Budget Archives - Making Sense Of Cents

Legit Ways To Find Free Gas Cards + How To Save Money On Gas

Last Updated: March 13, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you interested in finding free gas cards and saving money on fuel?

Your monthly gas spending is probably one of your biggest expenses each month. And if the increasing price of gas is getting you down, there are ways to save money on gas and find free gas cards!

Gas prices are higher than normal these days, so you are probably paying more than usual.

Despite rising prices, gas is something most people need to get to work, school, run errands, socialize with others, and more. It’s not a luxury that you can completely cut out of your life.

There are ways to save on gas, like bulking your errands together or carpooling, but as I said, buying gas is essential for most people.

Fortunately, even though filling up your car’s gas tank can get pretty expensive, there are plenty of ways to save money.

Learning how to save money on gas and knowing how to get free gas cards online can help low-income families and those who need financial assistance. This can help you and your family get to work, school, medical appointments, and to live life.

In today’s article, I have put together a list of resources for you that includes places and websites where you can find free gas cards, apply for free gas vouchers, and sign up for assistance programs for gas expenses.

There are a surprising number of ways to find free gas cards, and I look forward to sharing them with you today!

I’ve also included simple ideas for saving money on gas. You may have tried some of them before, but I hope you find even more tips to try. [Read more…]

9 Most Important Money Numbers You Should Know

Last Updated: February 27, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

If you want to manage your money better, there are some money numbers you should know and know how to find, and these money numbers can be quite important for varying reasons.

In the article below, I’m going to explain the most important money numbers you should know about and how they affect your financial life.

Whether you’ve been avoiding some of these important money numbers or if you simply did not realize they were important, today’s article is a great place to start getting on track.

Many people are unaware of parts or even their whole financial situation, and today’s article will help.

However, while simply reading this article will help, I highly recommend that you become more aware of your financial situation.

Being aware of your money situation can help you:

Manage your money better
Reach your goals
Better approach financial situations
Be proactive about your life and finances
Help you keep a budget
Prevent everything from falling on one person
Stop financial infidelity

Without being aware of your money numbers and your overall financial situation, it would be difficult to ever change your financial life for the better.

Because of what I do, I have talked to a lot of people who want to improve their lives but are unaware of some of the money numbers I’m going to discuss today. [Read more…]

20+ Best Jobs That Pay $20 An Hour Or More

Last Updated: March 19, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 8 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Looking for jobs that pay $20 an hour or more?

Whether you are looking for full-time or part-time jobs that pay $20 an hour or more, there are many different jobs that may interest you.

There are plenty of great jobs that pay $20 an hour and much more.

Some jobs may require a degree or training, whereas others you may be able to start with no previous experience.

Some may allow you to work from home, whereas others may have you working in an office or in other people’s homes.

There are also labor shortages in many different industries, and many companies are offering sign-on bonuses of several hundred dollars when you are hired.

You may even receive a sign-on bonus for jobs that pay $20 an hour with no experience.

The jobs I’m sharing with you today are ones across a variety of industries and are great for nearly any kind of experience level, whether you are looking for an entry-level position or for job postings that are looking for someone who has a lot of experience.

There are even some that you can start and earn your first paycheck in about a week.

So if you’re ready to make money, then check out my list of 20+ best jobs that pay $20 an hour or more!

Related content:

[Read more…]

17 Budget Friendly & Easy Ground Beef Recipes To Try This Week

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 1 Comment

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Looking for easy ground beef recipes to make tonight?

Ground beef is one of the most versatile ingredients to cook with because you can do so many different things with it, including casseroles, skillet meals, pastas, and more.

Whether you want to make a quick dinner, hearty meal, a dish to feed a crowd, or something for the entire family – ground beef recipes will easily make everyone in your house happy. Ground beef is also so simple to prepare.

One of the things I love about ground beef is that you can buy it in bulk and freeze what you’re not using. This helps you plan and budget for other meals throughout the month.

And now that I’m a mom, I am always thinking about what kind of meals Marlowe, my daughter, will like to eat. She is still trying new foods, and watching her try new ones is so much fun and gets me excited to cook more.

But I also look for meals that are easy to prepare while taking care of her, which is why I am so excited about the ground beef recipes I am sharing with you today.

Here are some of the meals I can’t wait to make:

Korean Ground Beef Bowls – My mom is Korean, and I love finding recipes that are Korean themed. Now, this isn’t a traditional Korean meal, but it has many traditional ingredients, like ginger, soy sauce, and sesame oil. This recipe would go great with steamed broccoli or green beans.
Shipwreck Stew – This is a budget-friendly meal that has corn, beans, celery, potatoes, diced tomatoes, and more. This one would make great leftovers for lunch too.
Rigatoni Pasta Bake – I love pasta, and this pasta dish is full of garlic, cheese, and Italian seasonings. You can also substitute Italian sausage for ground beef.
Air Fryer Nachos – Even though this is a vegetarian recipe, the author recommends adding leftover taco meat. This is a great recipe when you want a quick and tasty dinner for your family.
Southwest Ground Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet – Skillet dinners are great because you can cook everything in one dish. This is also a great meal prep dinner because you can also cook everything for this meal in advance and freeze it for another day.

You can easily substitute ground turkey or chicken in any of these recipes, and if you are trying to eat less meat, there are many great vegetarian meat alternatives these days.

Whether you are looking for a tasty dinner tonight or are planning next week’s dinners, you’ll find a new favorite in my list of 17 ground beef recipes.

For even more dinner ideas, please read:

Note: If you’re looking for easy weekly meal plans, full of budget recipes, I recommend $5 Meal Plan. $5 Meal Plan is a meal planning service that sends you a delicious meal plan and shopping list every week for just $5 a month. [Read more…]

Pros And Cons Of Tiny Houses (Is It Right For You?)

Last Updated: January 31, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Wondering what the pros and cons of tiny houses are? Are you thinking about living small?

Tiny homes are becoming more and more popular each year. Plus, there are so many different options for tiny homes.

You could live in an RV, boat, van, treehouse, build a small home, and more.

After several years of living in smaller homes, I feel like I am a pro at it – haha! When I was just 18 years old, the first place I rented was a very small house (it didn’t even have a bedroom, the bathroom was tiny, and my head almost touched the ceiling in the basement). I have also lived in a camper van, RV, and sailboat.

All of those places have been much smaller than the average house size.

In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders, the average new single-family home is 2,561 feet.

After living in tiny homes for so long, the average size house sounds big, even though I know most people don’t feel that way.

When we were thinking about living small, we weighed up the pros and cons of tiny houses and chose it because we wanted to travel with our home. Being able to bring our home with us and travel at the same time meant that we could bring everything with us and visit new places.

Some people decide on a tiny house because it can help you save money, or perhaps, you simply want to live in a smaller space with less stuff. Maybe you know that you don’t need much space to be happy!

I am obviously biased, but even I will admit that living in a tiny house isn’t always easy.

So, what are the disadvantages of a tiny home? Are tiny houses really worth it? Is it cheaper to build or buy a tiny house? How do tiny houses get water and electricity?

These are all questions that I will answer in today’s article about the pros and cons of tiny houses. [Read more…]

Your 2023 Financial To-Do List (15 Things To Check Off)

Last Updated: January 23, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Do you have money tasks that you need to do but you keep putting off? Today’s financial to-do list will put you back on track so you can start checking things off your list.

Managing your whole life, especially your financial life, can be difficult.

There are so many things to remember and so many things you’ve said you’ll get to – I know I’ve been there.

If you’re like many people, you either procrastinate or you simply can’t find the time to squeeze everything in. If this is you, then this financial to-do list checklist will help you make the time to get stuff done!

The purpose of this to-do list is to help you take control of your financial life. The items on this list will help you save more money, plan for the future, budget, protect your family, pay off debt, and more.

I believe that everyone should have a financial to-do list, and if you’ve never made one, today’s article will give you an idea of what should be on yours.

Now, you definitely do not have to do everything on this to-do list, but this list will give you ideas and motivation for making and tackling your list. You may also find some things you would normally forget about or overlook.

After reading through this article, you will be prepared to start checking things off your list! [Read more…]

10 Budget Friendly Meals (Easy, Delicious, & Affordable Recipes!)

Last Updated: January 2, 2023 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 2 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Are you looking for delicious and easy budget friendly meals?

Finding affordable meal options can be a huge help when you’re trying to save money.

Because the cost of food has gone up so much in the past couple of years, nearly everyone can benefit from having ideas for recipes for budget friendly meals.

In fact, food prices have gone up by over 11% in the past year, but there are still ways to eat delicious food without going over budget.

In today’s post, I have ten recipes that will help you save money as you prepare tasty meals for you, you and your partner, or your family.

The recipes in this post are for all different tastes and diet types. There are vegetarian options, gluten-free meals, kid-friendly meals, and more. [Read more…]