4 Frugal Roadtrip Tips

Are you prepared for your summer vacations? Even though it has been pretty hot in the south for a while now, summer officially begins this week! I always suggest planning your trips ahead of time in order to save the most money. Last year, my husband and I took two roadtrips to attend family weddings and it was a blast! One trip was to Chicago and the other was to Tallahassee. Flights were expensive so we decided to make the travel fun + frugal by roadtripping! Thanks to these adventures, I now have a four important frugal road-trip tips to share with you!

6 Steps to Pay off Debt

Do you have credit card debt or student loans that are taking a large chunk of your income each month? Once you learn to tell your money where to go, you'll be on your way to becoming debt free. Today I am sharing six steps to take to help you get started and stay on the right track when paying off your debt. Having the right mindset makes all the difference!

Slow Fashion Summer // Challenge Complete

It is officially Fall but I am still wondering when the cooler weather will hit North Carolina. This Summer was a busy one. I got married, honeymooned in Mexico, took a little roadtrip to the midwest, and just stayed all-around busy. The beginning of Fall also signifies the end of a Summer challenge I participated in, Slow Fashion Summer.

Frugal Fiancée: Bridesmaid Boxes

Happy Wedding Wednesday! Today's post is all about how to ask your bridal party to be a part of your special day. I am so excited to have the coolest gals standing beside me and cheering me on. Being a bridesmaid is a stressful (and expensive) task so it was important for me to give them a "thanks for agreeing to this craziness" gift. Some presents were different than others based on the recipient's personality and interests.

Frugal Fiancée: Dress Shopping 101

Hi frugal friends and brides-to-be! Let's talk wedding dress shopping. You know, only the most important shopping you will ever do in your entire life, right? Eh. Maybe that is true for some people but definitely not for me. I got engaged in April and didn't really start looking for a dress until September. Oops. I rarely ever procrastinate but I was dreading this. I had a few requirements in my head that made this process hard. You would think it would be easy to find a dress that is not bedazzled and poofy. Think again. My dress shopping adventure took me to seven different shops and even a stranger's house. The best part is that my champion of a mom was hanging out with me the entire time. Here is a breakdown of what to expect when shopping and a short review of the shops I visited in the Charlotte, NC area.

Frugal Fiancée: Choose Your Wedding Venue

Picture from our wedding // Taken by Summer // The Story Creative

Venue // The Providence Cotton Mill 

You know those girls who know exactly where they want to get married and what dress they will be wearing? Well, that girl is not me. Venue shopping has been the most fun part of the wedding planning process so far but that does not mean it is an easy task. Here are a few things to think about when searching for your perfect wedding venue.

Travel Guide: Charleston, SC

How did you guys spend the 4th of July? My fiancé surprised me with a trip to Charleston for my birthday (July 3rd) and it was awesome. I haven't been to this city in a LONG time so it was nice to visit again. There are so many things going on in this city and you can explore a lot of it for free!

Since it was a surprise trip, I didn't have the chance to research and plan ahead for things to do and places to eat. We definitely made the most of it and covered a lot of ground during the 4 days we were there.

Frugal Fiancée: Wedding Budget

Remember when I told you guys that I worked for an event planner in college? Well, spending other people's money on weddings was awesome compared to what I am doing now. Having a wedding under $6,000, like pinterest suggests you can, is nearly impossible if you want to have it photographed and feed your guests something other than a McDonalds cheeseburger (the one from the value menu - no you can't even have a big mac). Today I'm sharing a few budgeting tips to keep in mind when creating your initial wedding budget.

How I Paid Off $28,000 in Student Loan Debt

This is the story of my debt-free journey and how I paid off around $28,000 in about 17 months.

Do you have student loans or credit card debt? Don't be too hard on yourself. Most people have been there. I officially became debt-free in November of 2016 and it was and still is the greatest feeling. I paid off a little over $28,000 in about 17 months. I hope my story inspires you to take a look at your finances and work your way towards gaining financial freedom for yourself.

Friday Favorites: Face Masks

Happy Fri-yay! I have had a lot of questions about what face masks I use and have decided to shine some light on a few of my favorites today. While these may not seem like the cheapest options for face masks, they are definitely not the most expensive and are the best exfoliating face masks I have found.

Create a Monthly Budget

Do you live by your monthly budget? If not, this one is for you. If you have financial obligations and goals (so I'm pretty much talking to everyone here), you need a monthly budget. Grab a piece of paper and let's get to it.

DIY Mojito Gift Basket

Hey frugal friends! Do you love a good gift basket as much as I do? Today I am sharing a fun and unique gift basket I quickly put together for under $35.

Baby Shower on a Budget

Are you a great party host? It can be hard to feel like a fabulous party planner when you are ballin' on a budget. I helped host my (soon-to-be) sister-in-law's baby shower this past April and am excited to share fun decorations, game ideas, and tips that won't break the bank. 

Frugal Fiancée: Creating Your Guest List

Y'all, creating a wedding guest list is hard. I mean, really hard. You truly do not realize how many family members and friends you have until it's time to compile a giant list of them. Here are a few things to keep in mind while putting together your wedding guest list.

Must-Have Money Making Apps

If you are reading this post on your phone, you're already a step ahead of the game. Make the most of all that time you spend on your iPhone (or android.. if you are into that) and download these money-making apps today. Shoutout to my friend Julia for being my model for this picture. She is a tan, beach lovin' gal who has a great instagram you should definitely check out! 

Frugal Fiancée: First Week of Engagement

Hi frugal friends! Guess what?! Last Saturday, my boyfriend of 6 (almost 7) years popped the question. I have decided that this would be a great opportunity to share some frugal wedding planning tips and tricks. In college, I worked for an event planner and saw first hand how much money is spent on weddings. After throwing away over $4,000 in flowers one night, I knew there had to be a way to cut down on wedding costs. During this wedding planning period, I am going to do my best to find ways to help you stay within your wedding budget when it's your turn. Here is the first of many in my "Frugal Fiancée" series. 

Save Money Eating Out

Going out to eat can be expensive. Especially if you are doing it a few times a week. When you are trying to save money, it is extremely helpful to go grocery shopping and cook your own meals at home. However, for your own sanity, it is also important to get out of the house every once in a while. Here are a few suggestions on how to save money when you do go out to eat.

Influenster - Fierce VoxBox

Have you guys signed up for Influenster yet? They sent me another VoxBox to try out and I am here today to share the details with you! I received the following products in my Fierce VoxBox complimentary for testing and review purposes! Sign up to find out how you can receive and test products.

Travel Guide: Philadelphia

Are you planning a trip to Philadelphia? If so, I hope my experience helps you make the most of your trip. Here is how I spent 72 hours exploring the city of brotherly love!

Podcasts For Your Commute

Have you guys jumped on the podcast-listening train yet? No? I have your one-way ticket. Listening to podcasts has easily become one of my favorite forms of free entertainment and it is perfect for my somewhat long commute. Most of these podcasts are around 30 minutes to an hour and will greatly enhance any mundane activity.