Mercedes' Money
Savings Blog

Thanksgiving will be here soon and successfully pulling off a Thanksgiving feast on a budget is not as difficult as you may think. They key is picking inexpensive recipes that are big on taste. This year I am hosting family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner and wanted to share my frugal but fancy-tasting Thanksgiving menu.

Nothing says family get-together as much as the Thanksgiving Holiday. However, the cost of planning a feast of this caliber can quickly add up. Here are some practical ideas to help you save money on your Thanksgiving celebration.

I love throwing Halloween parties for my kids, since they love planning out their costumes, dressing up and of course the candy. This year I’m throwing a small Halloween get-together and with a mix of planning, creativity and some fun recipe and food ideas, anyone can throw a successful and inexpensive Halloween party.

Want some inexpensive appetizers that will please a crowd?  Try out these budget friendly recipes that will satisfy your hungry crowd.

My oldest son will be starting first grade this year and I now have the challenge of providing him a balanced lunch that will satisfy him and not break my budget. I went looking for tips and ideas and here’s what I learned!

Fourth of July is a fun-filled day for my family. I have three small children under the age of 6, and they all love berries. Summer is the peak season for blueberries and strawberries, which means it is the perfect time to find them at seasonal low prices. So, we start our Fourth of July celebration with Eggo Waffles topped with flag colors: white whipped cream, fresh blueberries and ripe strawberries.

Summertime is upon us, bringing with it fun parties, barbeques, family reunions, road trips, vacations and more. All of which can add up to a lot of money – if you don't plan ahead of time. Here are a few tips to help keep your summer spending in check.

I love 'spring cleaning' and freshening up my home after months of winter. The idea of cleaning and organizing the whole house may seem expensive. But in reality, spring cleaning can be quite inexpensive, in fact you may come out of your next spring cleaning adventure with a few extra dollars in your pocket. Here are some cleaning tips that everyone can use.

It's almost time for "Spring Break" and if you are planning on a "staycation" to save money, you are probably wondering how to keep everyone entertained. Here are some tips and ideas to try for your family.

Most people think of Valentine’s Day as the holiday of love. But don’t forget it’s also a time to celebrate friendship. Celebrate with friends this year by throwing a Valentine’s Day party. Whether you are planning a Valentine’s party with your own friends, or a party for your kid’s, here are some tips to help you make it a success for less.

Frustrated about making New Year’s resolutions you can’t keep? Are you thinking that this is the year when you want to start seeing them through?

I love the Holidays, but there is one word that comes to mind every time I think of the holidays and that is “excess”. It is okay to give in to the “excess”, since this time only comes around once a year. However, it is not okay to pay all year for your holiday spending.

I don’t know if it is the candy or the costumes, but barring Christmas, Halloween is perhaps a child’s favorite holiday. However, the cost of the treats or costumes can spook any family’s budget. Here are some ideas to help scare away the high cost of Halloween.

Fall is a great time to gather with family and friends for a fun tailgating party. While tailgate parties may be informal events, they require a bit of thinking and planning to make sure everything comes together smoothly --and inexpensively. Here are some tailgating ideas to help you plan the best tailgate party your money can buy.

While you may be in the midst of enjoying your summer, back to school shopping is already in full swing. To save money and time, follow these tips when shopping for your family's back to school needs:

Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because it's the holiday to celebrate love. But it's disappointing to see how it has become so commercialized. Suddenly, spending a lot of money on flowers, greeting cards, dinner and chocolate has become the norm. Here are some budget-conscious alternatives to celebrate this special day with those you truly love.

The summer is my favorite season to entertain. I love having people over during the summertime because throwing a party in the summer is cheap and easy. Here are a few ways to take the heat off your wallet when throwing a summer party.

The key to saving big when you shop for groceries is not eating less, it is actually planning more. Here are four ways that planning can help you save money on your grocery bill.

In March, I shared ideas for keeping your family busy during Spring Break. In response to my post we received hundreds of great frugal staycation tips from our readers. With summer vacation almost here, I chose my favorite ideas sent in by Snackpicks readers to help keep the kids having fun this summer for little to no money.

Birthday parties are all about creating memories for our children that they’ll remember forever. These gatherings also have the potential to become very expensive projects that zap energy and empty pocketbooks.

You don’t need to bust your budget when throwing a party. Here are some easy ways to save.

A new year brings hopes of new and better things for everyone. Here are three financial resolutions to keep that promise to benefit you all year long.