Nifty And Thrifty Across The 50

I Don't Do Winter Glass Mug

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 20:48:00 +0000

Check out this one of a kind mug created for those who despise the cold winter months!

Etsy-"I Don't Do Winter" Mug

Fabric Alphabet Letters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 02:15:00 +0000

Hey yall!! I know it's been a while, but I can't NOT share this!! With my sweet niece soon to arrive, I have been on a crazy baby craft streak and this has been my favorite of all. Fabric Alphabet Letters! They are cute, fun and great for babies and kids of all ages. As always, if you don’t want to take the time to make them, I have them available in my Etsy Store Fabric Letters!

First gather your supplies. If you do it the way I did, you will need quite a bit of different fabric or you could just get one fabric and use it for all of your letters!

What you need:

Decorated Fabric

One Plain White Sheet

Quilt Batting

Invisible ink markers

Scissors or a rotary cutter

Basic sewing skills

Sewing machine

White tread

Sewing pins

4 inch Letter Stencils (You can buy stencils at any craft store)

Pinking Shear Scissors (crinkly scissors)

You will need to choose your fabrics. Whether you choose one fabric or many different ones, you need to get enough to make 26 -5inch by 5inch squares.

Then you will need some quilting batting. I just get the batting that is soft on both sides and I double it up for each letter. It will be enough to make 26- 5 inch by 10 inch rectangles.

Then you will need a plain colored back. I chose white for mine. I went cheap on this, buying a plain white sheet and cutting my squares out of it. One sheet is more than enough. You will cut 26- 5 inch by 5 inch squares of the white.

Then look through your fabrics and if they are wrinkled, take a clothes iron and iron them out so you don’t have wrinkled letters.

Then you will take your letters and using the washable markers to trace the letters onto the fabric.

Then you will put all three fabrics together. The white on the botton, then the quilt batting folded in half, then the fabric on top. You will use you sewing pins to keep everything in place so you can sew it.

Now its time to SEW!

Go slow when doing this. Simply trace the lines you have made for the letters. I’m new to sewing so the round parts were tricky for me, but I’m sure if you're an advanced sewer, you’ll have no problem!

Then take your scissors and cut them out! I used pinking shears because I think it makes them look much cuter.

Now you're done!

(Yes you have to do it 25 more times… but its pretty simple)

They would be a great baby shower gift or present for kids who are learning to spell! Visit my Etsy Shop to check them out- Fabric Letters.

Thanks yall! Comment with any questions!

Kentucky Burlap Frame

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 20:05:00 +0000

Hey yall! I know it's been a while but I've been on a crafty kick, so there will be more blogs following this one in the next weeks to come! With the surplus of burlap we had from the wedding I decided instead of letting it collect dust I’d put it to some good use!

The first time I made this, I found a empty frame I had sitting around, but you can but any kind of frame you want and do any size. I like the look and size of this 14 x 11 frame, but you can do different sizes, just eye ball measurements for different size frames.

Take the cardboard or paper that came in the frame you are going to use place it on your burlap and simply cut around it. For this the size doesn’t have to be perfect because its going in a frame. But remember ALWAYS OVERESTIMATE how much burlap you'll need! You can always cut off extra, but you can’t add to it. If you don’t have enough to fill your frame you have to cut a new piece.

Next, find a outline of the state of Kentucky (or the state of your choice) on the internet. If you are using a large frame like mine, you will want to print it landscape and depending on what outline of the state you find you may need to adjust the printing size until it looks right. It took me a few moments of trial and error to find the right size, but go with what looks good to you!

Once you find the right size, Cut it out.

Place tape on the back and place it in the center of your burlap piece you’ve cut out.

Get a black sharpie and trace around the state onto your burlap. Be sure to put something under the burlap so it doesn’t leak through onto your table.

Once you are done get your mod podge. Because I didn’t want to go spend money on mod podge I used a recipe I saw on Pinterest to make some and it worked really well.

Simply mix 1 cup of flour + 1 ½ cup of water + 1/3 cup of sugar + 1 tsp vinegar on medium heat. Stir continually so the flour doesn't clump together.

Once the mod podge is mixed, apply it with the brush. One good even coat is fine.

Then I let it sit in the sun to dry.

Once completely dry, place in frame and Viola!

If you don't have the time or supplies to make one, here is a link to my Etsy page when you can purchase one! KY Burlap Frame- Etsy

Want Free Kids Clothes?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Feb 2015 21:43:00 +0000

Everyone with kids or grandkids, check this out! There is a website out there called schoola.com. They sell new and gently used kids clothes and donate half of each sale to a different school around the United States.
Right now if you sign up from this link ----> CLICK HERE

You will automatically get a free $15 to spend and currently have free shipping avialable! Use the code HURRY if free shpping doesn't automatically show up! Not sure how long they will have free shipping going on! Check it out now before all the good stuff is gone!!

Road Sign Maple Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 23:27:00 +0000

Everybody loves a good ole maple pancake, right? How about a maple pancake flavor in a cookie? Yum! Currently on the signature cookie for 64 to Grayson! We have them available part of the 64 to Grayson Snack pack, which includes an Ale-8, 64 to Grayson koozie, and one of these cookies! If you want to make your own, here is how.

INGREDIENTS:

¾ Cup of Pure Sugar

1 ½ Sticks of Butter (I use salted because it’s the cheaper)

2 ¼ All Purpose Flour

½ Teaspoon of Baking Soda

2 Teaspoons of Vanilla extract

¼ Teaspoon of Maple Extract

Blue Food Coloring

Cookie Cutter

Before beginning, let butter sit out for a little bit so it is easy to work with.

Use your mixer to mix butter and sugar together for about a minute.

Once mixed together well, add one egg, 2 teaspoons of vanilla, and ¼ teaspoon of maple flavoring. Mix it up using your blender.

Then in separate bowl whisk the 2 ¼ cups of flour with the ½ teaspoon of baking powder.

Once whisked together, start to add to the other mixture. Add about half of the mixture to your other bowl. Mix on the lowest setting so flour doesn’t go everywhere.

Then as it mixes, add the rest of the flour and start adding the blue food coloring.

I just estimate the amount of food coloring based on my personal opinion, so you can do the same with yours.

Then get a sheet of parchment paper. Wrap the dough in the paper and place in the refrigerator at chill for at least an hour.

Once chilled, take the dough out of the fridge.

Use the same parchment paper to cut the dough using the cookie cutters. Grab your flour to use to put on the parchment paper so the dough doesn’t stick to the paper. Also put flour on your hands so the dough doesn’t stick to your hands. You can use a roller or just your hands to flatten the dough out use your cookie cutter.

Turn your oven to 350 degrees. Once oven is warmed and your cookies sheet is full, place you cookies in the oven and let cookie for 8-11 minutes.

To Make the Icing you need the following ingredients:

Red Food Coloring

Milk

Powdered Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Simple mix the milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract together until you get the consistency desired. You don't want ti too runny or it will run off the cookie, but you don't want it with chunks of powdered sugar in it either. For the white food coloring I don't add the vanilla extract because it gives it a brownish tint that I don't want.

And here ya go folks!

Road Sign Cookies!

ENJOY!

He Called, We Went- Jamaica 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 00:16:00 +0000

It had always been a dream of mine to go overseas and serve long-term in some form. Little did I know, it would come at the most “inconvient” time for me. Since being in the Social work program my classmates and I had been pushing for an International Senior Practicum Placement. Many places we pursued had fallen through, until finally my professor and along with a group of students took a week mission trip to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home in Montego Bay, Jamaica. They all fell in love with the place and began working the logistics toward sending students there for their Senior Practicum. I was really excited about this opportunity, but in the back of my head I truly felt that it was going to fall through. Our professor wanted at least two of us to do this type of practicum together, so I kept trying to persuade my classmates to go with me. However, everyone who once wanted this opportunity had already been placed into practicums in the US. After a specific series of events, my friend Serena decided she wanted to pursue the children's home for her practicum! She felt God leading her to take a risk and travel out of the country for her placement! From that moment on, we continued praying and talking to the administration about making this happen.

Throughout the craziness of seeking approval from all of the necessary people our school, there was a battle going on within me. When things started falling into place, I wasn’t sure if this was what I really wanted to do. I had just started dating the love of my life that previous May, and now it being September I would have to decide if I wanted to be gone for 3 months. I thought it would just be easier if I stayed here and did my practicum close to home so that I could get a job there after graduation. Zack and I had a big trip planned the first week of January and I had a pretty good idea he was going to propose to me, so the thought of planning a wedding overseas, didn’t seem very practical. With this big of a decision ahead, there arose so many excuses and fears that doing their best to control me. Our professor told us to spend time in prayer and seriously talk with each other to make sure this was the adventure and commitment we wanted to pursue together. We knew we both wanted to go but fear was getting the best of us.

Then, late one night, when we had been going back and forth on whether we should go tell them our final “yes” that we really wanted to do it. (I kept telling Serena, “let’s just wait a couple days”.) That night I opened one of my Bibles that I rarely used and I saw some writing on one of the pages, so I flipped to that page to see what it said. As I read it I was instantly speechless. In a big way God said, “GO”, and I had to listen. God showed up in that moment and spoke clearer than He had ever spoken through this scripture. As I shared this scripture with Serena, through tears of what was happening, we both sat crying, in awe of God.

As we began that journey there was a truth that, the lyrics of Hillsong’s song, “Oceans”, resonated deep within us. We had no idea what was ahead of us or what the next 3 months would look like, but we knew had we to trust in our King.

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior.”

He called and we went. A year ago today, I was sitting on an airplane with one of my dearest friends about to embark on one of the greatest adventures of my life. We were plunging into 3 months that would forever change our hearts.

We arrived late that afternoon in Montego Bay, Jamaica where we were taken up a long and bumpy mountain to Robin’s Nest Children’s Home. A home where 30 children resided with numerous people working together to give these kids the best home possible.

Overwhelmed, nervous, excited, and unsure of what we were getting ourselves into, Serena and I dove face-first into loving the people of Jamaica.

Every morning, we were awoken at the crack of dawn by laughing and playing toddlers outside our window. Some days we had running water, some days we didn't. Some days we spent the whole day at the preschool, some days we played with the babies all day. Some days we worked on our research project for school, and some days we helped the older kids with their own homework. Every single day was a unique adventure, you never knew what your days would hold. It was a life changing experience that has my heart captivated by the people of Jamaica. As our one year mark come and goes, I think back on where I was at this time last year and I'm continuously reminded of these children's faces. I can see them giggling, crying, playing, loving life, and all of it is engrained in mind.

Please join me in supporting Robin's Nest. They are currently raising money to drill a well for a permanent solution for their water shortage problem. Read here for more information and please consider donating to help Robin's Nest provide the best home for the children living there. Help Robin's Nest Drill a Well

I'd also like to give a special "Thank you" to everyone who supported me through my time at Robin's Nest. Please keep the children, staff, and volunteers in your prayers as the work continues the long process of finding forever family for these children. Because everyone needs family.

Saying, "Thank You"

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:36:00 +0000

Giving back to your parents is always a hard thing. If you think about everything they have given to you over your life its pretty much impossible to truly show your appreciation. Think about it, long nights of no sleep, early mornings trying to get you up for school, all the broken lamps, the important things you lost of theirs, the numerous Christmas’s they stayed up all hours of the night wrapping gifts from Santa, the gray hair they blame you for, the thousands of dollars spent on your education, then more money for your wedding, girls. The list goes on! My parents have given me so much and I know I wouldn't be where I am today without their sacrificial way of living.

Along life's road, their are moments when we can step up to the plate for them and try to say "thank you" in a little way. Now is one of those times for me. My dad is one of the finalists to win my momma a $5,000 ring! The winner will be decided by the story with the most Facebook "likes". Please click on the link below to read my dad's story. There is no one who deserves this more. My parents are some of the most selfless people out there. They gave up so much for us kids through the years, and still do to this day. Help me say thank you!

Click here----> Post by Jeff and MJ.

Elastic Headbands and Hair Ties

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:56:00 +0000

These headbands have become a huge trend over the past few years. The best part, they are super simple to make!

First I purchased the fold over elastic 5/8” from http://www.sunshineshoppesupply.com/

I hit up their clearance colors to save money!

Y'all for real these couldn’t be any simpler. The hardest part of this craft will be getting the measurements right! If it’s for yourself, just wrap it around your head and leave a little etra to tie your knot.

Here are some basic measurement that match up the majority of the time!

Headband sizes:

Standard adult size is 18 inches

If you want to make pony tail holders, a good size is 9 inches.

Materials:

5/8” Fold over elastic

Scissors

Tape measure

Once you have your materials, measure the appropriate amount of elastic. Here I am doing a 20 inch adult headband. There is a Matte side and a shiny side of the elastic. Choose which side you want to show when wearing it. I am choosing the shiny side.

Once cut, put the two ends of the elastic together, with both shiny sides showing.

I thien tie a knot. The pictures help show how I tied my knot.

Pull tight and we are done! Headband made! To make pony tail holders do the exact same thing with the measurement of 9 inches instead of 20 inches.

If want to purchase a headband, you can head over to my Etsy shop by clicking this link: Elastic Headbands! Here are the other colors I have right now

Thanks for reading! Make your own at home and share pictures!

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:47:00 +0000

Hey y'all! Welcome to the launch of my blog! My name is Lindsay and I am a newlywed wife of a traveling musician! My husband and I got married this past August and currently calling Lake Placid, FL home! With my husband’s band playing over 200 shows a year, I will be on the road while writing many of my blog posts! This blog will be filled with my favorite DIY crafts, recipes, money saving ideas, what’s happening with the band and so much more! Subscribe and join me on this journey as I search for everything "Nifty And Thrifty Across The 50"!

Button Hemp Bracelets

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:47:00 +0000

Materials:

Hemp String (available online or at Hobby Lobby)

A Button of your choice

Scissors

Tape
Measuring Tape

Step 1: Gather all supplies.

Step 2: Measure and cut two pieces of hemp, each 20 inches long. Then measure and cut one 30 inch piece.

Step 3: Insert one end of string into hole on the button.

Step 4: Then pull through and insert the other side into the hole beside it.

Step 5: Bring the two free ends through the loop like so.

Step 6: Pull tight

Step 7: Tape the botton onto a hard surface so you can begin.

Step 8: Tape the free ends of the string too so they aren’t going crazy while making the bracelet.

Step 9: Lay the 20 inch piece of string across the top, like so.

Step 10: Bring the left side of the string back under the string that is taped down

Step 11: Then bring the string over the right string.

Step 12: Bring the right string over the middle string and under the top part of the left string... (look at picture)

and pull.

Step 13: Repeat from step 10 until you get desired length for one side.

Step 14: Then repeat from step 3 the same pattern on the other side until desired length is reached.

(See below)

To make the adjustable sliding knot take a short piece of hemp (about 5 inches). Create the exact same knots you were using creating the bracelet. Once you believe you adjustable end is wide enough knot the ends so they string doesn't go through and ravel. Also tie knots at the end of the open strings so when adjusting the size it doesn't come undone.

This can be kinda tricky your first try! If you have questions about how they are made, let me know! To buy your very own hemp button bracelet Click Here!

10 Resolutions for Your Marriage

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:47:00 +0000

It’s only been 5 months of marriage for Zack and I and people say we are still in the "honeymoon phase" but I don’t think its ever too early to work on loving each other better! I mean, you can never love and appreciate each other too much. With that being said, I am setting a list of goals (resolutions) for my marriage this year! These are not in any kind of order, just as they come to mind!

1- Pray Together EVERYDAY! Often times we can get in such a hurry in our travel or in daily tasks that we take for granted the time we have together. So starting today, PRAY together! If you want to take it a step further, start a devotion book together! My husband and I started “The Love Dare” by Stephen and Alex Kendrick, a couple months ago but never finished. We are going to get back into reading that this year! If you don’t know what devotion to start with, “The Love Dare” is a great one.

2- Don’t take phones to bed. This is something my husband and I talked about before we got married. We said we weren’t going to bring our phones to bed because we knew we would spend more time on our phones instead of spending time with each other. It’s so easy for us to get so wrapped up in the world of social media today, but spending the beginning and end of everyday dialed into your spouse is a lot more important that the happenings on Instagram.

3-Pray for each other daily. Throughout the day when your spouse comes to mind, pray for them silently. Pray for your marriage, your future, your family. Remember God’s will is where your marriage needs to be and that can only happen when He is a the center of it.

4- Find Godly spiritual leaders for your marriage. For a healthy Christian marriage it is important to have an older Christian couple pour into you. Learn things from their time of marriage that might save you heartbreak and tears in yours. Not only should you just talk about marriage with these folks, but live life with them. Watch how they interact and love each other. It's good for couples to take wisdom from longer relationships.

5- Make loving each other your priority. Over everything else, LOVE. Love each other in the little ways. Make breakfast, do the laundry, pick up his favorite snack at the store. Do the little things that he doesn't expect to put a smile on his face.

6- Keep the complaining to a minimum! You’re married to the man/women of your dreams! Enjoy it! Don’t stress the little thing. Stay positive. These things will make you a more pleasant person to be around and will help your attitude greatly.

7- Quit comparing! Comparing only hurts your relationships. Nothing positive comes from comparing to other relationships, appearances, fianancies, health, etc. Live YOUR life to the fullest!

8- Be more affectionate! Your married, be excited about it! Enjoy every minute of it! Kiss him when he least expects it! Hold his hand whenever you get the chance.

9- Get into trouble! Okay, not with the law, but be spontaneous! Do crazy things that are out of the norm. Have fun! Celebrate your marriage. Act like you did when you were dating!

10- Talk with each other! Not just about the "to-do list" that is building or your schedule that is packed, but about life that is happening in the midst of the busyness. Take time to spend with each other away from the chaos. Take a deep breathe and figure out life's problems together. Listen to what each other has to say. Don't try to solve each others problems right away. Listen. Don't just talk "at" each other, but with. Listen to what each other says and understand with them where they are. So slow down. Listen. Communicate. Love.

Slow down this year to learn how to really love your spouse the best you can.

Get Healthy in 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:46:00 +0000

Since Thanksgiving, our semi-healthy eating habits have gone out the door. Marriage has brought unwelcome weight to both Zack and myself. Now that we are in Florida for the next three months, our bathing suits are announcing our packed on pounds to the rest of the world. Not good. So we've decided to set goals to attain better health with a sub-goal each month!

These will be simeple ways to tone up and cut wasted calories from our everyday diet.

-No soda or sugary drinks for 3 months! No more drinking our calories and sugars. Check your labels to see how much sugar is in your flavored drinks.

-No eating after 9pm. This helps regulate mealtimes and most often when we give in to that late night snack it’s for things such as ice cream, cookies, potato chips, etc.

-Drink a glass of water before each meal, and your needed amount each day. The amount of water a person should drink each day depends on their weight. To calculate how much to drink multiply your weight by .67 and that is the number of ounces you need to drink a day. "weight x .67 = (ounces to drink)" Divide that by 8 to get the number of cups you should drink. For example 200 x .67 = 134 ounces. 134/8 = 16.75. A 200 pound person needs 134 oz of water a day, which equals about 17 cups.

-Eat full breakfast every day. Breakfast is what gets your metabolism going and starting off the day healthy will set you up for a great day!

-Each day, do 20 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and atleast 25 minutes of exercise 3 days a week. (increase as you get stronger.)

Then apply these each month. Some months just take away unhealthy foods while other months add more healthy foods to your diet!

Meet Zack Shelton and 64 to Grayson

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:30:00 +0000

As I mentioned, my husband travels full time performing with his band, “Zack Shelton and 64 to Grayson”. Since most of my time is spent with the band, I’m sure they will make many appearances in my blog so I wanted to formally introduce you to the group! When we head out for a show we are packed 6 or 7 deep in an SUV with a trailer hitched to the back of us. As the group grows we lose more and more personal space. The group formed back in 2011 and they have been on an up-hill adventure ever since. The group originally met and started in Grayson, KY at the small Christian college where Zack and I met. Releasing their first full-length, self-titled album in 2012, 64 to Grayson began touring throughout the midwest region of the United States. They released their sophomore album, "The Next Chapter" in February of 2014. Recent radio singles include the patriotic ballad, "Line of Fire" and the Southern Punching hit, "Her Mama". This is just a little glimpse at the group, stay tuned for more of our life on the road!

Check them out on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, or on their website www.64ToGrayson.com.

Apple Snicker's Dessert

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:30:00 +0000

The New Year is here and we are all feeling the repercussions of Momma’s Christmas Cooking... But before you get too deep into your pound-dropping resolutions, here is a dessert dish that will hold off the guilt with an illusion of healthy eating. ;) It’s the Apple Snickers Dessert!

To make Apple Snickers Dessert, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

6 snicker bars (regular size)

4 Apples

1 package of Vanilla pudding mix (dry)

1/2 cup of Milk

16 oz of cool whip

Carmel sauce or melted caramel cubes (about ½ cup)

Step 1: Cut up apples in small pieces

Step 2: Place Apples in a large bowl

Step 3: Cut Snickers into small pieces

Step 4: Put snickers in the same bowl as the Apples

Step 5: In a separate bowl, combine the vanilla pudding mix, cool whip, and milk.

Step 6: Mix the vanilla pudding mixture into the apples and snickers. Then top with caramel sauce!

(Warning: If you are melting cube Caramel, use a microwave-safe glass bowl to microwave until melted. Unless you need to test your smoke detectors...)

It will be a hit to all your guest. Leave comments about how yours turns out! Happy New Years!

How to Make Money At the Grocery

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:17:00 +0000

Grocery shopping is one thing I dread each week... It’s not because I don’t like picking out meals for the week or dealing with the lines, but the dang prices! Food has become so expensive (especially in Florida). I’ve always been conscious about prices and never been one to need the name-brands, but now that I’m doing the majority of our grocery shopping I hunt for the store-brands and always hit up the clearance!
Now, I’ve never been great with paper coupons. Either I clip them and forget them or I try to print them before leaving and long-behold, out of ink. Thankfully our technological universe seems to sympathize my short-comings. I’d like to introduce you to a few friends of mine... that reimburse me for buying groceries! (Note: These are all smartphone apps that must be downloaded. You will not be introduced to any of my actual friends.)

1) RECEIPT HOG- This app does its job AFTER you shop. Once you have your receipt, all you have to do is open your "Receipt Hog" app, snap a picture of the receipt, and wait! That’s it! The app will process your receipt and you'll receive coins based on how much you spent. After you receive 1,000 "coins" you can cash that in for money through PayPal or even an Amazon gift card!

Grocery receipts aren’t the only receipts that you can "snap" either. If you go shopping for clothes or home decor, "snap" your receipt! Some receipts give you "spins" instead of coins. With a "spin", you play a slot machine to try and win coins! It’s a convenient and fun way to get money back doing the grocery shopping you do anyway!

2) WAL-MART SAVINGS CATCHER- If you shop at Wal-Mart you NEED this App! After downloading and singing up, you’ll go to the "Savings Catcher" section on your main screen. Similar to Receipt Hog, you simply "snap" a picture of your receipt and submit it. Then, Wal-Mart looks over your receipt, comparing it with other deals in other stores and if they catch a cheaper bargain somewhere else, they give you a store credit for the difference! They do all the work for you!

These next three are very similar but they have different deals. I use all three, but based on my experience, I have earned the most using “Check 51.” This doesn't mean you should only use one app, maximize your savings by using all three!

3) CHECK 51- On this App, after downloading, first look through the offers to see if what you bought matches up with any of the available offers. It is also helpful to glance the deals before you go shopping to see if certain brands will give you money back. Once you have your receipt, "snap" a picture of it using the app. After doing this a list of offers they have will appear again. Go through the offers and check the box of all the items that are on your receipt. After the receipt processes, you will get a credit for that amount of money. You can’t cash out until you reach a balance of $20. That may seem like a lot, but on this app you will get credit for weekly necessities like milk and eggs. "Check" it out for yourself! (See what I did there?)

4) SNAP BY GROUPON- As with "Check 51", first look through the offers to see if what you already bought matches up with any of the available offers for the week. Once you have your receipt, take a picture of it through the app. If you have a long receipt, it asks you to take pictures of it in sections so they can process it easier. Upload the receipt and it will take you to a page full of the available offers. Go through and check each offer that can be validated with your receipt. Submit it and it will process it usually within 24 hours. Your account will be credited for the appropriate amount.

5) IBOTTA- Ibotta is a bit different. After downloading, look through the list of offers before you shop so you know how much money you may get back by purchasing particular brands. Once done shopping, look again through the offers. Each offer has to be unlocked. Sometimes you have to learn a fact (simply read a fast they give you) or make you watch a video to unlock it. They are all very simple to unlock, and once you’ve unlocked and selected all your items, it will ask you to verify your purchase. You will "snap" a picture of the barcode of each product to verify it as a valid offer. Then you snap a picture of the receipt to verify you bought it. You then submit it, they process it, and within 24 hours it gives you the appropriate amount.

Hope this helps makes grocery shopping a little less stressful knowing there is hope that you won’t break the bank getting cereal! Comment with how you like or dislike the apps, and if you have any questions, go ahead and ask!