Cut your winter heating bill 10–25% in 2026 with simple, proven energy saving tips that actually work. We’re a debt-free family living on one income in rural Southwest Virginia, and these changes helped us lower our heating costs without freezing or doing expensive upgrades. Winter heating bills are hitting hard this year (average seasonal costs…
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We are taking part in the Three Rivers Challenge, using this challenge as a way to rotate our food storage save money on groceries, and prove that you can eat well with realistic, budget-friendly meals. We still go to the grocery store, but we are focused on keeping our budget tiny ($150 a month). Pantry…
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We’re a debt-free family living on one income in rural Southwest Virginia — and we quietly save about 50–60% of every paycheck without feeling deprived. In this video, we are sharing the exact frugal routines we started back when we were still in debt that STILL save us thousands of dollars a year on one…
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Welcome to Week 3 of the 2026 Pantry Challenge! We are leaning into cozy comfort foods this week to keep us motivated and full. By batch cooking today, I’m saving myself hours of stress and energy for the rest of the week. On the menu this week: Breakfast: Big batch Sweet Potato Pancakes (using canned…
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For the last two years, we’ve been saving around 60% of our income as a debt‑free, one income family in rural southwest Virginia. In this video, we’re breaking down the realistic frugal habits that helped us get here — without feeling deprived. We know a 60% savings rate won’t be realistic for every family or…
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Stop cooking dinner every single night! In week 2 of our 2026 Pantry Challenge, I am showing you how I batch cook for the entire week using random leftovers from my fridge, freezer, and pantry. As a debt-free family on a budget, this meal prep system saves us time, money, and sanity. This week’s “Cook…
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We are doing the #ThreeRiversChallenge differently! Instead of spending $0, we are sticking to a “Realistic” budget, buying fresh basics, and batch cooking everything to save time. Welcome to Week 1 of our Pantry Challenge! While many people try to spend absolutely nothing, we focus on efficiency. We still shop the sales for milk and…
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Join us for a full pantry tour as we gear up for the 2026 three rivers challenge (#threeriverschallenge)! We’re a debt-free, one-income family using a realistic pantry challenge to keep our grocery budget under $150/month. We’re participating in Jessica from Three Rivers Homestead’s popular pantry challenge for January and February – but with a realistic…
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Looking for frugal living tips that actually save real money? In this video, we share 4 powerful frugal living wins that helped our debt-free, one income family save over $1,000 this year. These realistic money-saving ideas are perfect if you’re trying to cut expenses, live simply, and still enjoy life. We’ll walk through exactly how…
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