Aarn Farmer

How To Keep Your Life & Finances In Order As A Working Parent

March 11, 2019 by Aarn Farmer 2 Comments

Being a parent and working a full-time job is a challenging juggling act, so don’t feel bad when you fall behind or mess up. Staying organized is going to help you avoid chaos and unwanted surprises but know that it’s not always an easy task to tackle.

Below you’ll find practical ways for how you can keep your life and finances in order as a working parent so you can feel more at ease and less stressed out. Know that some days will be better than others and that you’ll make mistakes, but do your best to not let any setbacks keep you from trying to continue to improve your ways.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

One way to keep your life and finances in order as a working parent is to use technology to your advantage. For example, there are apps and programs that will help you to maintain better order, and that will even manage your finances for you. Take time to read this Blooom review as one option for how you can have a robo-advisor automatically manage your employer-sponsored retirement plan. This will be one task that’s worth taking off your plate so you can rest assured your money is being looked after while you’re attending to other important matters in your life.

Ask for Help

You can also keep your life and finances in order as a working parent by asking for help when you need it. Don’t feel bad reaching out and seeing if you can get involved in a neighborhood carpool or requesting that your spouse and kids pitch in around the house. No one will know you’re struggling or need a hand unless you speak up and let it be known. Keep in mind that it makes you a wise parent and that you should be proud of yourself for knowing your limits and what you do and don’t have time for.

Make Lists & Maintain A Calendar

Making lists is also a wise idea, so you don’t have to remember all that you have to do in your mind. In addition, put your tasks and responsibilities in priority order so you can get done first what’s most important. You can also keep your life and finances in order as a working parent by maintaining a calendar of events and upcoming obligations. Get in the habit of writing down all that’s approaching so you don’t miss out on any matters that should be on your radar.

Track Your Spending

Another way to help yourself out and make your life easier is to track your spending. Be diligent about noting your habits and where your money is going each month. You can make your life easier and maintain better financial order as a working parent by writing down what you’re buying and confirming that you’re paying your bills on time. Doing so will make you aware of any red flags or behaviors you want to stop practicing so you can maintain a more financially secure lifestyle.

Follow Routines & Schedules

Following routines and schedules can help you stay organized when you have a lot of different responsibilities and tasks to manage. Keep your life and finances in order as a working parent by getting everyone in your household on an agenda so there are fewer surprises and everyone knows what to expect. For example, make lunches the night before, wake up and go to bed around the same time each night and eat dinner together as a family. Your finances will stay in better order as well when you routinely follow a budget and don’t fall behind on required payments.

Learn to Say No

As a working parent with a lot to take care of on any given day, it’s in your best interest to learn to say no once in a while. Remember to check your schedule and get back to people before making certain commitments that will take up more of your time. In addition, say no to yourself or your kids once in a while when you’re thinking about spending money on items you don’t truly need at the time. Don’t feel like you need to come up with an excuse as to why you’re saying no or feel guilty for doing so.

Practice Work-Life Balance

Finally keep your life and finances in order as a working parent by practicing work-life balance consistently. You’ll have more time for attending to your priorities and won’t feel like you’re always rushing around. Finding a desirable routine is going to help you out in this area as well because you’ll leave the office at a decent hour instead of trying to fit too much in each day. Put self-care ahead of all else and you’ll find it’s easier for you to care for your loved ones and perform well at work when you’re feeling your best.

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

Winc Wine Subscription Service Review!

December 17, 2018 by Aarn Farmer Leave a Comment

I got to try something really awesome this week that I wanted to let you all know about. I was invited to try out Winc’s home wine subscription service and I gotta say, this is a really good idea!

What happens is when you sign up for the service, you are asked a series of questions about your taste preferences such as how sweet do you like your chocolate or do you like spicy foods, etc. Essentially it is just getting an idea about the types of flavors that appeal most to you.

Then it creates a list of 4 wines it will send to you to try. Once the box arrives, you try out the wines and decide which ones you like more than the others and over time, you get a box of multiple varieties of wine that are all tailored to your preferences sent to you each month.

When I went through the series, I didn’t really believe that the questions could figure out my taste preferences but so far I’ve tried 2 of the 4 wines they sent and both are very good and I’m not much of a wine drinker. Let’s just say that dinner the last 2 nights have been more fun than normal!

Here is what Winc has to say about itself:

Winc is not your traditional wine club: we are a direct-distribution global wine company that personalizes the entire wine experience – We are perfecting how wine is made, distributed, perceived and purchased via our Palate Profile quiz that recommends wine based on your unique tastes and I’ll add enjoyed on behalf of a new generation of wine drinkers. It takes the hassle and guesswork out of picking a bottle from your local liquor store and delivers the perfect bottle directly to your doorstep. We do all this as part of our quest to improve the experience for consumers, create a platform for artisanal winemaking, and build a grape-to-glass supply chain that’s sustainable for the planet. No more intimidating language and steep price points, and more joy in the act of sharing a bottle.

You should try out the service and to that end, Winc is providing a great deal. Just use this link and Winc will take $22 off your first month! There is no obligation to continue so you have nothing to lose.

Once you get your first box, please drop me a line. I’d love to know what you thought!

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

Walmart $1.00 and Under Deals!

April 16, 2018 by Aarn Farmer 12 Comments

Here is a list of all the $1.00 and Under deals you can get at Walmart!

You can see all the deals that are $1.00 and Under at Walmart right here.

The 21 Day Grocery Budget Bootcamp ebook is here! Now you can learn how to save money on your groceries quickly and easily. Click here to get your copy!

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

This Week’s Unadvertised Walmart Deals!

April 15, 2018 by Aarn Farmer 2 Comments

Every week we put together a list of hot deals from the Walmart weekly ad as well as unadvertised deals that you won’t find anywhere else!

Click here to see the Walmart ad deals and unadvertised deals.

Click here if you would like to see this week’s current ad.

The 21 Day Grocery Budget Bootcamp ebook is here! Now you can learn how to save money on your groceries quickly and easily. Click here to get your copy!

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

Throw Out Your Expired Coupons!

April 2, 2018 by Aarn Farmer Leave a Comment

It’s the first of the month so let’s take a look at our coupon binders and keep them cleaned out! The widget below tells you all the coupon inserts that have expired in the last 30 days.

If you are unsure if a specific insert still has valid coupons, use the widget below to check it.

If you would like to see a list of what has expired in the last 60 days, click here and scroll down to where it says Expired Coupons in the lefthand sidebar.

The 21 Day Grocery Budget Bootcamp ebook is here! Now you can learn how to save money on your groceries quickly and easily. Click here to get your copy!

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

Enter to Win a $100 Amazon Giftcard and Tickets to the DFW Auto Show!

February 11, 2018 by Aarn Farmer Leave a Comment

How would you like to join me at the DFW Auto Show this week! Dian and I will be attending to learn about Toyota’s new 2018 line of vehicles and are partnering with A Girl’s Guide to Cars to give away tickets to a few lucky readers and a $100 Amazon Giftcard.

Just us the widget below to enter for your chance to win and check out more info on the cars below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Toyota

Designed and Assembled in the U.S.A., Five Generations Strong
New V6 and Toyota Hybrid System Powertrains Offering More Power and MPG
New TNGA K Sedan Platform with Multi-Link Rear Suspension and Available Toyota-First Adaptive Variable Suspension (AVS)
Standard Entune 3.0 with WiFi Hotspot, Qi Wireless Charging, Toyota Remote Connect with Smartwatch and Amazon Alexa Connectivity, and Apple CarPlay
Standard Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)
On Sale in Late Spring 2018

C-HR

Bold, Eye-Catching Style Signals New Direction in Toyota Design
Sharp Nürburgring-Tuned Handling
C-HR Receives Two Toyota-First Features: Driver Distraction Secure Audio and Brake Hold Function
Standard 18-in. Alloy Wheels, Dual-Zone Climate Control, Bucket Seating and 7-in. Audio Display
Only Vehicle in Its Segment with Standard Pre-Collision System with Active Braking – Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P) with Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control

Camry

Best-Selling Car in America for the last 16 years
Standard Toyota Safety Sense-P
New Emotionally-Charged Design and Performance Experience
Aggressive Exterior Character Lines and Low Center of Gravity

RAV4 Adventure

RAV4 Adventure has Dirt-Inspired Styling and Higher Ride Height
Active lifestyle inspired

Tundra

Built here, lives here; built at Toyota’s San Antonio facility – TMMTX

Tacoma

Built here, lives here; built at Toyota’s San Antonio facility – TMMTX

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

UPDATED: 12 FREE Products Available NOW at Walmart!

May 12, 2017 by Aarn Farmer 176 Comments

There were several FREEbies available now at Walmart. I thought it might be helpful to see them all in one place. If you see a deal that isn’t available anymore, let me know and I’ll take it off.

UPDATE: This week we’ve got 12 FREEbies. Please share so everyone can see the list!

Maruchan Noodles – $0.20
Final: FREE PLUS $0.05 OVERAGE after $0.25 On Any Item Ibotta Rebate

Bush’s Beans, 16 oz – $0.92
use $1.00/2 Bush’s Cocina Latina Variety Beans or Organic Variety Beans – 4-30-17 SS (exp 06/25/17)
Stack with:
use $1.00/2 Bush’s Variety Beans, Organic Variety Beans, or Hummus Made Easy – 5-14-17 SS (exp 07/09/17)
Stack with:
use $1.00/2 Bush’s Variety Beans or Organic Beans Checkout 51 Rebate, Limit 5 – use 2
Final: FREE PLUS $0.32 Moneymaker

Uncle Ben’s Rice Bowls or Boxes – $1.00
– $1/3 Uncle Ben’s Products Rolling
Final: $0.67

Starkist Tuna Creations, 2.6 oz – $1.00
– $0.50/2 StarKist Tuna & Salmon Creations Pouches – Ibotta Rebate; Includes 2.6 oz Only
Final: $0.75

Tabasco Sauce – $1.34
use $1.00/1 Tabasco Family of Flavors – 4-30-17 SS; Includes 5 oz or Larger Only; DND (exp 06/30/17)
or
– $0.50/1 Tabasco Pepper Sauce Flavor Rolling
Final: $0.34

Kikkoman Sauce – $1.52
– $0.55/1 Kikkoman Sauce printable [10-oz.+]
Final: $0.97

Axe 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, 12 oz – $3.97 – buy 2
use $4.00/2 AXE Shampoo or Conditioner – 5-7-17 RP; Excludes Trial and Travel Size; Maximum of 2 Identical Coupons In Same Shopping Trip (exp 06/03/17)
Stack with:
$2/1 AXE 2-in-1, 12 oz bottle Ibotta rebate. Excludes multi and variety packs, trial & travel sizes
Final: FREE PLUS $0.03 OVERAGE each after coupon and Ibotta rebate – you can use the Ibotta rebate 2 times

Bic Comfort 3 Disposable Razor Pack, 4 ct – $2.97
use $3.00/1 BIC Flex5 Hybrid, Flex 5, Flex4, Flex3, Comfort 3 Advance, Hybrid 3 Comfort, or Hybrid 4 Flex Razor Pack – 5-7-17 SS; Excludes Trial and Travel Size (exp 06/03/17)
Final: FREE PLUS $0.03 OVERAGE

Clorox 2 Stain Remover For Colors – $2.00
use $1.00/1 Clorox 2 Product – 5-21-17 SS; Excludes Pen (exp 06/21/17)
Stack with:
use $2/1 Clorox 2 variety, any size (Excludes Purex plus Clorox 2 Liquid Detergent) Ibotta Rebate, limit 2
Final: FREE PLUS $1 Moneymaker

Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Hair Color, 1 ct – 9.97
use Mail-In Rebate up to $10.99
Final: FREE

Dove Men Care 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner, 3 oz (travel size) – $0.97
use Dove Men + Care Elements Body Wash – Checkout 51 Rebate; Includes Minerals + Sage or Charcoal + Clay only; Limit 1; Cannot Use This Offer with Any Other Coupon
Final: FREE PLUS $1.03 OVERAGE

Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Hair Color, 1 ct – 9.97
use Mail-In Rebate up to $10.99
Final: FREE

The 21 Day Grocery Budget Bootcamp ebook is here! Now you can learn how to save money on your groceries quickly and easily. Click here to get your copy!

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

Spanish Rice Recipe With Mahatma Rice!

May 4, 2017 by Aarn Farmer Leave a Comment

Spanish Rice Recipe With Mahatma Rice!

Every time I go to the store to pick up rice, there are about a dozen different varieties but I’m never really sure about the differences. This is true for many things, I know the difference between red and white wine but those people who can tell you the vineyard and vintage of a wine just by sniffing the cork always seem like they possess a type pf super power beyond my mortal abilities. But there is a definite difference between Mahatma Jasmine and Basmati rice and here is a helpful chart that breaks down the variations.

I wanted to make a Spanish rice dish to go with my fajitas and guacamole so I chose the Jasmine rice because of it’s sweet, buttery flavor that I thought would go well with my homemade guacamole as a side. Here’s the extremely easy recipe.

Easy Spanish Rice

Recipe Type: Side Dish

Cuisine: Spanish

Author: Aarn Farmer

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 35 mins

Serves: 4 servings

A quick and easy Spanish Rice recipe

Ingredients

1 11/2 cups Chicken Stock
1 cup Mahatma Jasmine Rice
1/2 cup Chunky Salsa

Instructions

Cook Rice according to instructions on bag, replacing water with chicken stock
After cooked, mix in Salsa

There is also a fantastic $1.50/1 printable coupon for Mahatma rice that can be redeemed at Walmart available below.

There is also an additional $1.50/1 coupon available in your ValPak mailer that is available in select cities.

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

How I Used Walmart Family Mobile To save My Tax Return Money!

March 27, 2017 by Aarn Farmer 1 Comment

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

A few weeks ago I told you about my new Samsung Galaxy On5 I bought and put on the Walmart Family Mobile Plan. I bought it with my tax return because it’s a great way to save money and make your tax return go farther.

I love the Walmart Family Mobile Plan because you get Unlimited* Talk, Text, & Data which (*includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE then 2G) and a free movie credit on VUDU every month ($7 value) for $49.88 per month, per line. The Samsung Galaxy On5 phone itself was just normally $119.99 but on RollBack right now for $69.99 and since Family Mobile bills you later, you only have to pay $19.88 when you sign up.. It has totally allowed me to make my tax return go so much farther.

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to http://cbi.as/7e-jr or your local Walmart for current pricing.

That big bucket of data allows me to do everything I want to do like play my games, read my emails and watch my free VUDU movie each month. In fact, I had a chance to have a little ice cream sundae movie night with my granddaughter, Little Bit. We don’t eat sugar so we have to pretty much hand-make all the ingredients for an awesome sundae so I wanted to share with you what I do and how I do it.

First up, the ice cream. Here’s the ingredient list.

½ cup heavy cream
½ cup almond milk
1/4 cup Stevia or sweetener of choice
3 large egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup blueberries

Here’s what you do with it.

Place cream, almond milk, and sweetener in small pot to simmer over low heat. Don’t let it come to a boil, you are just trying to warm it up a bit.
Whisk egg yolks and vanilla extract in separate bowl
Ladle some of the warm cream mixture into the eggs to warm them up. You don’t want the eggs to scramble in the cream mixture
Pour egg mix into pot with cream mix and whisk continuously to avoid the eggs congealing and scrambling
Pour mix into ice cream maker and mix until hard
About 5 minutes before totally hard, mix in blueberries.

It takes about 30 minutes to make but it’s easy enough to make that you and a toddler can do it together and have fun watching it mix. Little Bit poured the blueberries in and helped taste test it along the way.

Next we had to make Magic Shell. I have always loved the chocolate sauce that gets hard when you put it on ice cream but it’s impossible to find a sugar free version so I had to figure out how to make it myself.

All you have to do to take 2 Tbsp of coconut oil and microwave it for about 20 seconds to melt it. You want it to be just barely melted but not really hot. Then mix in a Tsp of cocoa powder and stevia until it’s sweet enough for you. It tastes awesome and hardens as soon as it hits the cold ice cream. It’s awesome so have something crunchy in your ice cream.

Next is whipped cream but this is easy to make. 1/2 cup of Heavy whipping Cream and a squirt of stevia and then throw it in the blender for about a minute until it peaks but be careful, if you do it too long it turns into butter.

Then I bought some sugar free caramel sauce at the store because if you already have chocolate and blueberries, you might as well throw some caramel on there as well.

Then I just fire up the VUDU app and cast my free movie to my TV through ChromeCast and Little Bit and I get to curl up on the couch and watch something animated with a princess. I would prefer something with explosions but the time spent with her was worth the sacrifice.

To get all the best deals, steals, and FREE Printable Coupons for Walmart, follow me on FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Pinterest, RSS, or email.

How I Used Walmart Family Mobile to Make My Tax Return Go Farther!

March 13, 2017 by Aarn Farmer Leave a Comment

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #YourTaxCash #CollectiveBias

A few years ago, my wife and I realized that our mobile phone bill had gotten WAYYYY out of hand. We were paying not only for our 2 phones but for my son’s phone, my mother in law’s phone, and for 3 separate tablets. It had gotten absolutely out of hand so we knew we had to make a change to get those costs under control.

We decided to switch over to the Walmart Family Mobile Plan because the benefits were amazing and it saved us a significant amount of money each month. We are on the $49.88/mo unlimited plan which is unlimited Talk, Text, & Data that includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE then 2G plus a free VUDU movie credit every month ($7 value).

Our income tax return came in so we knew we needed to spend part of it on updating our phones. I decided on the Samsung Galaxy On5 because I read great reviews of it online and I had always had great luck with Samsung products in the past. But probably most importantly for us, Walmart had it on rollback for $69.00, where normally it is $119.99. It was a great way to make our tax return go even farther than we planned.

Keep in mind that if this is the first Walmart Family Mobile phone you are buying, you will also need to purchase an activation SIM kit for $19.88 but even with that, it’s a fantastic deal. And since Walmart Family Mobile bills you later, that’s all you need upfront!

The unlimited plan (Includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE† data then 2G) also includes a FREE movie rental every month through Vudu. ($7 movie value is the same as a new release rental) Since Dian and I never seem to find the time to go out to the movies anymore, the movie rental makes a great date night. Once a month we cuddle up with our phone and Chromecast the movie to our TV and settle in for a stay at home date night. It’s really a nice bonus every month!

The unlimited data (Includes up to 10GB of 4G LTE† data then 2G) is nice also because it means I can watch YouTube videos while I’m out and check in on my Clash of Clans game. No lie, I am absolutely addicted to that game. It’s insane.

If you are looking for a great way to use your tax return to get a phone that fits your budget, take a look at Walmart Family Mobile and the Samsung On5 at Walmart today!

Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to here or your local Walmart for current pricing.