Simple & Cheap Wedding Ideas on a Budget

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February 7, 2021 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Party, Pinterest, Social Media Leave a Comment

Hosting a stay at home wedding? Want your own intimate backyard ceremony? These Cheap Wedding ideas give you a visual of frugal ways to save money on a wedding. Get creative with DIY Wedding Decorations on a Budget. Happy planning.

Cheap Wedding Ideas on a Budget

Small weddings are trending, Couples are opting for a more intimate celebration to get quality time with guests and a relaxed atmosphere. We might be in a new year but if 2020 taught us anything it is about the importance of close family and friends, as well as, simplicity.

If you want to create a small intimate wedding, take a look at these Unique & Simple Wedding Ideas on a Budget. When planning a cheap wedding, the biggest advice I can give is purchase something you can use later. Chalk board signs, mirrors, garden lights, etc. All of these items can be incorporated into a couples home. Sort of like home styling and wedding styling in one.

Helpful Posts:

Hosting a Stay at Home Wedding, these posts can help transform a backyard wedding.

Simple Wedding Ideas on a Budget

Instead of spending money on the venue, host a stay at home wedding. The money saved on the venue can go toward backyard landscaping ideas for a garden wedding. Two birds, one stone.

Everyone’s favorite place to start with cheap wedding accessories is the Dollar Tree. Take at these Dollar Store Wedding ideas for DIY Wedding Decorations on a Budget. | Clark Condensed

Chandeliers are pricy. Take a look at this DIY Hula hoop chandelier lighting made with upcycled Christmas Lights. | Sarah with an H (As seen in our Upcycled Christmas Lights Post.)

Set the ambiance with lights. This is a very easy tutorial on how to string lights from natural elements like tree limbs using galvanized buckets and concrete. (As seen in our Backyard Movie Ideas) | Ida klipper och klistrar (in English)

Upcycle a mirror into a Wedding Letter Board. Not only do you get a cute & cheap welcome to our wedding sign, but you also get a mirror you get to keep reminding you of the special day. | Ruffled Blog

The people who will wish you the best are those guest you hold dear and near. If they made it to your small backyard wedding, they likely have the sweetest words to say. In light of that, ask your guests to make a sweet wish for your marriage. Plant the tree or bush in your yard after the wedding. The power of positive thinking. | Source

Hosting a pandemic wedding. Spread love and not germs with this Hand Sanitizer Wedding Favors. In sickness and in health. | Larissa Catherine Photography

In a wedding my husband and I attended, they gave out masks at the buffet line. These weddi ng face mask bags are another idea for mask storage when people are on their feet. | Buy Online

Save on flowers and go cut greenery. Natural elements make beautiful cheap wedding centerpieces. If you lack greenery, buy some Eucalyptus Garland. | Boho Weddings

Looking for memorial ideas for loved ones who have passed? Create a memorial family tree with picture frames. | Grey Likes Weddings (Similar family tree photo frames seen in our family reunion ideas. You can also add our empty chair poem.)

Create a wedding photo display. This framed photo display is perfect for guests to add photos, like a photo guest book for weddings. Additionally, you could display photos of the happy couple leading to the wedding day. I love these photo string lights with clips. | June Bug Weddings

Additionally, this makes beautiful and cheap wedding décor. Use wooden crates to create a beautiful wedding display of the couples. One cheap wedding idea is also displaying wedding photos of the couples parents and grandparents. | Elegant Wedding Invites

Collect blankets from friends or grab really cheap flannel blanks from Kohl’s. This snuggle up display is perfect if a backyard wedding has a dip in temperatures. | Buckinghams

Lead your guest to the ceremony with this chalkboard arrow wedding sign from Wayfair.

Cheap Wedding Tip: If the wedding message doesn’t easily wipe off, buy chalk paint. Paint over the the sign and add your own message later. It is a purchase for your wedding you can keep forever.

Outdoor Curtain Lights will transform a boring space into a magical venue. Enjoy it later as garden lights for your house. | Source

Keep your cake simple, it might even be one your can create yourself. Opting for just one tier means you can go all out on decorations without it breaking the bank! Hosting an outdoor wedding, you can even add in outdoor elements. | A WPA Bakery, Jeffrey C. Gleason Photography and Ruffled

Use a upcycled wood pallet to write out the timeline of events. | Boho Weddings

Have you heard of Bury the Bourbon wedding tradition? To ward off rain, exactly a month before the wedding date, bury a full bottle of bourbon upside down at the venue. One activity to include as a small intimate wedding is uncovering the bourbon and sharing a shot. (This was our wedding rehearsal.)

Of course there is no better way to send off a couple then with Sparklers – right? Take a look at these cute Wedding Sparklers Printables. | Evermine

Instead of taking it in your backyard, head to City Hall! City Hall weddings are becoming more and more mainstream because let’s face it, weddings and the lengthy planning can be very stressful and in many cases – incredibly expensive. How adorable is this Courthouse wedding outfit? | Melanie Duerkopp

And if you are not too far from the West, have your very own Desert elopement. You have to pay nothing for the venue. Invest in a beautiful bouquet of flowers, the dress, the suit and the photographer! How beautiful is this Red Rock wedding? | Meg Amorette Photography

Don’t forget these Bachelorette Party Ideas before the wedding! Pin to Pinterest.

Going to a wedding? Look at this low cost wedding gift, Hand Stamped Spoon Tutorial with free printable! Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Enjoy these NO BUMMER SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS.

Also access our Free Frugal Coupon Living Printables to help you find joy through embracing the chaos of motherhood more easily!

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Sunday Habits for Busy Moms to Have a Productive Week

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January 2, 2021 by administrator Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

These Sunday habits for busy moms will help you stay productive all week long!

It’s no secret that moms lead a busy life. Whether you have one child or four, stay at home or work outside of it, there is always a list of things you need to do. And those lists never seem to completely go away. You mark off four tasks, and suddenly two or three more come up.

In order to stay (somewhat) on top of your busy schedule, you need to stay productive. You can do this by establishing good habits on Sundays. A typical calendar may start a week on Sunday, but most feel that Monday is actually day 1 – Monday is the first day of a new work week and it’s when the kids go back to school after the weekend, etc.

Sunday Habits for Busy Moms to Have a Productive Week

There is a good bit of “planning” and “doing” that should happen on Sundays if you want your week to go well. Let’s look at what needs to be planned every Sunday.

Sunday Planning

Goals
To-do list
Meals for the week
Outfits
Family budget
Exercise

Where can you keep all these plans? In The Busy Mom Binder of course!

The goals can be for yourself and for your family. Do you want to declutter the attic this week? Make a plan! Maybe little Johnny needs to sell 25 more candy bars for a fundraiser. Make a plan on how he will do it! Use the goals to help make your to-do list for the week.

The rest of the planning is self-explanatory, but deciding on these things on Sunday makes the entire week run smoother. No more washing clothes the night before your child needs to wear something specific to school the next day. No more “what are we having for dinner??” every night either!

Sunday Doing

With your planning finished, it’s time to do some things to prepare for a productive week. Here are some things you can do to lessen your weekly load.

Grocery shopping and meal prep
Clean and organize home
Clear out your email inbox
Wash and put away laundry
Go for a walk
Practice self care
Go to bed early

Doing these tasks ahead of time removes a lot of the guesswork or late-minute busyness that may come during the week. Meal prep can save you 30 minutes or more of standing in the kitchen on a busy Tuesday night. Doing up the laundry ensures everyone has fresh clothing to wear and that the planned outfits are ready to go.

To help you remember the important Sunday habits for busy moms, I’m offering a free printable list for my readers. This printable makes it easy for you to get all the Sunday tasks done so your week can be super productive. Print the list and keep it in your Busy Mom Binder or on the fridge – somewhere you will reference it each weekend.

I’ve also included a printable motivational quote from Mark Twain that says, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” These Sunday habits allow you to do just that. Not only are you getting started, but you are getting things done so that you can prepare for a smooth week!

I also have more Busy Mom Hacks if and you need them! Pin to Pinterest.

Sunday Habits for Busy Moms Printable

Download our free Sunday Habits printable. Subscribe and look for a link and password in your inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples after I download them.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final Busy Mom Binder or Sunday Habits for Busy Moms to Have a Productive Week. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Debt Payoff Tracker Printable

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December 26, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media Leave a Comment

Create a budget and set a game plan with these Debt Payment Tips. Using a debt payment calculator and debt payoff tracker printable template, pay down debt so you can declare you are debt-free!

Debt Payment Tips with Debt Payoff Tracker

We have a Christmas Gift for you. Everyone wants to spring into the new year (especially after 2020), with a fresh start! Can I get a nod? We pulled our Debt Payment Tracker from our Busy Mom Binder to bring you this New Year’s Organizational Printable gift.

I wanted to share with you a few Dave Ramsey quotes. These money inspirational quotes about money might be empowering enough to kick your but the start of this new year.

“We buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.” (The Total Money Makeover)

“If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.”

“Live like no else today, so you can live like no else tomorrow.”

How Do I Track My Debt Payoff

Let’s get started. How do I track my debt payoff? The quick and easy answer is a debt tracker PDF. However, it will be futile to began a debt payment tracker without knowing how to get started.

To track you debt payoff you need to set a budget, know helpful tips, and calculate your debt. With a debt calculator, you will then have a debt payment plan to began your journey of being debt free.

Debt Payoff Tips

There are a few debt pay off tips to consider when beginning this process.

Create a budget
Maintain a Debt Progress Tracker
Pay more than the minimum balance
Put a halt on your credit cards
Spend cash only (where you can) Start with a Cash Envelope Wallet.
Take a no spend challenge while you payoff debt
Have a friend hold you accountable
Set small goals
Have a reward at the end goal

When you feel you are going to cheat, have a mantra. A mantra is a a statement or slogan repeated frequently. For example, when I am watching what I am eating, before I pick up that OREO, I tell myself “beach body.” It reminds me for the look I am going for.

The same can be true with spending habits. Before you spend, have a mantra. Before you swipe the credit card or pull out that wallet, say “act your wage” (another Dave Ramsey quote.) Make the quote your own. You could say “family vacation” (a small reminder of your reward at your end goal!)

What will your debt payoff mantra reminder be?

Debt Payoff Calculator

Want to find out how quickly you could be debt-free? Dave Ramsey is an excellent resource. Use this Dave Ramsey Debt Calculator. Answer five questions about your different debts. Based on your answers and national research data, find the estimated amount of time it will take you to pay off your total debt.

Debt questions include…

What is the balance on your credit card(s)?
What is the balance on your car loan(s)? What are you monthly payments?
What is the balance on your student loan(s)? What are you monthly payments?
What is the total of any other non-mortgage debts you have not listed?
What is your total household income?

After answering these Debt Calculator questions, see your total debt as well as the plan to help you pay it off fast. In many cases your debt payment plan will not be a race, it will be a marathon. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Pace yourself and discipline yourself to stay within your budget and on your debt payment tracker plan.

Debt Payment Tracker

Once you know your total debt and have a payment plan, having a debt tracker template will help you see your progress and results. Download our debt payoff chart PDF. For this debt payoff visual printable, use the results of your debt payment calculator to began your progress.

Can’t wait to hear you shout “We are debt free!”

Debt Payoff Tracker Printable

Download our Free Printable Debt Payoff Worksheet PDF . Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox to get your free debt payment tracker printable.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

If you want to print all of these printables from a copy service center, I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples. First, sign in or create a Staples account. Next, return to the Staples Printing Service Page. and go to Documents Printing. Follow the steps from there.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your Debt Payoff Tracker Progress. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Money Savings Challenge Printables

We have more money savings challenge printables to accompany the new year challenge. Take a look at our No Spend Month Tracker, Savings Goal Tracker for Kids, and 52 Week Savings Plan Challenge.

30-Day No Spend Challenge

Take a look at our 30-Day No Spend Challenge with creative ideas to not spend over the weekend! Turn spending habits into savings habits with this month long No Spend Challenge. Download your no spend tracker and get an bonus checklist of No-Spend Weekend Ideas printable.

Kids Savings Tracker

We also want to share our Kids Savings Tracker. This two page free Savings Tracker Printable for Kids includes a coloring page. Download this coloring sheet and color as you progress. You child will save $5 a week for a total of $175 by the time they finish the savings challenge.

52 Week Savings Challenge

If your kids are saving, you take the challenge too. Print our 52 Week Savings Challenge. This 52 Week Savings challenge is a printable PDF you can download and start following in the new year. n one year’s time you could save $2620.

The Busy Mom Binder

This Busy Mom Binder has been been our families life saver. Our family command center on our kitchen island. The binder includes Password Keeper, Weekly Meal Plan (with grocery list), Babysitter Notes, Daily & Weekly Chores Checklist, Kids How to Clean My Room Checklist and (of course) our Debt Payment Tracker Printable just to name a few.

More Home Organizational & Money Savings Printables

Its’ a new year. Take a these twenty (plus) Home Printables to Get Organized for The Year Year.

Savings Tracker Printable for Kids

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June 27, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 2 Comments

A two page Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. Download this coloring sheet and color as you go. Save $5 a week for a total of $175 by the time you finish the savings challenge.

Kids Saving Tracker

Are you a role model for your child when it comes to finances? Do they see you savings money? Do they see you tithing or donating money to charities?

I admit when it comes to money, my husband and I haven’t done a great job being role models. We speak about money. We speak about the cost of things, but they don’t see the behind the scenes. A friend and I talk about this one. She found a lot of importance in putting a check in the offering plate while my husband and I tithed to our church electronically. However, it wasn’t the kids saw us doing. It wasn’t something they could hold or touch or realized the importance (for us) of donating to our church.

The same is true of our savings. Our kids do not see us saving money because it isn’t something they can touch. That is why introducing the 52 Week Savings Plan Challenge was something new and thought provoking to our home. Saving their parents money was of course exciting to the kids but I wanted to introduce saving “their” money, especially for children who get an allowance.

Savings Tracker

We offer two savings goal tracker. You can get our 52 Week Savings Tracker for Adults or now get our free Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. We include to copies of this printable for the kids. One that is already with bright colors and one that is black and white – you can color it yourself as you go!

Saving at at a rate of $5 a week, reach your savings goal in 34 weeks. Your child will have saved $170! So much they can do with that money!

Parent Challenge

As you continue to track your savings over this coloring sheet, talk to your child about their savings goals. This might be a good time to open a savings account. Also share with them your own financial goals including building an emergency fun, paying a monthly credit card, living a debt free life and reasons for long term savings.

Our Busy Mom Binder includes a spending tracker and debit payment tracker. Both are great resources to reach your savings goal too.

Savings Tracker Printable

Get all of our free printables including our Savings Tracker Printable for Kids. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

Free Printable Directions

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

52 Week Savings Challenge

Hey mom, we have something for you too! Don’t forget our 52 week savings challenge for tracking savings for you too. Reach your savings goal along with your child. No need to start January 1, you can start this 52 week savings challenge AT ANY TIME and save $2620 in one year!

You can download for this for free in our post or get in our Busy Mom Binder (which is full of organizational goodness including a a spending tracker and debit payment tracker!)

52 Week Savings Challenge Printable PDF

How to Print PDFs at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

It should give you a general outline of how to upload and order a print on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your Kids Savings Tracker Printable – it would be fun to see the finished colored product! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Don’t forget our Busy Mom Binder where you can find also find this Kids Savings Tracker! Pin to Pinterest.

Get Organized! These Home Organizational Printables will get your home in line! Pin to Pinterest.

30-Day No Spend Challenge and No Spend Ideas

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June 20, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Printable, Social Media 1 Comment

Save money with this month long No Spend Challenge. Download your no spend tracker and get an bonus checklist of No-Spend Weekend Ideas printable. Who is ready to turn their spending habits into saving habits with me?

No Spend Challenge Tracker and Ideas

Did 2020 have anyone reevaluating their spending habits? I am raising my hand.

In 2020, March whipped in so quickly and stayed so long. Then March turned to April, April to May and here we are in June. We actually moved in the middle of the 2020 epidemic and our spending was unable to freeze trying to get a new home in order. We gave ourselves three months with the promise, once June came, we were going on the No Spend Challenge.

So here we are! Who is ready to tackle this 30-day No Spend Challenge with me? In addition to the 30 Day Challenge Checklist, I also have list of no spend challenge ideas for the weekend. Distractions to keep you from pulling out your wallet.

No Spend Ideas

Does not spending money sound, well, challenge? It does for me. Honestly, it brings me anxiety. The second the word “no-spend” is spoken, I begin the “what if” pattern in my head. What if I need xyz; what if we need xyz; what if I can’t do this? As the primary spender for them home, I decided to take this 30 days at a time. As a family of seven, we decided this challenge did not include groceries, essentials, medical purchases or emergency needs. The challenge only included impulse buys, non-essentials, entertainment, and restaurants.

Weekend No Spend Challenge Ideas

A few free activities to fill your weekend (and week).

Visit the Park
Make a Goodwill Run (Take our 30-day Declutter Challenge during this time)
Host a Potluck Dinner
Have a Netflix Movie Night
Volunteer
Visit the Library
Complete a Puzzle
Have a Bonfire Night
Have a Game Night (See our Family Game Night Ideas)
Go Sightseeing In Your Home Town
Read a Book
Batch Cook Frozen Meals
Clean the Car
Go Hiking
Have a Scavenger Hunt (See our long list of Scavenger Hunt Ideas)
Make Paper Kites or Paper Airplanes
Learn a New Skill
Draw or Paint
Camp in your Backyard (See our Camping Hacks and Tips)
Have a Picnic
Make Pizza
Visit a Free Museum (see our Museum Scavenger Hunt in our Stay-cation Spring Break Ideas)

When this is over, have you set new spending habits? Consider having a spend month (or spend week) with discretionary spend. After this month or week, repeat the process and watch the ability to control impulse buys become a natural habit. I bet you reach some savings goal like filling your savings account, paying down payments on student loans, and/or paying of credit and debit cards.

You can pick up a Debt Payment Tracker in our Busy Mom Binder while you are saving money!

SHOP THE BUSY MOM BINDER

30-Day No Spend Challenge Guide PDF

Download Your Free No Spend Printable

Get all of our free printables including our No Spend Challenge Template and Calendar. Subscribe and look for a link and password in our inbox. The password allows you to access and download all of our free printables.

1.) Enter your email address HERE.

2.) Confirm the email request in your inbox.

3.) Look for the link and passcode in your inbox.

By downloading you are accepting the terms that this is for personal, non-commercial use. Please contact Frugal Coupon Living with any questions.

I am happy to share printables. When sharing with others, please lead them to my website instead of emailing them the file(s). It takes time, effort and money to put the freebies forth and I earn when you visit. Thanks for visiting and thanks for sharing with others!

How to Print at Staples

I have a video to show you how I print my PDF documents at Staples.

Upload and order your printable on Staples.com.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final No-Spend Challenge Template fully checked off! Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

It’s a good time to set long term financial goals. Begin the 52 Week Savings Challenge. This 30 day no-spend challenge would give you a jump start. Pin to Pinterest.

This Monthly Declutter Challenge is perfect to pair with your no-spend challenge. Add more to the wallet and less to the home! Pin to Pinterest.

DIY Bathroom Vanity Makeover with Behr Grey Paint

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June 13, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: DIY, Facebook, Frugal Living, Home Improvement, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media Leave a Comment

Looking for a weekend home renovation project? Transform your entire space with this bathroom remodel on a budget was under $50. Thrifty DIY Bathroom Vanity Makeover Tutorial plus the Best Grey Paint Colors form Behr.

DIY Bathroom Vanity Makeover

Frugal times call for frugal measures. We have been crossing off our Older Home Improvement Renovations off one by one. When we purchased this one, we had a bathroom that wasn’t very updated and I knew could be improved with a quick weekend project.

Our chalk paint vanity was slowly looking like a 100 year old farmhouse bathroom vanity. I don’t mean in the best way. I mean 100 year old in the sense that this bathroom needs some tender loving care. It was time to paint or replace the bathroom vanity. To save money, we dedicated a weekend to painting an old bathroom vanity.

Refinishing your bathroom vanity cabinets is a thrifty way to bring your entire bathroom to life. It can be done for under $50 with only a few essential supplies.

Bathroom Vanity Makeover Supplies

These are the supplies we had on hand before beginning our Bathroom Vanity Makeover.

Materials:

Vanity/Cabinet
Paint/Primer (we used Behr Marquee Flint Grey Paint)
180-220 Grit sandpaper
Paint brush (Home Depot Best Seller Wooster 2 in. Paint Brush)
Vacuum
Tack cloth
Screw driver/screw gun

When refinishing your bathroom vanity cabinets, also consider:

New cabinet hardware or hardware paint like Rust-Oleum All Surface Metallic Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint and Primer in One.

The paint was about $35 and we actually had the rest of the bathroom makeover supplies. However, if you are in need of a some materials your will hit closer to the $50 threshold.

Refinishing Your Bathroom Vanity Cabinets

Follow these steps to update a bathroom vanity with paint.

First, clean your vanity/cabinet by scrubbing it with a sponge, dish soap and water and let dry.

Remove your cabinet doors, drawers and hardware with a screw driver or screw gun if you can. Label your doors and drawers do you know where they go.

Sand your vanity/cabinet with the grain of the wood.

Vacuum dust and paint from sanding.

Use a tack cloth to wipe the vanity/cabinet.

What is a tack cloth? A tack cloth is a specialized type of loosely woven cheesecloth that is treated with a tacky material for wiping away dust and fine particles.

Tape around your edges. Tape near the counter top, walls, white trim baseboard and flooring.

Paint a primer on your cabinet (my cabinet was painted white prior so I skipped this step) and let dry overnight.

Paint the doors and drawers on your cabinet and let dry. Then paint the rest of the cabinet. (My drawers were not removable, if yours are you can paint both at the same time) and let dry for at least 4 hours.

Paint a second coat on the doors, drawers and cabinet and let dry overnight.

Reattached the doors, drawers and add new hardware. If you don’t want to buy new hardware, you can always re-paint the ones you had. A great hardware paint is Rust-Oleum All Surface Metallic Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint and Primer in One (comes in many colors.)

Behr Grey Paint Colors

Take a look at the best Behr grey paint for bathrooms. For our bathroom makeover, we used Behr Flint Gray Paint, but there are many beautiful shades of gray for vanities, walls, etc.

Part of Behr 2020 Color Trends in the grey paint called Battleship Gray. The Behr 2020 Color Trends palette was inspired by natural elements such as sky, earth, water and plant life.

Best Gray Paint Colors

Looking for a warm gray, dark gray, a light gray? There are so many different shades of grey.

We found more popular gray paint colors from Behr. Paint your dinning room, living room, kitchen or renovate your bathroom in one weekend too!

Grey or Gray

I felt a need to quick address this! You will see me use the two variations of gray and grey on this post. Gray is American spelling while Grey is British spelling. Depending on how Behr identified the color, was the version I picked up. Google will identify and interchange for you both colors when doing your own internet search.

Our Pinterest community and I would love to see how this worked out for you. Share your final bathroom vanity makeover or a space where you painted gray paint. Leave a comment and/or add a photo here on Pinterest!

Do not forget our Older Home Improvement Hacks & DIY Renovations. We love this photo (below) from Joanna Gaines who had an older green bathroom that could not be painted or changed. A few touches and the bathroom is chic and enjoyable. Pin to Pinterest.

Also enjoy these Bathroom Storage Solutions for Small Spaces. When redesigning your bathroom, take into account some of these bathroom hacks and transform your entire space! Pin to Pinterest.

Overnight Camping at Night Hacks

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May 31, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Facebook, Frugal Living, Hacks, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media, Summer, Travel 5 Comments

Ready for the great outdoors? These Overnight Camping Hacks and Tips will keep you and the kids busy while you enjoy your camping trip! Save these creative camping activities, campfire games, and recipes to complete your list of things to do while camping at night!

Camping at Night Hacks, Activities, and More

Camping is such an adventure, and there’s nothing like camping at night to give you the full immersive experience of the great outdoors! The trouble comes when you’re trying to find a way to keep the kids occupied while spending the night at the campsite. These Camping at Night Hacks and Tips has all of the fun stuff to keep everyone busy while serving up some wisdom that will make camping easier. Keep an eye out for our list of Things To Do While Camping at Night – games, activities and traditions to start with the family on your next camp trip! These camping hacks and camping activities will be a winner among kids and adults alike!

What should you not forget when camping?

Even if you’re only camping for one night, there are a few key supplies that everyone needs when going overnight camping!

Tent and tent stakes
Sleeping bags
Pillows
Flashlights, headlamps, and/or a lantern
Water and water bottles
Camp-friendly food
Fire starter

What is the most comfortable way to sleep in a tent?

Simply having a sleeping bag will still feel like you’re sleeping on hard ground. If you’re looking for a more comfortable way to camp overnight, we recommend bringing a sleeping pad or cot of some sort to make your temporary bed a little cushier. These aren’t necessary, so don’t stress if you forget to take them along!

Before your camping vacation, take a look at these camping ideas including…

Camping Hacks and Tips (our original post, filled with camping tips and goodness!)
Easy Camping Recipes
Foil Packet Meals including our Campfire Hot Dogs and Cinnamon Rolls Baked in Oranges
Camping Packing List
RV Packing List

For a kids overnight or sleepaway camp, take a look at Summer Camp Hacks and Tips. For a girls weekend, enjoy these Glamping Ideas.

Overnight Camping Hacks

We took some of our beloved Camping Hacks and Tips and stepped it up with new Overnight Camping Tips and Ideas.

Keep your personal sleeping space clean. Your tent should be clean so you can get the best sleep possible, even when you’re camping! This shoe basket camping hack keeps all shoes out of the tent and the sleeping area free of mud and dirt. | Sunny Simple Life

Hitting the road in an RV? Save this RV Packing List from Frugal Coupon Living. This camping checklist resource will help you get organized before taking off.

Busy the kids with their very own Camping Journal and Logbook from Frugal Coupon Living. They can add to it each year and look back on all their memories!

Want to take a hike while camping? If you are looking for the best places to hike in the U.S., download our hiking trail bucket list and hiking journal too!

Prevent cool air from escaping the top of the cooler with a DIY cooler cover. Recycle an old foam sleeping pad or yoga mat and cut the foam mat the exact dimension of the cooler interior. This is a great hack for camping at night to keep your breakfast ingredients chilled! | Cabela’s

Bring solar lights to illuminate your campsite when you’re camping at night. Stake them around the campsite (especially near your tent stakes to prevent tripping) or mount in an inverted Terra Cotta pot. | Starling Travel

Don’t just bring water — freeze your water jugs before you go! Use them as your drinking water as they melt. This way you’ll have cold water all night (and morning) long. You can also illuminate water jugs with a head lamp with this creative Camping at Night Hack. | Instructables

This camping hack is a must for everyone. Prevent yourself and your family from tripping over tent stakes by marking them off with bright pool noodles. Can’t miss them! | Source

No pool noodles? Check out these LED light up ten stakes to prevent tripping over stakes in the night.

Safety first with this unique camping hack. Keep sharp knives safely tucked away in pieces of pool noodles. | Kid Friendly Things to Do

Taking an extended camping trip or staying near water? Start stockpiling your bread tags for this next camping at night hack. They make great clothespins for drying clothes or other items. | REI

I highly recommend water shoes when camping. However, it can be inevitable a pair of cloth sneakers gets soaked. Have extra newspapers. Pack some newspapers to line a table, help start a fire or speed up the drying process overnight. | According to Elle

This camping food hack is the best. Make your own on-the-go-traveling pantry. You’ll get easy access to all the essentials and can close the door to keep out critters at night! | Mountain Campingz

When it’s time for bed, turn a pool float into a mattress and cover with a sleeping bag, blanket and/or sheets. It’s like your own air mattress, but you don’t have to pack or pay for one! | Meg for It

Things To Do While Camping at Night

Get creative with these fun nighttime camping activities that go beyond the standard board game and ghost story.

You can partially prepare this camping arts and crafts idea at home. Write your kid’s name on white paper with Sharpie. Once you go camping, collect nature (leaves, sticks, twigs, etc) to create this adorable art, a nature name activity. | Mrs. Jones Creation Station

Pick up some glow in the dark paint and paint your walking sticks! It will help you see while you’re moving around at night. You can use a glow in the dark paint, glow in the dark spray or even glow in the dark tape. | Creek Line House

During the day, talk about constellations. Teach your kids about what a constellation is — a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. While it is light outside, make this camp craft, a Stellar Constellation Viewer for Kids. At night, stargaze around the campfire and talk about the constellations on your viewer that you also see in the night sky.

Everyone loves a classic s’more recipe. Once the sun goes down, put a twist on your average camping dessert with our Campfire Cones! Maybe less messy, definitely more fun!

Want to try something different? Make colored fire. How cool is this? Packages of colored fire crystals or pine cones are sold at most camping supply stores or online on Amazon. If you want to make your own, you can check out these DIY colored fire ingredients.

Don’t forget about telling stories around the campfire! Use a flashlight and your tent to make a shadow puppets show. This How to Make a Shadow Puppet tutorial is very helpful. | Fine Art America

Have camping activities planned for the kids. These are some of the Best Camping Games for Kids and include directions and a supply list. Most of the supplies you will already have on your trip!

13 Best Camping Games PDF

Outdoor Games at Night

Get ready for a strike with this glow in the dark bowling game using glow sticks and 2-liter water bottles. (As seen in our Summer Bucket List.) | Growing a Jeweled Rose

Have you ever heard of flashlight tag? This is one of the most fun camping activities, and it helps the kids get some energy out before it’s time for bed.

Flashlight Tag Directions: Similar to hide and seek. Everyone carries their own flashlight but only the person who is IT has their’s on. Instead of tagging with hands, you tag with light. Once you’ve been tagged, you turn on your flashlight, point it toward the sky and stand still. Another player can free you by crawling in between your legs (or tagging you). Once everyone is frozen IT wins and the game starts.

Before everyone hides, establish a perimeter (area you cannot go past.) This is especially important for campsites or unfamiliar areas.

We have plenty of other night games you can play outdoors! Print our night games for kids. This includes Glow Sardines, Flashlight Tag, Gloweyball, Ghost in the Graveyard, Firefly, Kick the Can in the Dark, and Night Statues.

Speaking of flashlights, don’t forget our free outdoor games printable. Our Flashlight Scavenger Hunt download (see more Scavenger Hunt Ideas.)

To get your free flashlight scavenger hunt printable, subscribe to our emails and look for a link and password in our inbox. The access code allows you to access and download all of our free printables, as well.

What didn’t I think of that?! Camping Hacks and Tips for the great outdoors. Pin to Pinterest.

Enjoy these Camping Recipes for dinner, snacks, breakfast and lunch. Pin to Pinterest.

Care Package Ideas – Themed Gifts by Mail

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May 3, 2020 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Facebook, Frugal Living, Instagram, Pinterest, Social Media 2 Comments

Take a look at these fun gifts to send in the mail including monthly and seasonal themes as well has punny phrases! Care package ideas for military members, care takers, college students, friends, girls, boys, and more.

Care Package Ideas

Do you want to send some happy mail to someone you love? Are you looking for care package ideas that are more than just random gifts in a box? You’ve come to the right place! We’ve gathered 25+ care package ideas for nearly every occasion.

You’ll find care package ideas for college students, sick friends, caregivers, sick people, stressed out moms, and more. Basically, we have something here for everyone.

And don’t feel like you have to splurge, though you can if you want to. A care package can be a small package with two or three items, or it can be an all-out party in a box type of package with everything on someone’s wish list. It’s up to you.

Care packages are a great way to show someone you care. Why don’t you take a look at this list of great ideas for some inspiration!

Care Package Ideas

Target does it again! So does my friend Kristin. Look at this Christmas Care Package to a college student. Target sells the Prize Punch Advent Calendar Care Package which can easily be turned into a 12 Days of Christmas Care Package for anyone. So cute. Thanks for sharing Kristin!

First of all, you don’t need a special occasion to send a care package. Send one out of the blue! There’s even a theme for that—a box of all blue items. Oreos, Rice Krispie treats, Jolly Ranchers, Cool Ranch Doritos, and Extra peppermint gum are just a few examples of what you can include. | My Inspiration Corner

This Just Add Water care package from my friend Kristin is brilliant! Fill the box with items that only require water to make. Tea, mashed potatoes, cups of noodles, lemonade, and oatmeal are just a few terrific examples.

Send a birthday care package when your loved one is far away. Just because you’re miles apart doesn’t mean that you can’t celebrate like this collage care package party in a box! | Frugal Coupon Living

And here’s another option for a birthday party in a box. It includes candles, a tablecloth, plates, some party decor, and of course, a mug cake mix. | Almost Empty Nest

How about a new mom care package, perfect for a baby shower. Add cute items including onesies, baby accessories, but also add practical things like baby wipes, butt paste and more! | Finding Mandee

Sending a cold and flu care package in the fall or winter is such a terrific idea! You don’t even have to wait until someone’s sick; having things like cough drops, acetaminophen, cough suppressants or expectorants, Lysol wipes, and tissue on hand is just plain smart. | The TipToe Fairy

April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring a lot of smiles when sent in a care package like this one! It includes crocheted shower poufs, body wash, lotion, nail polish, and more. | Organized 31

Chemo Care Basket from Pink Fortitude: Dealing with cancer is a difficult task, particularly when you throw chemo treatments into the mix. A chemo care basket (or care package) will go a long way in reminding a friend or family member that you’re thinking of her or him during this time. | Pink Fortitude

Don’t forget a military care package for our service members. Creative ideas from The Military Wife and Mom including One Day Closer, One Day Stronger.

Send your daughter, friend, or girlfriend in college the perfect care package. You can’t go wrong with some candy, tampons or pads, lotion, razors, and more. You may want to also include perfume, lip balm, essential oils, and other “girly” things you know she’ll like. | Organized 31

And here’s another excellent care package for guys from Organized 31! It includes beef jerky, pumpkin seeds, outdoor toys, and study supplies, but add in whatever your favorite guy likes.

Make a get well care package for someone’ who’s sick or just had surgery. Tissues, hand sanitizer, juice, and snacks are just a few of the things you could include to make them feel a little better. | Mod Podge Rocks

Teens, college students, or anyone with a new car will so appreciate a car care package. You can include so many fun things here, like a travel mug, ArmorAll wipes, an air freshener, a mini first aid kit, and even some snacks (that won’t melt in a hot car) to grab on the go. | Sweet Parrish Place

This fall care package for a friend is so cute! The tag reads, “Thank you for bee-ing such a great friend,” along with Burt’s Bees hand cream and lip balm. It’s simple but thoughtful. | About a Mom

Midnight Munchies strike us all at sometimes, but this is especially true for college students staying up late to study for finals. (Or students who are up late and out with friends, let’s be honest.) From Cheese Nips to JIF on the Go to Monster Energy Drinks, it has everything a starving student needs. | Creative Art Room

Send a space-themed gift basket like this one from my friend Kristin to someone you love to the moon and back! Include a space-themed shirt and some fun meals or snacks. You could even theme the snacks after space, such as Milky Way bars, Mars bars, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, Cosmic brownies, and more.

Do you know someone who’s a caregiver for a terminally ill or severely disabled family member? They have hearts of gold! Let them know that you’re thinking of them with a caregiver basket with some goodies, gift cards, lotion, wipes, and drink mixes. You’ll also want to include crossword puzzles, coloring books, colored pencils, pens, Sudoku, etc. to help them pass the time during some of the quieter hours. | Cook Eat Go

Frazzled moms everywhere would love a stress relief care package that includes a heating pad, Epsom salts for a good soak, brownie mix for a sweet treat, and a stress ball to help work off some of that stress when the moment strikes. Add face masks too. | Cutefetti

But don’t feel that you have to go all out on an expensive care package. It’s the thought that matters. Any friend would find this Tickled Pink package delightful! Fill it with all things pink, such as notebook, hand sanitizer, gum, nail polish, pens, etc. | Life Anchored

Send some sunshine in a box to brighten anyone’s day. Include yellow items (yellow like the sun) such as Twinkies, apple juice, Lemonheads, and other snacks, drinks, or gift cards with yellow packaging. | Creative Art Room

Encourage your college student to “stick with it” with a stick-themed care package. Include pretzel sticks, beef sticks, sticks of gum, Pocky sticks, Chapstick, etc. Anything that looks like a stick is fair game! | Michelle Paige Blogs

For St. Patrick’s Day, you only need to stick with the usual theme—all things green, gold, or rainbow. In addition to gum, candies, and the usual fare, send some Lucky Charms cereal and a shamrock charm or necklace for good luck. | My Inspiration Corner

Who wouldn’t love this Easter care package with eggs filled with money, yummy baked treats, and delicious candy? What a fun gift! | Wondermom Wannabe

Give someone a spooktacular Halloween surprise by sending an unexpected care package. This one from Kristin reads, “We Miss You a Skele-ton.” Isn’t that adorable? There are so many great Halloween snacks and candies that you can easily find some to go with the theme, but don’t forget a shirt and/or mask just in case your recipient would like to dress up for the occasion.

Here’s another idea for Halloween in a box! Include caramel apples, candy corn, Pop Rocks, and all your other Halloween favorites. | Smashed Peas and Carrots

College students or anyone who just moved out on their own in the past year could probably use a holiday decorating care package with a candy wreath, ribbon, jingle bells, a decorative wreath, and a few other bits and bobs to make a room look special. Don’t forget to add some cards from family and friends as a surprise. | Organized 31

We miss you snow much! How adorable is that message from Kristin for a Christmas or winter-themed care package?

Who Do You Send Care Packages To?

While care packages are often sent to military and college students, there are so many ways to branch out to someone who may need a little cheering up from a friend, relative, or even a friendly stranger looking to brighten someone’s day.

Here are some people you may want to consider sending care packages to:

Military – All branches need a little extra love throughout the year, particularly on holidays that they’re spending away from family.
College Students – Send them at exam times or holidays when they can’t come home.
Caregivers – Taking care of others is hard work. Let them know you appreciate their sacrifice.
Nursing Home Residents – It would be especially nice to send a package to someone who doesn’t get mail or packages from family.
Family/Friends Who’ve Moved Away – This is self-explanatory. Let them know you miss them and are thinking of them!
Prisoners – You’ll need to check with the facility first to see which items are allowed in an inmate care package. When it comes to a care package for jail, you need to make sure you follow the guidelines strictly!
New Moms – It’s a wonderful and stressful time, so make sure the new mama has a few things to take care of herself. Most of the gifts she’s received lately will be for baby, after all.
Sick Friends or Family – If you know anyone who’s facing an extended stay in the hospital or recovery at home, a care package is a fantastic way to show you care.
Someone Who’s Grieving – Grief takes a lot out of a person. You may consider things like a book of prayers for those who are grieving, gift cards to restaurants, so they don’t have to cook for a while, etc.

What to Put Inside Care Packages

Snacks (popcorn, chips, crackers, cookies, nuts, protein bars, jerky, dried fruit)
Powdered drink mixes
Gum or mints
Scented candles
Books and bookmarks
Gift cards
Lotion
Shaving cream
Razors
Soap or body wash
Shampoo and conditioner
Hand sanitizer
Meds like acetaminophen or cough drops for Get Well packages
Air fresheners
Laundry detergent pods (for college kids)
Homemade baked goods
Easy prep foods
Small, inexpensive toys for kids
Lip balm
Tissues
Nail polish or manicure sets
Scarves/hats/gloves in winter
Photos
Phone accessories
Puzzles
Entertainment books like Sudoku, crosswords, word searches, adult coloring books, etc.

There’s so much more you could include, but those items will get you started with some fantastic care package ideas.

Other Care Package Tips

Here are a few more tips to make your care packages extra-special.

Wrap each item individually if it’s a package full of gifts, especially for Christmas or birthdays.
If you don’t want to wrap each item, adding printable tags with fun notes makes each piece a little more thoughtful. | Skip to My Lou
Try to create a theme around the snacks, the color, or the decor for the care package box.
Adhere to any guidelines that the organization or facility may have for incoming care packages.
Include a handwritten note—it’s just more personal that way!

Where Can I Buy Care Packages?

If crafting care packages is not your forte, it’s okay. There are plenty of places where you can buy care packages. Look on Etsy for a number of Care Package ideas, many that ship quickly and directly to the receiver!

Are you sending a care package to someone you love? Which one will you make?

Visit our Family Birthday Celebrations & Ideas – you might even see a birthday care package there! Pin to Pinterest.