Ask Crystal: What money-saving strategies are worth your time? and more...

Every Thursday in 2025, I’ll be answering a question on money and/or budgeting. If you have a question you’d love for me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here. This week's question is: “I would love for you to share some ... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  View Online Here's what's new: Ask Crystal: What money-saving strategies are worth your time? We’re Hiring! Easy Protein Breakfast Muffins Does budgeting feel overwhelming? Get my brand new One-Hour Budget program for just $19 right now! Ask Crystal: What money-saving strategies are worth your time? Every Thursday in 2025, I’ll be answering a question on money and/or budgeting. If you have a question you’d love for me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here. This week’s question is: “I would love for you to share some money-saving strategies you feel are worth the time and effort.” – a reader I love saving money, but you know what I love even more? Saving money in ways that actually make a difference without taking up my entire day. Because the truth is: time is money, too! One of the best ways to decide if a money-saving strategy is worth your effort is to think of it in terms of return on investment (ROI). Ask yourself: How much does this save me per hour? Is that a good hourly “wage” for my effort? Would I rather spend my time doing something else that provides a better return? And here’s the best part—every dollar you save is tax-free! Unlike earned income, you don’t have to pay taxes on money you didn’t spend. So, what money-saving strategies are actually worth your time? Well, that is going to be different for every person, but I’ll share five money-saving strategies in the kitchen that might help you get the wheels turning in your brain as to what would be worth your investment of time for the money saved: Five Money-Saving Strategies That Are Worth the ROI for Me (Kitchen Edition!) 1. Making Homemade Uncrustables – Saves $0.80 per minute My kids love Uncrustables, but they are pricey? Instead of paying nearly a dollar per sandwich, I make my own in batches and freeze them. It takes around 10 minutes to make a dozen, and the savings add up quickly. Worth it? Absolutely! That’s nearly $50 saved per hour! 2. Checking Grocery Store Sales Flyers – Saves $1–$2 per minute Before I place my Kroger delivery order, I spend about 10 minutes scanning the sales flyers for the best sales, digital coupons, and BOGO deals. By focusing on what’s on sale and planning meals accordingly, I save anywhere from $10–$20 each week—sometimes more! Worth it? YES! It’s an easy way to stretch our grocery budget with very little effort. 3. Planning My Menu Around What We Have on Hand – Saves $1–$2 per minute Meal planning doesn’t have to be complicated! Instead of starting with what sounds good or just trying to come up with ideas, I check my pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what I can make with what I already have. This reduces waste, prevents unnecessary grocery runs, and saves money. Tip: Need some quick and easy meal ideas — many that will use items you may already have on hand? Download my free cheatsheet: 60 Meals to Make Instead of Getting Takeout. Worth it? 100%! Bonus: It also keeps food from going bad! 4. Bringing My Lunch to Work Every Day – Saves $1–$2 per minute Buying lunch out can easily cost $10–$15 per meal. Packing my lunch takes maybe 5–10 minutes in the morning, but it saves me $50+ per week. That’s over $2,500 a year! Worth it? Without a doubt! And I eat healthier, too! 5. Meal Prepping on the Weekends – Saves $30–$40 per hour Spending an hour or two prepping ingredients (chopping veggies, marinating proteins, making a big batch of rice or soup or muffins) makes it so much easier to throw meals together during the week. Not only does it prevent the “let’s just grab takeout” temptation, but it also saves time and money. Worth it? Yes! The time savings alone make it a no-brainer! Not Every Money-Saving Hack is Worth It While I love a good frugal win, not every trick is a great use of my time. For example: Driving across town to save $0.10 per gallon on gas – That’s only a few dollars in savings for an extra 20-minute trip. Nope! Saving money on groceries I won’t use – If I spend 20-30 minutes looking at sales and digital coupons and plan a shopping trip that saves a lot of money but I’m buying things we won’t even use, that’s not saving money. DIYing everything – Some things (like homemade laundry detergent) might not actually save that much when you factor in time and effort. What Money-Saving Strategies Are Worth It for You? I’d love to hear from you! What’s a frugal strategy that saves you good money for the time invested? And what’s something you tried but realized wasn’t worth the effort? Drop your thoughts in the comments! FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout! Meal time just got so much easier!       We’re Hiring! Looking for virtual work? We’re hiring! Read below for all the deets! For the first time ever, we are publicly putting out a call to apply for a position on our team! This position is for a contract virtual assistant to the Director of Special Projects & Strategic Initiatives on our team. It requires exceptional writing, proofreading, and communication skills, as well as strong attention to detail. No professional experience is required to apply, but please note that it is a very detailed application, and that is on purpose, because we want serious applicants only who can demonstrate and showcase the skills we’re looking for. Click here to see the job description & details, hiring timeline, and application. Though this position is contract to start out, there is potential for an increase in hours and pay and the possibility that it may eventually turn into a part-time or full-time role on our team. We are very excited to be hiring, and we have several more positions becoming available in the near future, so stay tuned! Click here for all of the details and to apply.       Easy Protein Breakfast Muffins If you’re looking for a hearty and healthy on-the-go breakfast idea that packs a pretty good protein punch and tastes yummy, try these high protein breakfast muffins. These Protein Breakfast Muffins are SO yummy! We LOVE muffins at our house and I was excited to try something new with these high protein breakfast muffins! They reminded me a little bit of the McDonald’s McGriddles — a bit sweet and a bit savory. Yum! These protein-packed muffins are a great way to start the day (or a great mid-morning snack that will keep you going until lunch). Silas and Jesse liked them warmed with butter, and I thought they were yummy with butter and a drizzle of maple syrup. They are best warm, right out of the oven, but you can warm up leftovers muffins the next day (and they will freeze well too!). Ingredients for Protein Breakfast Muffins 1 cup Kodiak protein pancake mix 1/3 cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella because that’s what I had on hand. I think cheddar would be especially delicious!) 9.6-oz. bag fully cooked Jimmy Dean turkey sausage 6 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped (can also used 1/3 cup bacon bits) 3/4 cup milk (whole, 2%, or FairLife) 2 tbsp maple syrup How to Make Protein Breakfast Muffins 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F. 2. Grease 12 muffin tins (or line with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray). 3. In a large bowl, combine pancake mix, cheese, sausage, bacon, milk, and maple syrup. Stir until well mixed. 4. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin tins. 5. Bake in preheated oven for 18 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. 6. Let cool for a few minutes, then remove from the tin and serve warm with extra maple syrup if desired. Refrigerate any leftovers in an air-tight food storage container for 3-4 days (or freeze for longer). Print Easy Protein Breakfast Muffins Course Breakfast, Snack Cuisine American Keyword easy breakfast, freezer friendly, muffins, quick snack Prep Time 10 minutes minutes Cook Time 18 minutes minutes Servings 12 muffins Calories 132kcal Author Crystal Paine Ingredients 1 cup Kodiak protein pancake mix 1/3 cup shredded cheese 9.6 oz. turkey sausage fully cooked Jimmy Dean in the bag 6 slices bacon cooked and chopped (can also used 1/3 cup bacon bits) 3/4 cup milk whole, 2%, or FairLife 2 tbsp maple syrup Instructions Preheat your oven to 400°F. Grease 12 muffin tins (or line with muffin liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray). In a large bowl, combine pancake mix, cheese, sausage, bacon, milk, and maple syrup. Stir until well mixed. Divide the mixture evenly among the muffin tins. Bake in preheated oven for 18 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes, then remove from the tin and serve warm with extra maple syrup if desired. Nutrition Serving: 1muffin | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 135mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 0.5mg FREE 50+ Easy and Cheap Breakfast Ideas!! Mornings just got so much easier with this FREE list of 50+ Easy & Cheap Breakfast Ideas for Busy Weekday Mornings!       Does budgeting feel overwhelming? Get my brand new One-Hour Budget program for just $19 right now! If you’ve been wanting to set up a budget, but you’re just not sure where to start or feel overwhelmed by it all…I created a product just for you! Are you tired of feeling stressed about your finances? Do you wish there was a simple, effective way to take control of your money without spending endless hours on budgeting? When my husband was in law school, we lived on a very tight budget, and every dime mattered. It was in those years of when our budget was so lean that we learned the power of budgeting. It allowed us to manage our tiny amount of money in a way that gave us freedom, not frustration. We’ve continued to reap the benefits of budgeting in the many years that followed. I look back and know without a shadow of a doubt that we wouldn’t be where we are today financially — with a lot of breathing room, no debt at all, the ability to invest in the future (retirement, real estate, money market accounts and mutual funds), and to give generously — if it weren’t for a budget. A budget doesn’t bring bondage and make you feel miserable; a budget gives you the ability to be much more proactive and make your money work so much more effectively for you. And after years of y’all begging me to create a product sharing more about how to set up and stick with a budget, I finally did it! My brand new program The One-Hour Budget is a step-by-step system that walks you through exactly how to set up a budget that actually works for YOU — in just 60 minutes! It’s super simple. Super straightforward. No more stressing over numbers. No more feeling like you’re constantly failing at money. And the best part? It takes just ONE hour. For real! What You’ll Get for Just $19 (Limited-Time Sale!) Right now, you can grab The One-Hour Budget for just $19 when you use code MARCH at checkout. But hurry — this sale only lasts through next Monday, March 10, 2025. With The One-Hour Budget, you’ll get a proven framework to: Create a budget tailored to your unique situation (without a ton of complicated formulas). Finally feel in control of your finances (rather than feeling like money is controlling you). Set up a simple system that helps you save, spend, and plan with confidence. Click here to get started and finally create a budget that works for you! PLUS: Get 3 FREE Bonuses Worth $67! When you purchase The One-Hour Budget, you’ll also get these three bonuses: 100+ Ways to Cut Your Budget – Creative, practical ways to save money (without feeling deprived!). 50 Ways to Increase Your Income – Simple ideas to bring in extra cash each month. Pros & Cons of the 6 Most Popular Paid Budgeting Systems – A guide to help you decide if a paid tool is worth it for you. These bonuses alone are worth $67, but you’ll get them all for FREE with your purchase! Don’t Miss This Special Sale! If you’ve been putting off budgeting because it feels too complicated or time-consuming, The One-Hour Budget is exactly what you need. And for a limited time, you can grab it for just $19 with code MARCH at checkout. Financial freedom is just ONE HOUR away! You’ve got this!! Click here to get it for $19 with code MARCH.       Latest finds on Pinterest Creamy Milk Rice | Money Saving Mom® 13 Easy Homemade Bread Recipes. ​ ​There’s something about the smell of homemade bread wafting through your house. Not only does it smell SO welcoming, but fresh-from-the-oven bread is beyond delicious! Our family loves bread, and one way that I’ve always stretched our grocery budget is by making our own bread at home. Mini Freezer Friendly Individual Meat Lasagnas | Easy and Delicious Make Ahead Meal Ideas Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz® • 650 E. Palisade Avenue Ste 2, PO Box 173 • Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632