Haven’t we all felt like this picture?  We are in the midst of remodeling some rooms in our house and I have been tempted to not only do this, but turn my billfold inside out when we walk out of the home improvement stores. My husband says he thinks we own a portion of the store now!  I have asked a homeschool friend, Katie, if she would share some things about her amazing blog. I found it extremely helpful aiding in stretching my dollars and I think you will too.

What is the name of your blog? 

Cincinnati Cents 

How did you get started? 

Back in 2008, I was talking with a friend about grocery shopping, and she told me how she purchased almost a dozen items at CVS while spending less than $0.07 out of pocket.  Of course, I considered myself a coupon clipper, but my savings were anything but spectacular, and I had never purchased one item for $0.07, nevertheless several!  

I was intrigued by the notion of saving such a significant amount on our family’s grocery bill.  I started surfing the internet for money saving websites and was amazed by the couponing advice that I found.  Since I was spending an average of $150-$200 per week to feed our family of six, I decided to give this whole “couponing thing” a try.  

I purchased a 3-ring binder and a set of dividers, printed off my newly-found internet coupons, and compiled a grocery list.  With my coupons in hand, I set out for the store, determined to cut a significant portion off of our family’s grocery bill total.  Within weeks, I began filling shelves in our pantry, cupboards, and freezer – and cut our grocery bill to just $80 per week.

Before long, I had family members and friends asking me about the bargains I had found.  I’d call or e-mail them with the details of each deal, but after awhile, it seemed that there might be an easier way to disperse this information.  As a result, the idea for Cincinnati Cents came to fruition.  The first introductory post was drafted in July of 2008, and I suppose the rest is history!

What is the purpose of your blog? 

Cincinnati Cents is a money saving blog that focuses on frugal living, helping you stretch your dollars and cents, and finding inexpensive resources for families.  Each week on Cincinnati Cents, you’ll find the best deals at local grocery and drug stores, free offers, inexpensive or free homeschooling resources, healthy recipes, time-saving tips, and frugal family events.  

How do you find time to do that and homeschool?

I typically work on my blog in the early morning hours before the kids wake up or in the evening after the younger children have gone to bed.  While I do pop in and check posts and e-mail during breaks throughout the day, the majority of my work is completed outside of the school day.  

Do you get paid for doing it?

I partner with a variety of companies to earn a small income from my blog.  This income is typically the result of affiliate companies and sponsored posts.  

Any other ideas, words of wisdom to give to other homeschool moms?

My number one piece of advice is to remember to give yourself grace.  Regardless of whether you’re a mom of four or a mom of one, whether you work outside the home or are a stay-at-home mom, every homeschooling parent has good days and not-so-great days.  

We all have moments that are frustrating, less-than-productive, and enough to send us over the edge. That being said, it’s important not to lose the forest for the trees.  Homeschooling is a process….it cannot be crushed by one bad stretch.  

Sometimes it’s necessary to step back, take a deep breath, and remember the joys of homeschooling – snuggling on the couch while reading a novel, that “a-ha” moment when your child finally gets that really tough math problem, learning together in your jammies….those moments are just as meaningful and important as that “perfect” day.  

I think as moms, we are way too hard on ourselves.  We’re so willing to forgive others, look past their faults, and lend an extra hand whenever the need arises.  I think it’s imperative that we extend the same professional courtesy to ourselves as well.

Well said, Katie! Thanks so much for sharing. Please check out her blog, Cincinnati Cents