilt is especially difficult. I believe most moms are doing the very best they can to be the best they can. However, we look around at our lives and our kids and feel bad for things that have little control over.

Today, obviously, we dove into the world of mom guilt. We feel guilty about the silliest things. And comparing our families lives to the lives of other families is what can make it all the worse. Other families get may not have the benefit of having a parent at home all the time but can afford things my family can't. It isn't fair to compare my life to theirs because we both made choices that led us to where we are. For better or worse there is no place for guilt here. At least that is what we hope.

Every mom (and dad) deals with feelings of guilt surrounding parenting. We discussed a few strategies to help deal with it. We hope they help.

Have you heard our episode about Time Management? Learning to manage your time well is a life skill worth learning. Listen to that HERE

Thanks for listening today! Please consider sharing our podcast with your friends. That is the biggest way you can help us out. Thanks!

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Today was a fun little trip down memory for us. Having a baby in the house can be so stressful. Taking care of the every need of a person who can't even hold up their own head is a challenge. But it isn't all bad. There's so much good here. Today we talked about it.

There are so many unknowns when you bring home a new baby. A lot of parents have a bit of trepidation about this little life they made. It is hard to see past the crying, diapers, feedings, and all the other needs of the babies. But after you settle into the new routines you start to see these lovely little things to love about having a baby. Babies bring so much joy to the lives of their parents.

If you're expecting, these are some great things to look forward to. Both of our families are out of the baby stage now. But we had so much fun looking back and remembering these perks.

Keep an eye out for more in this series.

Have you heard our episode on the great transition between being a working woman to becoming a stay at home mom. Listen to that HERE

If you are enjoying our podcast, would you consider sharing it with a friend. It is our goal to bring you fun, engaging content. If you feel we have please consider sharing.

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores

Listen to Raised Bed vs In-ground Gardening HERE

This was such a fun episode and a testament that we don't agree on everything.

Today we talked about our different gardening methods. We discussed the pros and cons of each method.

Raised Bed Gardening

I (Ellyn) love my raised bed gardens. They're beautiful and so productive but they are a little more work on the front end. They must be built and filled. The upside of that is you have complete control over what goes into your soil. The downside is it is a little more work and possible expense. Raised beds are great if your soil isn't amazing or if your land is a little too wet for an in-ground garden. For me, I love pretty things. I love that my garden doesn't just feed my family but it also adds aesthetic beauty to our yard. For us, that is important because our vegetable garden is visible from the street and from my favorite spot to sit in our yard. I love my raised beds!

In-Ground

I (Lauren) love in-ground gardening because there are no defined edges to my garden. If I want a new bed I can just go out and lay cardboard down. Boom! New planting bed. I think in-ground gardening gives larger plants all the space they need to thrive. They aren't confined by the edges of the bed. The only downsides I've found with in-ground gardening is it is harder on the back. There is a fair amount of bending over or crawling around involved with in-ground gardening. The other possible downside is it can be less attractive than raised bed gardening, though not always. I love my in-ground garden!

Whatever method you choose is good. We have different reasons for our chosen methods. I think the important take away from this episode is there isn't a right way to do it. Raising your own food is so rewarding no matter what way you choose to do it.

Have you heard our episode about starting seeds inside? Listen to that HERE

Transcript

Music is by Oliver Massa. It is called Weekend Chores