Adventures In Frugal Land

Simply Frugal. Simply Natural.

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The Best Podcasts of 2019

I am loving podcasts. I know they’ve been around for a while but I only got into them in the last 2-3 years. I definitely have jumped in headfirst though. My podcast queue is longer than what I normally have time to listen to!

If you do not know how to listen to podcasts or what they are (radio shows on your phone), leave me a comment or message and I’ll help you out.

Podcasts are a great way to entertain yourself while cleaning, working or exercising. You can listen to podcasts for free on your phone or computer. I’ve saved a lot of money on audiobooks since I listen to primarily podcasts now.

The following are the podcasts that I never miss an episode of. These are my absolute favorites and first on my playlist.

Cultivating The Lovely
Sorta Awesome
Jim Harold’s Campfire
True Crime Obsessed
The Crystal Paine Show
The Same Page
Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Lore
The Popcast
The Bible Binge
Lighten Up With Melanie Dale

The following list are podcasts that I enjoy but don’t listen to every single episode. I skip the ones that done interest me and listen to the ones that do. These are my frequently listened to podcasts

Welcome Home
The Mom Hour
10 Things to Tell You
That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs
The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

Everything by The Parcast Network

I’m subscribed to just about every podcast by The Parcast Network. The following are my favorites but I suggest checking out their entire selection if you’re into weird or crime type of podcasts.


Cults
Unsolved Murders
Conspiracy Theories
Extraterrestrial
Female Criminals

What are your favorite podcasts?

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Fighting the Stigma of Poverty

I recently finished “More Than Just Making It: Hope for the Heart of the Financially Frustrated” by Erin Odom of The Humbled Homemaker. Before delving into my thoughts about the book I want to mention that if you pre-order it before the release date of September 5, 2017, you are eligible for some amazing goodies. Some of the best goodies (in my opinion anyway) is the free gift package from Free Reign Farm, access to the first 3 chapters while you wait for the book and a printable gratitude journal. If you are going to order this book, pre-order it now to get all of these goodies plus a ton more! Visit MoreThanJustMakingIt.com for more details.

Pre-order More Than Just Making It

One of the hardest struggles I’ve faced while in poverty is the stigma. I love how Erin addresses the stigma she felt while in the trenches of barely surviving. She is honest with her feelings that she was above the stereotypes. She was educated and a hard worker. Then she goes on to say “None of it mattered. So instead, I told the truth.” That sentence gave me chills. I shared my introduction into poverty in an earlier post and had many of those same thoughts. And just like Erin, none of it mattered. Poverty is humbling but it does not define you.

The stigma of poverty is hard to rise above. Especially when our families and friends contribute to it. Sometimes, we contribute to it ourselves. I’ve heard so many comments from wealthier people about low-income families. Maybe you have heard the comments too.

 

“Poor people shouldn’t breed.”

“If you only worked hard, you wouldn’t be in this position.” 

“Learn how to manage your money and you’ll be fine.”

“Poor people are lazy.”

“My tax dollars pay for your family.”

“How dare you enjoy any luxuries, you should be eating rice and beans. Meat is for the better people.”

 

These comments can hurt even the strongest of us. Every so often on social media, a picture of a fridge full of junk is posted beside a picture of a fridge with barely anything in it with the caption “The difference between a working class fridge and a food stamp fridge. Implying that those on food stamps can afford a fridge full of junk food.

I need to jump on my soapbox for just a moment. The idea that those struggling with poverty can afford a fridge full of food bought with food stamp dollar is absurd. Now, someone with food stamps may be able to stretch those dollars by using coupons and fill their fridge that way.

Quote8

Social media often brings the worst in people out. Hidden behind their screens, they feel they can say anything they want, regardless of who they hurt. And yes, it hurts. Even comments by complete strangers can make you feel small.

What the people making these types of comments don’t realize is that they could easily find themselves at the other end with one major health problem or loss of a job. Yes, there are some people who abuse the “system” and that is sad. But, the majority of low-income people are hard working folks facing hard times.

Erin has a whole chapter in More Than Just Making It titled “Eating Well on a Rice and Beans Budget”. That chapter shows the reader how to stretch the money they have (whether it’s food stamp dollars or not) and feed their families well. Yes, it is hard work but it has great rewards.

Fighting the Stigma of Poverty Learn how to fight the stigma of poverty. Whether you are the one struggling or you know someone that do. Be part of the solution. Find practical tips and tricks to help you survive and gain hope through this difficult season of your life. #morethanjustmakingit

What I love the most about this book is that Erin shares her story while giving hope to those still just barely surviving. She shares how she helped her family make it through hard times with practical advice and ideas. Throughout the book, hope is found.

If you or someone you know is struggling with poverty, this is the book for you.

Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of.

If there is one thing that you take away, I hope you learn how to stop being ashamed of being poor. Learning that poverty doesn’t define your character is so important. Believe me, I get it. I’ve struggled with low self-esteem because of poverty. I wish I would have realized earlier that the amount of money I have is not equal to my self-worth.

 

Paine_EndorsementV2

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When Healthy Is Unhealthy

We live in a wonderful age of information. Everywhere you go, there is information. You can even learn anything, at any time, with your cell phone. This is great but can lead to information overload. Which can be particularly harmful when talking about healthy living.

When you begin to research different aspects of healthy living, you will come across a lot of information. Some of that information is scary. You might learn that your favorite soap is full of toxins. Or, that the plastic wrap you’ve used for years has been recalled due to it causing cancer. This happens more frequently that you could imagine. It seems that people today are scared. Of everything. I’ve experienced “toxin anxiety” on several occasions. It seems that EVERYTHING is bad for you. I’ve had to stop researching and focus on “good enough”.

Melanie Dale, of Unexpected.org and author of “It’s Not Fair“, wrote a post about her New Year’s goals that really resonated with me. In it, she shared how she was going to focus on being mediocre this year. Seriously, read her post. And her books. She’s that awesome. My point (other than to get you to go read Melanie’s posts) is that you don’t have to be the best. You don’t have to make the absolute best decisions. Especially when it comes to healthy, natural living. If you change one thing, it’s still better. You can choose to do “good enough”.

 

I have a whole series right now called “From Toxic to Healthy” where I’m sharing what is working for me, right now, in my home. You might not be able to implement some of what I do. That’s all right. You do what you can. Other people can cut out so many other toxins and “bad things” from their homes that I just can’t right now. And that’s fine too.

When starting your healthy living journey, remember this: If striving to be healthy puts you into a position where you are making less healthy choices, stop, and focus on “good enough”. What do I mean by this?

Example:

You can’t stand the taste of tap water, even with a filter, so you drink your water primarily from bottled water. Then, you learn that some brands of bottled water have BPAs in their plastic. So, you stop drinking as much water. What’s healthier? To continue to drink the bottled water or not drink any water at all?

Bad Choice:

Not drinking any water.

Good Enough Choice:

Look for bottled water labeled BPA free and buy that or, buy a reusable BPA free bottle.

Best Choice:

Find a pure, natural spring where you can gather your water in glass bottles that you’ve blown yourself.

Focusing on all the bad stuff out there can drive anyone insane. It is very important to make healthy changes slowly. When I first started on my healthy living journey (health nut bandwagon as others call it), I freaked out and wanted to change everything at one time. That wasn’t possible financially for me. And now, I’m glad that it wasn’t. I’ve learned that it’s better to do it slowly. Remember, healthy living isn’t just about freeing your homes of toxins. It’s also about making sure your mental state is good too. If you are stressing yourself out over being healthy, it’s counterintuitive.

I’ve recently posted about finding a non-toxic laundry detergent. I’ve received some feedback that some of my suggestions contain this chemical or that toxin. And, I’m all right with that. I need to be all right with making some “good enough” decisions for the sake of my sanity.

And remember, take everything you read with a grain of salt. There is a lot of information out there about everything. Some of it great information with real credibility. Other information if of the “fear mongering” type. Some information is simply incorrect. And others are just people’s opinions. You need to make the best decisions for your family and yourself. If those decisions look different than someone else’s, that’s normal. I honestly feel that healthy living has become a new way to “keep up with the Jones'”. Don’t fall into that way of thinking.

Now, go read Melanie’s post and tell me what you think!

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How Fit2B Is Helping Me All Day Long

I’ve been using Fit2B for a few months now and feel like I can give an accurate review. I initially signed up with them to help my diastasis but have benefited so much more. I use Fit2B all through the day now. No, I’m not stuck in front of the TV working out all day long. Many of these workouts do not take much time at all to complete.

About Fit2B

Before I explain how Fit2B is helping me all day long, I wanted to tell you about the company. Fit2B is a gentle approach to fitness. This is such an amazing thing for me. I struggle with quite a few medical conditions and am not always (hardly ever) up to a strenuous workout plan.

There are different paths to take to personalize your experience. I was excited to see the “Tummy Safe Path to Great Abs”. I’ve bought different workout DVDs that promised me a flat stomach and was only frustrated with the results. I thought I was nuts because it seemed that my “mommy pouch” only got bigger and bigger. Turns out, it wasn’t in my head. Many of the workout moves I was trying to force myself into doing was making my diastasis recti worse. A diastasis is also known as abdominal separation. You can learn how to check yourself for one here. With Fit2B, I am happy to say that their “Tummy Safe” workouts won’t make your diastasis worse. They are designed to help strengthen your core and close your diastasis safely.

Cost

It costs just $15 a month. That is a lot cheaper than taking one yoga class or joining a gym. And let’s be honest here, I am not a gym person. At all.  I am cheap frugal to the bone and feel that this is an excellent value. I would pay more for this if I had too. It is helping me that much.

Kid Friendly

My daughter loves their kid programs. She also does quite a few of my workouts alongside me.

My Core

My core is getting stronger since beginning this program. I can feel a decrease in my diastasis!

 

How Fit2B is Helping Me All Day Long

Morning

I go through the PMS Routine every morning. It helps my pain greatly. If you suffer from chronic pelvic pain or monthly menstrual cramps, I can’t recommend this enough.

Afternoon

I’ve mentioned before that I have endometriosis and adenomyosis. Keeping my pelvic floor in good shape is essential for managing my pain. I use Fit2B’s Pelvic Floor routine at least three times a week. It takes less than a half an hour to complete.

I also try to get in a quick 10 -15-minute workout that focuses on other areas. There is an excellent selection of different workouts to choose from that can be done in 10-15 minutes.

Night

When I’m ready to go to sleep, I usually do some light stretching or one of their relaxation workouts. But, I really enjoy their Bedtime Mediation. It helps relax me enough to be able to sleep.

 

For the first time in my life, I’m truly excited to workout. I’m not in extreme pain afterward. Even on my hard days, I can do one of their routines. Have you used Fit2B before? What is your favorite workout with them?

 

 

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Hannahpad Review

Hannahpad

Hannah Pad uses only organic cotton on the fabric that touches your skin. This is wonderful for those wishing to remove toxins from their life. Plus, this makes the fabric so comfortable.

I ordered:

The sample liner option.

Cost:

The normal cost for liners starts out at $11.99. Medium pads start out at $18.99. Overnight pads start out at $22.99. Shipping is free with orders over $99.

Variety of Styles & Sizes:

There is not a variety of styles with Hannahpad.

Variety of Prints:

There isn’t a large variety of prints.

Absorbency:

I did not do an absorbency test on the liners.Learn more about my absorbency testing in the post “What You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Cloth Pads”.

Comfort:

One of the most comfortable liners I own.

What I Didn’t Like:

The only thing I don’t like is they are one of the more expensive companies.

Customer Service:

Shipping was very quick. I had no other experiences with customer service.

Overall Thoughts:

This is one of the more expensive options. I am not sure if I will order from this company again due to the cost. I am very pleased with the liner I received. I suggest signing up for their sample before placing a large order.

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Party In My Pants Pads Review

Party In My Pants

I placed a fairly large order with Party In My Pants Pads (PIMP) because I had already signed up for their free liner sample (just pay shipping, sign up here) and LOVED it. When they ran their end of the year special (25% off!) I jumped on it and ordered several more liners and a few pads to test out.

I ordered:

1 Jetty Pad, 1 Overnight Pad, 1 Large Pad, 2 Luxe Liners and 8 Demi Liners.

Cost:

I paid $78.66 for my entire order. I did use a special coupon code that was available at the time.

The normal cost for liners starts out at $9.99. Medium pads start out at $12.99. Large ones start out at $12.99. Overnight ones start out at $13.99.

 

You can cut down on the cost by choosing the “surprise me” option for the print used. Doing this saves about $3 per pad ordered! Definitely, the way to go if you don’t care about the print used. If you order $75 or more, shipping is free.

Materials:

Nylon shield (backing)

Flannel (top & inner core)

Cotton (top & inner core)

Option for 100% organic cotton (top & inner)

Nickle free plated snaps

 

Variety of Styles & Sizes:

There isn’t too much variety in the different styles. PIMP seems to have a found a shape that works for most women and stays with that. There are a lot of different sizes to choose from, though. Their “Jetty” pad has a different wing placement than their other ones but is still the same shape. This isn’t an issue for me but might be for someone else.

Variety of Prints:

If you like a large variety of prints, PIMP is a great place to shop. They have a huge variety of prints. There is something to suit everyone.

 

Absorbency:

Learn more about my absorbency testing in the post “What You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Cloth Pads”.

Large Pad

I was pretty shocked to find that the top layer of the pad was pretty dry to the touch after 10 minutes. There was no leaking from the sides or the back of the pad. The pad remained super thin but did get a little bit of heaviness.

Overnight Pad

This pad is super thin and I didn’t think it would be able to work as an overnight pad. I really put it to the test with 2 oz of water. While the pad did get quite heavy, there was no leaking at all. Also, the top layer of the pad was fairly dry to the touch after 10 minutes.

Comfort:

I found the top layer of each one to be very comfy. And the thinness of the pads definitely is a huge plus for me. I hate the “bulge” that happens with disposable pads.

I tried to capture how thin the are with the below picture.

What I Didn’t Like:

There is also an issue with the pads shifting if you do not wear tight enough panties. This isn’t an issue for the liners but it is for the pads. You can help this issue by ordering the pads with a second snap, which I highly recommend. I’ve only noticed the shifting happening after periods of activity. If you have a job that doesn’t require much moving/bending, I don’t think this would be an issue at all.

I did notice that with some panties, you can hear the nylon rubbing when you walk. This may not bother you but it does bother me. I wish there was an option to have a different backing.

 

Customer Service:

Shipping was very quick. My package was at my house within a few days of ordering. Included in my package was a piece of fair trade chocolate! I would LOVE the option to buy more of that chocolate. It is delicious.

I had a question and emailed customer service and they were very quick to respond and quite nice.

 

Overall Thoughts:

PIMP pads can be costly (especially if you choose your own print) but they are very well made. I am happy with how quick they dry due to their thin shape. I would recommend ordering their free sample first before placing a large order to make sure their shape works well with your body.

 

I will be ordering from this company again in the future.

If you place an order with Party In My Pants (PIMP) Pads, get 10% off with the code “frugalland“.

 

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An Honest Look at Division, Refugees, Fear and Discrimination

Hot Topic Alert:

I don’t often share my personal views on politics and such here as it’s not the main focus of this blog. That being said, today, I am going to share some thoughts. These thoughts might upset or irritate people. I’m sure I will be losing subscribers but I can’t keep this inside me any longer.

I’m really sick and tired of hearing people say “If you don’t like something, you don’t have to do it, but stay out of what other people want to do”

History is full of examples of mass murders and genocides.

Who stood up for the Armenians as they were being executed?

How many citizens of Germany were appalled by what was happening during the Holocaust, and didn’t stand up?

Who remembers learning about Rwanda and hearing survivor’s testimonies?

Everyone in America knows the stories of the Native Americans.

How many people in this world have been murdered because of their race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or just for no reason?

At what point did it become acceptable to stand by and think “Not my problem”?

That’s just not true. As humans, it is our duty to speak up when something is wrong.

I’m seeing this today in two issues:

The Hypocrisy of Abortions and Refugees

Ironically enough, those that fight for the lives of unborn children are ok with turning their eyes to the plight of the refugees.

And those that find it racist to not allow refugees in this country are ok with ending the life of unborn children.

Doesn’t anyone see the hypocrisy in this on both sides?

 

What’s the answer? I don’t know. A divided country to be sure. But, I do feel our country will be able to overcome this as we have in the past. We’ve gone through a civil war before and stayed united.

As far as abortions, I am completely against them. I’ve made that perfectly clear in the past.

As far as the refugee issues going on, I stand by them and my country. I just don’t know how to do that at one time. I really don’t know what the solution is. But, I do know that the solution is not turning a blind eye to the plight of another human.

Should we discriminate against all refugees on the chance that one of them might be a terrorist? I don’t believe so. However, should we be supporting other people when we cannot support our own? Is there a way to support the refugees and eliminate any threat to our country?

The issues with the refugees today remind me of what happened in Nazi Germany. Only now, the threat of Nazis (Terrorists) gaining entry to our country is a significant problem. What would have happened during WW2 if every other country refused to take in the refugees? There would be a lot less survivor stories.

Do I feel that there should be a vetting process to protect our citizens? Absolutely. Do I feel that we should close our borders out of fear? Absolutely not. And I get it, the idea that we should take care of our own first but what will happen to the thousands of people fleeing for their lives? Should we have a containment area? Should we simply not allow any more immigrants or refugees? How can we ensure the safety of our country and still lend a helping hand? I wish I had the answers. I wish someone had the answers.

I wish I had the answers. I wish someone had the answers.

All I know is that we are all simply humans. I feel everyone has the right to live without fear and discrimination. I understand that people are reacting out of fear. And I get it, I really do. I live with anxiety every day. This world is a scary place at times but it is also a wonderful place with really good people in it.

I want to encourage everyone to not make their minds up without doing any research. Don’t base your decision on what our country should do out of fear. Base it on what you truly feel is right.

 

Melanie Dale, author of “It’s Not Fair” (which is on sale for $1.99) wrote a great post about how to help refugees. Check it out.

What are your opinions? Please keep any comments respectful. Hateful comments will be deleted.

 

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That Time I Maxed out My Credit Cards and Didn’t Regret It

Credit cards are evil. That’s what everyone says, right? I’ve even said it myself. I would hear about “those people” with thousands of dollars of credit card debt and immediately jump to the conclusion that they must not be good at managing their money.  Or, they were shopaholics, living far beyond their means. Well, life has a funny way of showing you when you’ve been a judgmental dingbat.

That’ll Teach Me to Judge Someone Else’s Financial Situation

Last winter, I was in a bad place financially. Brandon, my other half, had major surgery with several complications. While he was in the hospital, our only vehicle completely and utterly died on us. After the hospital stay, he required home nursing and several doctor’s appointments with costly co-pays. At that time, I was unable to find a steady job. I had costly prescriptions of my own to pay for. Not to mention, bills still needed to be paid.

What About Savings?

Everyone should have an emergency fund, right? It’s great if you have one but know that it is possible to quickly go through the fund when an emergency strikes. It got to the point where we wiped through all our savings, even after cutting every possible expense. It was then that I decided to start using my credit cards. This is the part of the story where I should tell you what a horrible idea that was and how much I regret it. But, I can’t do that because I don’t regret it.Having access to the cards allowed me to get the prescriptions I needed, helped to put food on the table, paid for co-pays and kept the lights on. For a few months, we were pretty much living off of credit cards until I was able to find a job.

That Time I Maxed out My Credit Cards

Why I Don’t Regret the Credit Card Debt

I don’t regret having the credit card debt. I can’t, knowing what how much it helped us. That being said, I want it gone. We are now in a better position and have been aggressively paying down the debt. My goal is to have it paid off by the end of the year. When I added up the total amount, I was shocked. Not at how much it was. No, I was shocked that I didn’t regret it. I see the debt as something that truly helped my family when we needed it the most. And for that, I’m thankful. (and for the fact that I didn’t have interest until the last few months!)

Why Am I Sharing This?

I’m not sharing this to encourage you to take on huge amount of credit card debt. I am sharing this to let you know that sometimes, it’s ok to have to use credit cards when there is no other choice. I can blog about emergency funds and savings accounts (and I do encourage that) but the truth is, not everyone is able to live that way. Sometimes, it’s impossible to build an emergency fund when you are barely able to keep food on the table. If that is where you are at right now, know that you aren’t alone. You will pull through this. Do what you need to do for your family and ignore what everyone else (even me!) has to say about saving money.

 

Have you ever had to use credit cards to survive? Were you able to pay off the debt?

 

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Why I Voted For Trump Even Though I Don’t Like Him

Oh, how I hesitated writing this post as I know it may ruffle a few feathers. But, I felt I had to as a response to all the outrage surrounding this election.

I don’t like Trump. Not as a person. And not as a political leader.

I find his comments regarding immigration and border control to be crass and lacking of any sort of human compassion.

I was appalled at his lack of respect to the disabled reporter.

I think he speaks first and is quick to anger. He seems to run his mouth without thinking of the consequences.

There are many reasons why I don’t like him.

Yet, I voted for him.

This came as a shock to people who know me closely as they were the ones who had to listen first hand on my feelings about him.

Ever since the results of the election came in, I’ve seen and heard people proclaim that anyone who voted for Trump must be a racist person who can’t stand to see a woman in office. While I’m sure that was the case for some voters, it wasn’t the case for me.

I voted based on my own conscious and by weighing the points that matter most to me. There were three points that were extremely important to me.

I’m not sharing my points to debate with anyone. I understand that people share different views. These are simply the three that are the most important to me. Yours may be different.

voted-for-trump

Abortion:

Has there ever been another topic that has been debated as heavily as abortion has? I cannot support a candidate who supports abortion, especially late term ones. I am a Christian and I believe life begins at conception. I’m also a mother who’s struggled with fertility and suffered miscarriages. I cannot support the ending of the life of a child.

Obamacare:

A prime example of great idea, poor execution.  Needs revised.

Gun Control:

I don’t presume to know the best way to handle people who commit mass murders. But, I can say with certainty that taking guns away from lawful owners is not the way to handle it. All we have to do is look back in time to see what happened in Germany after Hitler took away guns. As a nation, we need to focus on helping the mentally ill BEFORE it gets to a violent point.

Yes, I am pretty much a completely, conservative Republican who is not interested in living in a socialist country.

Notice in this post, I didn’t base my decisions on the private lives of either candidates? That’s because it didn’t matter to me. I didn’t cast my vote to make a judgment off someone’s personal life. It was still, the hardest presidential vote I’ve ever faced. I truly felt as if I was choosing the lesser of two evils. That’s why I went back to the views of the campaigns and cast my vote accordingly.

I hope this opens some of your eyes as to the reasons why someone would vote for Trump. Not all of us are die-hard supporters. I imagine it’s the same for the Clinton supporters. Some of you voted for her based on a few views that are important to you. Are you wrong? No. Am I wrong? No. We just differ on our opinions.

As a nation, I hope we can move forward. I sincerely hope that Trump will be the best president we ever had, but, I’m not going to hold my breath on that. I do hope that we can all learn that hate is never the response. Especially among family and friends.

 

As always, comments are welcomed but I will delete belligerent ones that are only written to attack others.