Feb 7

Feb 7 How to host a Soup Swap (and slow cook your way to extra savings!)

Our bellies and hearts were warmed by good company when we hosted a soup swap recently. Here's what it taught us about managing our grocery budget.

Dec 1

Dec 1 Week 10 Wins: Six wins from a pay period of unexpected expenses.

Melanie Harding

Money

"There is no such thing as normal month," says You Need a Budget (the blog). And they are right. Normal pay periods are also few and far between, so it shouldn't have been a surprise when several less common expenses stacked up to have a real impact on my extra cash. Despite this, I still found six major wins for week ten.

Nov 23

Nov 23 Happy Fox Studio: A business built on community.

Melanie Harding

Meaning

Allison turned her side-hustle into a full on small business. Alongside her quirky, minimalist jewelry designs, she boasts a values-based business plan that respects the environment and gives back to the community. Read more about her story! #ShopSmall

Nov 21

Nov 21 Urban Squirrel: An innovative small business inspired by frugal living.

Melanie Harding

Money, Meaning

While Mindfully Spent usually focuses on minimizing purchases, most of us do spend a few dollars here and there for non-essential items, especially during the holidays. When we do, we can choose to support businesses that inspire us and add value to back to the community. This article highlights one business that does just that. #SmallBusinessSaturday

Nov 19

Nov 19 4 unexpected ways to pay for gifts.

Melanie Harding

Money

We can DIY gifts or forego them altogether, but sometimes we want to show our love the traditional way: with a meaningful gift, selected with love. In this post, I share four ways that I've funded gift shopping without spending a cent (and one additional tip for saving money on gifts that do cost cash).

Nov 10

Nov 10 Do-It-Yourself: Frugal gifts full of cheer.

Melanie Harding

Money, Meaning

Save money by investing a little time in gifts for the people who fill your life with joy. DIY gifts are easy for some lucky folks (carpenters, quilters, brewers, bakers, knitters). The rest of could use a little help now and then. This post provides gift ideas for everyone on your list.

Nov 8

Nov 8 What makes a gift meaningful?

Melanie Harding

Meaning

Thoughtful presents from friends and family can bring deep warmth on cold winter nights. But the best gifts, the kind that remind us we're truly seen and deeply loved, are not easily picked up in the mall on Christmas Eve.

Welcome.