How to Save Money in your 20s

When I first started working, I was overwhelmed with the freedom of being able to buy whatever I wanted. However, when real life set in and I started to have bills, unexpected things coming up, but more than that I had goals and things I wanted to accomplish. Sitting down and looking at what I had coming in versus going out, and making decisions allowed me to take control of my life. I was able to see and decide what was truly important.

What is a budget?

A budget is simply tracking how much money you have coming in, usually on a monthly basis, then tracking your bills and other essential expenses. Once you see what you absolutely have to pay, then you can see what you have leftover and determining where that should go, such as savings, an emergency fund or short term and long-term goals.

Budgeting Strategies for Young Adults

There are many different budgeting strategies, even some methods that can be mixed and matched, but it’s important to find one that works for you. You can use an app, spreadsheet, write it down day by day or use an envelope method.

Separate Needs from Wants

Before you start any budget, make sure you’ve separated your expenses into needs vs. wants.

Needs are the basics that you must have in order to live: shelter, food, transportation. Wants are the things that you’d like, but can live without. Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference, but as you hone your budgeting skills, you’ll get the hang of it. Ask yourself, before you spend, “Is this necessary for me to get through my day-to-day life?”

Once I figured out what my needs were and found the cheapest options for the needs like car insurance, etc. I tried to set up automatic payments for any bills I could, especially for payments that stayed the same month after month such as rent, car payments, and insurance. I also set up an automatic savings account that took out an estimated 10 percent of my paycheck every two weeks.

When you set up these automatic payments, make sure you have it also set on the calendar so you can make sure the amount you need is your account on those days.

Here are some different budgeting strategies to consider:

Zero-Based Budget

This means that every penny of your income is accounted for and anything leftover at the end of your bills such be put into some kind of savings, retirement account, emergency account or for paying off debt.

Pay Yourself First

With the pay-yourself-first method, you make retirement and emergency fund or other savings accounts a priority. The money targeted for those goes into their accounts first, before you do anything else. What’s left over is what you use to pay bills and other expenses. This is the budget I initially started with, so I could make sure I save some money first and live below my means.

The Envelope System Budget

Initially, this method meant putting cash into envelopes designated for separate expenses, like utilities or groceries, after you cashed your paycheck. When I struggle with more flexible part of my budget like groceries, eating out, entertainment, this is my go-to budget. It’s always easy to see how much cash I have left for the month and determine if that extra latte is something I want now or later.

The 50/30/20 Budget

A proven method of budgeting is to allocate 50 percent of income to needs, such as rent, car payments, gas, insurance, etc. 30 percent to wants such as eating out, entertainment, clothes, and 20 percent to savings. This is the ideal the ratio, however if your rent is 50 percent of your income, and you still have to buy groceries, gas, and pay for utilities, you may have to reduce other expenses to make it work.

Set Short-Term and Long-Term goals

Anytime you’re trying to implement change in spending habits, it’s important to have a goal or reason why you’re doing it. Even achievable short term goals can help us stay focused and give something for us to aim for.

Short term goals might include buying a car, having initial costs for an apartment, or using cash instead of  credit to buy a new phone.

It’s not just about saving money, but creating structure and stability to make your short term goals possible. Once you knock out some of your short term goals, you can also work on some long term goals, such as buying a house, saving for retirement or starting a family.

Manage Major Expenses

Major expenses include things like shelter and transportation. A vision of what type of place you want to live in or car you want to drive might have to be in the long term goal category, until it’s something you can afford. Getting evicted, a foreclosure, or a car repossession has a negative impact on your finances that lasts years.

It’s important to look at your finances and research upfront you can afford. And it’s not just about one factor, but taking into account other what it will take to maintain that purchase. For instance, when considering your rent, also consider utilities, wi-fi, or even increased transportation costs from your new location to work or the store. When you buy a car, also consider insurance costs, fuel-efficiency and maintenance costs.

When living with your parents or with roommates, start practicing habits with budgeting and different financial responsibilities. This will help down the road, have a realistic expectations of paying bills and managing expenses.

Budgeting Guide for Young Adults

Single Person Budget Example

According to this article on SoFi, the average monthly expenses for one person can vary, but the average single person spends about $4,641 per month.

•   Housing tends to consume the highest portion of monthly income. The average cost for one person coming in at about $1,684 per month.

•   The average single person spends around $756 per month on transportation.

•   Individuals spend an average of $367 per month on health care. They may spend much more if they’re not covered by an employer-plan.

•   Food expenses can run around $572 per month for a single person.

With these expenses, the average person would need to make around $59k per year.

Sample Budget for 50k Salary

To maintain these expenses, the average person would need to make $59k per year, however in the US, according to ZipRecruiter, the average single person makes $63k per year. It was difficult to find a realistic budget based on the average rent even in Oklahoma, which has some of the cheapest housing options in the U.S. Most of the budgets I found an example of $1,000 per month, which would be difficult or impossible in most cases for a person without a roommate. Although the 50/30/20 budget recommends you don’t spend more than $1,250 on rent.  This girl in LA, has a take home of $3,175. See how her budget works with $55k when sharing housing expenses with a roommate.

A Budgeting Guide for Young Adults

As a young adult, setting up your budget is no easy feat. However, as you develop healthy financial habits, it will snowball into a better future than you could imagine. It’s never too late to start developing better financial habits or work toward goals that will stabilize your life in the long run. Don’t let this process intimidate you, just start small!

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How to Improve Spending Habits

In your 20s, it can feel like you have your whole life ahead of you and time to figure out how to improve spending habits. In some ways that’s true, but the real truth is the habits you form now will shape your financial future for years to come. If you establish a strong foundation now, it can help you achieve long-term success and help you meet your financial milestones early. I was able to purchase my first home at just 28 years old because of the financial habits I will talk about here and in future posts.

The key is it’s not about making huge sacrifices because they are often not sustainable in the long run. It’s about making small, consistent actions that will add up and make a big difference down the road.

1. Pay yourself first

One of the key spending strategies I wish I would I would have implemented sooner is the concept of paying myself first. This means that before you spend money on anything else, even bills you need to save at least 10 percent or direct it into your savings or investments.

This is one of the most challenging habits to develop, especially if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, but doing this not only creates discipline, but also it shifts your mindset from spending to saving and investing. You’ll have to adjust to living on what’s left, which allows you to steadily build financial security over time.

The earlier you adopt this practice, ideally in your 20s, the more time your money has to grow through compound interest and smart investments. Just to give you an example of what’s possible, think of this:

if you save and invest $100 a month starting at age 25, with a 7% annual return, you could have roughly $264,000 by age 65. By beginning early, you give your money decades to grow.

You can set up your savings or investment accounts to automatically withdraw that 10 percent at whatever time you get paid. That way it’s as painless as possible and you don’t even notice that money is missing. The earlier you start the habit to work around what’s left, the easier that is as well.

2. Create a realistic budget

This is one of the best ways to improve your spending habits in your 20s, while you’re still making the choices that will impact the rest of your life. The key is here to “live below your means”. The goal here is to not live paycheck to paycheck, but to make financial decisions leading you to have money left over at the end of the month. This allows you to save money for emergencies, retirement or large purchases.

To do this successfully, you’ll need to look at your expenses and see where you’re currently spending the most. Then look at the numbers that likely can’t change like rent, gas, car payments, insurance, utilities, etc. However this a good time to shop around and see if you can get lower rates on car insurance or refinance your car or other loans you might have.

Having a realistic picture of where your money is going will help you see if you’re spending more than you realized in some areas, but it will also help you come up with an honest budget that you can likely stick to. Be honest with yourself about the areas where you know you splurge and leave a little bit ogle room for a treat here and there when possible.

Track your Budget

There are all sorts of budgeting apps you can use to create or track your budget. I simply use the envelope budget method. After I pay my bills online, I look at what’s left, withdraw the cash and have an envelope for groceries, gas, and variable categories and split the money accordingly into the envelope. Once that money is gone for that month, then I will have to go until the next month. I like this method because I can physically see what’s in that envelope for each category and can make choices in the moment of what it will cost.

3. Build and maintain good credit

If you’ve tried to rent an apartment or opened an account you might have already seen the impact of good vs bad credit. But as you get older, you will see that good credit opens doors to better financial opportunities. Commonly lower interest rates will get lower interest rates on car and home loans, as well as credit cards.

Some people do this with credit card, but I don’t recommend that when you’re just starting out in life. The average credit rating for 20 year olds is about 680. Simply opening accounts for utilities, paying bills and rent on time will help build credit and when you’re just starting out and don’t have a lot of negatives on you’re credit. It might be slower but a lot less risky and you can still achieve the same goals by the time you start making bigger financial decisions that involve loans, etc.

If you do get credit cards, always make sure the money is in the budget and you can pay them off every month. Always, always make sure you make the payments on time.

If you develop these three easy and simple habits — paying yourself first, living within your means, and building up your credit rating — you will be creating a solid financial foundation you’ll be really grateful for in 10, 20, or 30 years.

4. Set Realistic Financial Goals in your 20s

If you’ve never budgeted before or even set down to look at your finances, don’t let this process intimidate you. It can be scary to face the issue at first, but it’s the first step in being able adjust and come up with a realistic plan. Financial goals in your 20s will look very different depending on your current situation. It will also look completely different as time goes. Over time you be more mindful of your purchasing decisions which leads to change in your spending habits and growing wealth in your 20s. Resources like The Investors Centre can provide valuable guidance on wealth-building strategies, helping you make informed financial decisions that set you up for long-term success.

Realistic Savings Goals

My 20s were pre-COVID, thank goodness, but for me it was important to start saving for an emergency. My long-term goal even in my teens was to buy a house, but I knew if I didn’t start with something small that would never happen. An emergency fund is emergency fund is a cash reserve that’s specifically set aside for unplanned expenses or financial emergencies. Some common examples include car repairs, home repairs, medical bills, or a loss of income. At the time, I started saving $20 a month and I was able to set up an automated bank transfer that happened automatically every month. Every banking app should have this feature, but if you can’t find it, reach out to the bank and they can help set it up.

Prioritize Paying of Debt

Whether it’s from student loans, credit cards, an auto loan, or all of the above, debt is something many people have in our 20s. Credit card debt has high interest rates, so prioritize that first. As you purchase items with a credit card, make sure that purchase is worth it. If it’s just a meal or something temporary that you can say no to, ask yourself if you really want to be paying that off for months or years, when you can pay with cash. Paying off debt will free up even more cash down the road.

Improve your Credit Score

We talked about this earlier, but I think it seems like a realistic financial goal. Reach out to any of the sources debt you have and try to set up payment plans to pay off the debt. If you choose the smallest debt burden first, you can take the payments you were spending and apply it to the next biggest payment you have. As you pay off each debt, you will slowly increase your credit score. Make sure to always make your payments on time, which also help.

In Conclusion

Facing your finances can seem like a daunting task, but while your in your 20s, there is time to build and repair your finances. Now is the perfect time to develop healthy spending habits before life takes control. If you feel like your in over your head, just remember no matter how it looks now, it is fixable through small, realistic actions.

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Employee Appreciation Day

Employee Appreciation Day is on the first Friday in March. This day for employers to give thanks or recognition to their employees. Dr. Bob Nelson wrote the book 1,001 Ways to Reward Employees and wanted to remind employers to thank their employees when they do good work. His work has since helped thousands of companies create a Culture of Recognition, which helps employee retention, performance and helps companies attract top talent.

Why Should Employers Practice Employee Appreciation

Just like Dr. Nelson recognized, there are many reasons to practice employee appreciation. It’s not always monetary rewards, although that can make a big impact for those most impacted during inflation, however, simply recognizing the effort employees put in day after day can make a big difference. It fosters loyalty, improves engagement, strengthens team dynamics, drives innovation and creativity, and employees that feel appreciated will go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction which will contribute to long-term business success. Finding new employers is an extra expense, but valuing the the employees you currently can help retain top talent that it took years to develop.

Recognized employees are nearly six times more likely to stay at their current job than those who aren’t. Employees who feel their work is meaningful and their efforts are acknowledged are less likely to seek opportunities elsewhere.

Employee Appreciation Day Message

Employee appreciation day messages simply express gratitude for an employee’s hard work, dedication, and contributions. They can also recognize an employee’s positive attitude, teamwork, or unique skills.

Employee Appreciation Day Quotes

Sometimes it’s difficult to find the words that fully express your genuine appreciation, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. This website breaks down employee appreciation quotes based on occasion. Whether you want to thank a top performer, someone for their amazing work ethic or even for their teamwork and collaboration, there is a quote to convey your gratitude. A simple thank you and recognition can go a long way, however.

Gift Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day

Thoughtful Gift Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day

Inspirational Notebooks

The package of inspirational spiral notebooks include 30 spiral notepads with a set of sticky notes and a bamboo ballpoint pen. They’re beautiful and will have a daily reminder of your appreciation.

This set of inspiration spiral notebooks is similar, but with different color combinations.

Team Puzzle Piece Bracelets

These cute bracelets focus on the uniqueness of each team member while appreciating the harmony of the cohesive group.

Fun Gift Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day

These punny Motivational Tumblers are a perfect bulk thank you gift for any group, but it’s perfect for office use. They’re suitable for water, coffee, or whatever drinks are preferred. They keep liquids hot for 3 hours or cold for up to 9 hours.

Office Bobbleheads

These personalized gifts are a fun way to represent the whole office. There are many different options, but I linked to a bobblehead that will also hold business cards, so it’s multipurpose and functional!

Virtual Team Building Activities

These are a great way to take a break from the daily grind, build teams across the nation and improve productivity. You can develop your own or you can leave it to the experts.

Gift Ideas for the Office

Noise-Canceling Headphones

These headphones provide peace and focus in a noisy environment. These can be costly, so providing them for employees goes a long way to providing an environment conducive to their work.

Office Chair Massager

Being stuck in the same stagnant place can be tough for employees. Being comfortable can definitely go a long way to being more effective and efficient. You can also get one chair that employees can use during their break time.

Affordable Bulk Gifts for Employees

You can even find bulk office gifts for under $5 each. These gifts can be personalized and depending on your employees interests, find something that they can use in the office or at home.

Personalized Awards

Last year, my supervisor hosted an employee award ceremony and gave all employees an award featuring their strength or what they were known in the office for. We had different awards like the “Humble Hero”, “The Calm in the Storm” award, and the “Hype Man” award. We were given a plaque with our award, but it was an inexpensive way to make us feel seen and recognized for the unique things we brought to the table.

Employee Appreciation Day

In short, there are loads of ways to show your employees appreciation throughout the year. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but does require some thought and time to truly appreciate the uniqueness of what each employee brings to your organization. What are your favorite ways to show your employees appreciation?

Other ways to show appreciation

Looking to show appreciation to other people in your life? Check out these posts for first responders, nurses, co-workers and more!

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Police Appreciation Ideas

We don’t have to wait until Police Appreciation Day to show our law enforcement they matter. No matter what is going on in our culture or society, taking time to show our appreciation for first responders. There are a few key dates we have in the U.S., such as Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9 and Thank a Police Officer Day is typically the third Saturday of September. National Police Week is in May. No matter what time of year it is, sometimes you just want to thank a police officer, so we have a list of our favorite gift ideas for police appreciation.

Police Appreciation Quotes

These quotes are an easy addition to any card or tag for your police appreciation gifts.

“Thank you for fearlessly protecting our community and putting your life on the line every day.”

“Your dedication to preserving law and order is greatly appreciated. Thank you for keeping our neighborhoods safe.”

“We are grateful for your unwavering commitment to serving and protecting. Thank you, police officers!”

“I’ve always seen first responders as unsung heroes and very special people because, when everyone else is running away from danger, they run into it.”

“In times of distress, you are the calm in the storm. Thank you for your invaluable service.”

“We appreciate your tireless efforts and the sacrifices you make to protect and serve. Thank you, officers!”

“Your compassion and commitment to justice make our community stronger. Thank you for your service.”

Thank You Gift Ideas for Police Officers

Police Appreciation Day gift ideas don’t have to be extravagant. Just taking a bit of time to say thank you to police officers can go a long way. Once I eating lunch and I heard a police officer mention the day shift had gotten an appreciation luncheon, but he felt left out being on the night shift. If you do an appreciation activity for your local police station, make sure to include enough for the night shift too!

1. Write a letter

Send a letter to the newspaper editor or to individual departments to thank police officers for their dedication to the community.

2. Baked Goods

Put together a plate of cookies or doughnuts and take them to your local police stations. Include a thank you card to be displayed by the treat.

3. Pay for their Meal

If you see a police officer while you’re out for lunch pay for their order. You’re sure to make their day!

5. Donate

There are many organizations that assist injured police officers or go toward memorial services for police officers and other first responders.

6. Volunteer

Offer your services around the offices, especially in small towns without much of a budget. You could offer to plant flowers, do some housekeeping, organize office supplies or fulfill other needs in honor of Police Appreciation Week.

7. Coordinate a potluck lunch

You could do one big lunch for all the police departments or host several small lunches for the separate locations, depending on the size of your town. Coordinate with the city, co-workers or friends and family to make a meal and serve lunch to the community helpers. This is not only a great way to thank them, but it’s a valuable opportunity to volunteer with your team, too! Make sure you coordinate for the evening shifts too!

8. Class projects

As a class project, you could have your students draw pictures, or write a thank you note to their favorite first responders. You could also host a lunch and invite the police officers to eat lunch in the class.

9. Gift Baskets

Load up a gift basket with pens, hand warmers, hand sanitizers, coffee gift cards, beef jerky and snack bars. These items are fairly inexpensive, but could be ‘life-savers’ any day!

10. Stay Safe

Law enforcement has such a bad reputation these days, which is truly unfortunate given the hundreds to thousands of times they’ve put their lives on the line to keep us safe and no one notices. Truly, the one thing they want is to keep us safe, staying out of trouble would be the best gift of all.

Police Appreciation Day Gifts

Patrol Car Seat Organizer

A police officer’s patrol car is his office. And just like any office, it can get messy if it’s not properly organized. This car organizer has access to the stuff he needs to do his job: traffic citations, arrest affidavits, policy manuals, flashlights, extra cuffs, and ammunition magazines, so it’s easy to find and grab.

Cool Cop Vest Cooling System

Appreciation Gifts for Police Officers

It’s so important to spend just a moment to appreciate our police officers, who risk their lives every day to keep us safe. Comment with your favorite gift idea for police! Don’t forget to appreciate our nurses, first responders and say thank you to our teachers!

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Christmas Gifts in Bulk

I’ve had a lot of fun coming up with bulk Christmas gifts for my co-workers. I’ve always enjoyed gifting, but had way too many co-workers than what I could afford to gift to. I also enjoy gifting to service industry workers, such as mail delivery people or garbage service people. With so many people on my Christmas list, I’ve had to get creative.  My favorite bulk Christmas gifts are repurposed lightbulb Christmas ornaments and recipes in a mason jar.

Bulk Christmas Gifts

Whether you are buying for your employees, co-workers or other large groups of people, it’s tough to find something inexpensive that everyone will like. I’ve compiled my favorite bulk Christmas gifts for you below. If you’re looking for minimalist or zero-waste gift ideas, check out my waste free holiday gifts. Leave a comment with your favorite bulk Christmas gift ideas.

Bulk Christmas Gifts for Co-workers

Tickets

This is a great way to support local productions or theater companies, or even to just give your co-workers something relaxing to do on their time off. When you give experiences rather than just things, you can be sure your money is never wasted.

Recipes in a Jar

These are always popular around Christmas time and for good reason. You can buy the ingredients in bulk to cut down on waste and everyone loves food. The jars can also be used in a variety of ways for years to come.
Here are some of my favorite mason jar recipe gifts.

Upcycled Christmas Ornaments

Handmade Christmas ornaments are a fun way to make customized gifts for co-workers. I’ve made light bulb ornaments, as shown in the pictures, using scrap fabric and other craft supplies from around the house. They’re a  super fun project you can do in a group, too.

I’ve also made wood burned Christmas ornaments that were also very popular.

Do a Good Deed in Their Name

Not only is this a waste-free gift, but it’s also a gift in multiple ways, maybe even for the environment.
Donating to a charity, planting a tree and dedicating to your co-work, or volunteering to an organization are some of my favorite ways to give back.

Bulk Recipes

Almost everyone uses a diet cheat day around the holidays. These bulk holiday recipes make a good excuse. Make a large batch of snacks like beef jerky, and wrap up individual small portions into cellophane gift bags. You can also make seasoning mixes or dressings, as bulk gift ideas all year round.

Holiday Candles

These festive candles are the perfect neighbor gift, fun holiday party favors, staff appreciation gifts or coworker gift. This listing includes a set of 10 silver candle tins and 10 organza bags sized just right to hold the tins. Give a beautiful, thoughtful, ready to give gift for less than $5 each.

Floral Bookmarks

These floral bookmarks are a smart planning tool, which helps to keep your book, notebook, planner, binder stay organized at home, office, school and a perfect gift for any avid readers on your list.

Bulk Christmas Gifts for Employees

The Gift of Choice

Take the pressure off and give your employees the opportunity to explore Goody to select their favorite Christmas gift.

When you send the Gift of Choice, you set a price and let the recipient choose any Christmas gift they want from Goody’s entire collection! Then it arrives on their doorstep. Perfect for ordering holiday gifts for your entire company, especially with multiple office locations.

Reusable Items

Thermos, travel mugs, or grocery bags, such as these that just sit in the cart and the checker can easily pack, are all great gifts for co-workers. You can customize them with your companies logo or the employees’ names.

Shirts

My dad works at a fitness center, where t-shirts or polo shirts are part of the regular dress. For the past few years, he has bought his employees matching shirts or personalized polo shirts. The coordinated shirts often come in handy for different events or gatherings.

Team Building Exercise

Schedule activities such as an escape room event or team building activities for your holiday office party.

Online Classes

If you encourage your employees to learn new things or explore hobbies, try gifting an online class from a platform such as Udemy or Skillshare. Your employees can pick a subject that interests them and bring in new skills to the workplace.

Waste Free Gifts

There seems to be a wave of people that are pretty fed up with society’s fixation on material things. They are trading in their clutter for experiences, quality items and a better life overall. This comprehensive list of clutter free gifts is for people who don’t need more stuff or are interested in less Christmas waste.

For these purposes, here is how I define waste free gifts:

• Doesn’t occupy space
• Consumable- because it will go away
• Fills a need
• Something that’s loved (if you love it, it’s not clutter)

Check out my post on waste free Christmas gifts.

Holiday Planner for a Stress Free Christmas

The holidays are a magical time full of traditions and the joys of the season, but it’s also one of the busiest times of the year. Between family get-togethers, parties hosted by friends, the baking, cooking and shopping there is just so much to keep track of. A holiday planner is a great place to store all the information you need to keep your holidays running smoothly so you can just worry about enjoying the festivities, which will also help reduce waste.

This holiday planner bundle has 25 plus pages calendars, menu planners, budget trackers, gift trackers, holiday activities, and more for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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What is the inside of a pumpkin called?

Although, its more fun to say, they’re not actually called pumpkin guts.  The meat of the pumpkin, which people cook with is called the pulp. There is also the ‘pumpkin goo’ which is actually called fibrous strands and seeds. However, you can learn more about the proper names of all the pumpkin parts, if you’re interested.

Family Fall Activities with Pumpkin Guts

Mess-Free Pumpkin Exploration

Pumpkin guts can be messy, but this mom has an alternative activity that allows young kids to play without a complete mess. This family fall activity is also great for kids with sensory issues. They can observe without having to get it all over their hands.

Pumpkin Gut Observations

This is a great activity to do while carving or emptying out a pumpkin to make pumpkin puree. You can broaden your child’s vocabulary, while learning counting and other skills.

Explore Textures with Your Baby

Touch the primary sense that babies use in the first year of life. This pumpkin gut activity allows babies to explore the unique touch of a pumpkin.

Pumpkin Gut Slime

This activity is another idea for sensory experiences. It just takes a few basic ingredients such as Pumpkin, Water, Elmer’s Clear School Glue, Contact Solution, Baking Soda and Orange Food Coloring. Get the Pumpkin gut slime recipe.

Pumpkin Guts Lessons

There are so many things pumpkins can teach kids. You can do art, science, math, sensory learning, fine motor skill building and so much more with these pumpkin ideas for kids that aren’t crafts. Check out these preschool pumpkin theme lessons.

Other Family Fall Activities

There are tons of recipes using the pumpkin guts, seeds and activities such as pumpkin carving, which are fun family fall activities to use the rest of the pumpkin. You can check out these pumpkin activities for more ideas.

What to do with the pumpkin shell

Carving pumpkins using pumpkin face templates is such a fun and popular family fall activity. Check out these pumpkin carving templates to get started!

This concludes our post on fun family fall activities with pumpkin guts! Leave a comment with your favorite pumpkin gut activities!

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Why Buy Fruit in Season?

It’s important to pay attention to fruit seasons. Not only will seasonal fruit be at it’s peak in freshness and nutritional value, it will also taste so much better than it’s store bought counterpart. The produce in the store undergo lengthy transit times to get from farm to your kitchen, so integral vitamins and minerals are significantly decreased by the time it reaches your plate. Greens powders are a well-rounded daily supplement that not only helps you increase your vitamin, mineral, and fiber intake but also enhances your overall health and well-being. Read this review first before buying greens powder: Athletic Greens AG1 Review: Is It Worth The Hype Or Superfood? Don’t Buy Until You Read This

How to Find Seasonal Fruit

Visiting a farmer’s market is always a good way to find seasonal fruits and vegetables. You might find local flavors at their peak and discover new favorites.

What Fruits Are In Season

Summer Fruits

• Asian pears
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Boysenberries
• Cantaloupe melons
• Cherries
• Figs
• Grapes
• Nectarines
• Passionfruit
• Peaches
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Watermelon

Winter Fruits

• Clementines
• Grapefruit
• Kiwifruits
• Oranges
• Pomelos

Spring Fruits

• Honeydew melons
• Limes
• Mangos
• Pineapples
• Rhubarb

Fall Fruits

• Apples
• Cranberries
• Key limes
• Pears
• Pomegranates

Apple Season

Apples are such a versatile fruit. There are many easy and scrumptious ways to use fresh apples in your fall dish. Fresh apples are available in Oklahoma throughout mid-August to October The availability is dependent on the variety. Gala Apples are the earliest variety and Fuji is the latest available in mid-October.

Blackberry Season

Fresh blackberries are delicious, but the season in Oklahoma is relatively short. In Oklahoma, blackberry season is mid-August to mid-September. Fortunately, there are different ways to preserve blackberries so we can use them all year round.

Blueberry Season

One of my favorite parts of summer is exploring new ways to use up fresh blueberries. I love going to the local U-Pick orchard for fresh blueberries. Blueberries are at the height of their season in zone 7 around May through July. However, you can utilize these sweet treats year-round with recipes, freezing them or canning them.

Cherry Season

Cherries are difficult for commercial growers in Oklahoma, but backyard growers can have some success. Cherries are typically available between early May and late June.

Peach Season

Peach season in Oklahoma is around July to August. This is the worst weather of the year, but peach season makes it all survivable, even worth it.

Strawberry Season

Although there are strawberries in the grocery stores all year round, there is nothing better than locally grown FRESH strawberries. In Oklahoma, we have two types of strawberries. June-bearing and everbearing. June-bearing varieties are the most successful in Oklahoma. They produce a single crop each year in early May to mid-June, depending upon the weather and location. June-bearers are divided into early-, mid-, and late-season varieties. Early-season varieties ripen in early May to mid-June. Mid-season varieties ripen in mid-May to mid-June. Late-season varieties ripen in late May to mid-June.

Fruit Season Chart

Eating what’s in season is better for your health, pocket book and the environment. Supporting small local farms is also better for the local economy. Just like any other small business, they’re more likely to give back to their community and it helps promote diversity within the community. Learn more about how to support the local food system and farmers.

Despite all the benefits of eating with the seasons, sometimes it’s difficult to apply the local foods to your daily life. It requires planning, trial and error and and learning.

To make it super easy to find out what’s in season for Oklahoma, I created a chart. This chart displays Oklahoma’s favorite kinds of vegetables, fruits and nuts available in Oklahoma and the months they’re in season.

Monthly Produce Schedule Click the link to download.

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When is Apple Season

Fresh apples are available in Oklahoma throughout mid-August to October The availability is dependent on the variety. Gala Apples are the earliest variety and Fuji is the latest available in mid-October.

What to Do with Fresh Apples

So what do we do when fresh apples are in abundance? Apples are a versatile fruit just like some of the other seasonal fruits we covered, such as blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and peaches. Fresh apples can be dehydrated, pureed for smoothies or applesauce, pickled, juiced, baked, or frozen for recipes later.

Storing Fresh Cut Apples

Keeping Sliced Apples Fresh

Fresh cut apples can start to brown within 15 minutes, but fortunately there are many ways to keep apple slices fresh. But in this experiment, she found the best way to keep cut apples fresh is to soak them in salt water for five minutes before rinsing them in tap water. Even at room temperature, they didn’t brown for 12 hours and stayed nice and crisp overnight.

Freezing Fresh Apples

Another way to preserve freshness is to freeze the apples. Unlike blueberries, apples do not need to be blanched before putting in the freezer. Simply, line a baking sheet with a piece of baking parchment, then arrange the apple pieces or slices on the parchment so they’re not touching each other. Freezing the fruit on the highest setting, so the ice crystals are smaller and the fruit retains more of its nutritional benefits.

How to Dehydrate Fresh Apples

Apples don’t need to be peeled before dehydrated. Just cut around the core and slice thinly. Just apply the saltwater solution and rinse. Then add honey, cinnamon or other seasoning as desired. You can dehydrate using a dehydrator or oven set at 100 degrees. Cook the slices for an hour, turn them over and cook for another hour. If you want them to crisp, leave them longer. Then open the oven door slightly and leave until the oven has completely cooled. These dried apples will keep in an airtight container for a week.

Pureed Apples

Apple puree can be used in a variety of ways – apple crumbles, apple pies or just as it is. It can also be made into fruit leather, which is a healthy alternative for a kids snack. You can also make homemade apple sauce, which fun and easy to make with the kids while providing another healthy kids favorite.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is healthy, versatile and a great use of extra apples. It’s a great skill to have in your homesteading book too. You can use cut up apples or the scraps from other recipes, so either way you’re reducing food waste, too!

Apple Juice

Homemade apple juice is far tastier than any commercial variety, and you can experiment by mixing different apples to get a sweeter or more sour flavor. Unlike orange juice, to make apple juice you must have a juicer, but if this is a family favorite, it is worth the investment.

Baked Apples

Who don’t love a fresh homemade apple pie? Baked apples are always a good way to go. To make it easier, you can purchase an all-in-one apple corer, peeler, slicer to make baked apple recipes a breeze. I’ve listed some of my favorite apple recipes, but leave a comment with yours and I’ll add them to the list!

Fresh Apple Recipes

Apple Pie Cheesecake Jars

I love adorable little dessert jars. I just can’t get over how cute they are. These Apple Pie Cheesecake Jars are sure to please everyone with their creamy, fruity, deliciousness!

Caramel Apple Bites

These sweet chocolate dipped caramel apple bites are easy to eat, fun to make, and so delicious, you’re going to want to make them again and again. They great for party treats or a fun activity for the family!

Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp Recipe

Everyone needs an old Fashioned apple crisp recipe for their recipe book. This is one grandma is sure to be proud of!

Baked Apples

It doesn’t get much easier than these baked apples with just a few ingredients! Try this recipe for your next fall party or gathering.

Sliced Caramelized Apples

This is a super healthy, but scrumptious and simple baked sliced apple recipe. It’s simple to make and will pair well with other fall party dishes.

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There are so many ways to use fresh apples because they’re such a versatile fruit. What’s your favorite way to use fresh apples?

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Benefits of Fresh Peaches

There is nothing in the world better than fresh peaches. I feel like nothing else needs to be said, but also one fresh peach (about 2 1/2 inches) has only 68 calories and zero fat. Peaches contain 10 different vitamins. A large peach provides Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, beta carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, magnesium, potassium and more. They are filled with health benefits including helping to fight various types of cancers, maintaining healthy skin and eye health, improving cholesterol levels, boosting the immune system and more. Just eat a peach for your health, people!

When is Peach Season

Peach season in Oklahoma is around July to August. This is the worst weather of the year, but peach season makes it all survivable, even worth it.

Storing Fresh Peaches

The peach season is cruelly short, but there are some things you can do prolong it. After you cut up your peaches, wrapping them tightly and placing in the fridge is your best choice. Also, once ripe, the best way to keep peaches fresh is in a bag with large holes or, in an open bag away from other fruits. Wait until you’re ready to eat the peaches before washing them.

Blanching Peaches for Freezing

If you want to peel peaches before freezing or canning, blanching is the best way to do that. By simply boiling the peaches and then placing them in an ice bath, you will find that the skin comes right off.

Step One- Boil a large pot of water

Choose a pot big enough to fit several peaches at a time.

Step Two- Blanch peaches

Reduce heat to a simmer and add peaches into the water. Let them sit for about 30 seconds.

Step Three- Place them in an ice bath

After you blanch them for about 30 seconds in hot water you want to stop them from cooking, so immediately putting them in an ice water bath until they have cooled.

Step Four- Peel the skins off

The peach skin should be very easy to pull away gently with your hands, or use a sword like Cold Steel Arming Sword to make a small slit to get it started. Then you can slice and follow the next set of directions to freeze them.

Freezing Fresh Peaches

Freezing peaches means you’ll have high-quality frozen peaches for about 2 months versus packing in a water or syrup pack which lasts more like 8 to 10 months.

You can freeze peaches without blanching. It’s definitely best to cut the peaches before freezing. It makes it easier to defrost or use them immediately in baking and recipes.

Step One- Wash Fresh Peaches

Wash peaches with cool tap water. Using a sharp knife, cut each peach in half around the pit. Gently twist each half to expose the pit. Using the knife, pry the pit out of the peach. Slice peaches as desired.

Step Two- Freeze

Place the peaches on a parchment-lined baking sheet or tray. Make sure the edges of the food do not touch, as this can cause the pieces to fuse as they freeze. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for 2 to 3 hours, or until firm.

Step Three – Store

Label your freezer container with the quantity in the container, and the date it was frozen. Remove the tray and transfer the frozen peaches to an airtight container. Freeze up to 2 months.

Canning Fresh Peaches

I prefer fresh or frozen over canned produce, so I’m going to refer the directions for canning to people that are more experienced. This peach canning recipe will take you through the steps with a water bath canner.  All you need is ripe peaches, jars, sugar, and water!

Dehydrating Peaches

Another way to enjoy peaches for longer periods is to dehydrate them. Dehydrated peaches retain nearly all of their flavor and can be eaten as chips for a snack or rehydrated to make a peach cobbler. If you prefer dehydrating peaches without the skin, you can blanch them first.

How to Dehydrate Fresh Peaches

Dehydrating peaches is easy with a quality dehydrator. Once your peaches are prepped, set up your dehydrator arrange the peach slices on your dehydrator trays with some space between the pieces to allow air to circulate. Dehydrate at 135ºF (52ºC) for 8-12 hours until the peaches are dry and leathery (they will still be a bit pliable). Depending on your machine, you may need to rotate the trays periodically to promote even drying.

Let the peaches cool completely and store them loosely in a transparent airtight container. Check it daily for a week to check for signs of moisture or condensation, and shake to help prevent the peaches from sticking together. If signs of moisture appear, stick them back into the dehydrator (as long as there’s no mold—in that case, toss the batch). After a week, if there’s no signs of moisture or mold, you can package them for long-term storage.

Recipes with Fresh Peaches

Fresh Peach Juice

Fresh peach juice is easy to make and you don’t need a juicer. You’ll just need water, peaches, lemon juice and sugar.

Peach Yogurt Pops

These peach yogurt pops are a delicious summer treat and these only have three ingredients! They’re a perfect activity to make with the kids on a summer day. You can use fresh or frozen peaches.

Peach Crumble

I love fruit crumbles with oat topping. They are my favorite fruit dessert. This peach crumble is also easy to make and great to bring to potlucks and friendly gatherings.

Peach Salsa

I tend to like a little sweet with my spicy, so this peach salsa is right up my alley. It’s definitely a winner over the store-bought versions.

Fresh Peach Favorites

Leave a comment with your favorite recipes for fresh peaches!

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Benefits of Blackberries

Depending on their ripeness, blackberries are mostly a little sweet, with a little tart, and sometimes even sour.

They have lots of vitamin C, plus a lot less sugar than your average berry, making them an excellent choice for a fruity treat.

When is Blackberry Season?

Fresh blackberries are delicious, but the season in Oklahoma is relatively short. In Oklahoma, blackberry season is mid-August to mid-September. Fortunately, there are different ways to preserve blackberries so we can use them all year round.

What to Do with Fresh Blackberries

Fresh blackberries are a great breakfast ingredient. They’re great as part of a fruit salad with plain or Greek yogurt. Additionally, they can add blackberries to cereals, including porridge. Another simple way to include blackberries into a diet is in fruit smoothies.

Can you Dehydrate Blackberries

Dehydrating blackberries is a great way to preserve their taste for longer periods and it can preserve the nutritional value.

How to Dehydrate Blackberries

Step One – Prepare your Blackberries

Clean your blackberries with a 1:3 water-to-vinegar ratio and soak for about 5 minutes. Remove the excess water and vinegar from the bowel after picking out all the extra bits and spoiled blackberries out. Rinse the blackberries under cold water.

Step Two – Dry the Blackberries

Dry the blackberries before adding them to the dehydrator. Place them in a single layer on the tray away from each other to allow air to flow between them.

Step Three – Set the Dehydrator

Adjust the temperature of the dehydrator to 135 degrees F.

Step Four- Wait

The drying process will take about 18 – 30 hours depending on the power of your dehydrator, as well as, the size of the blackberries. Check on the blackberries every few hours. You will know they are done when there is no moisture squeezed when smashed between your fingers.

Make sure the blackberries are completely dry before you place them inside an airtight container away from any moisture or light.

Step Five – Store

If stored and dried properly, dried blackberries can last for twelve to eighteen months.

Can you Freeze Blackberries

Freezing blackberries is similar to freezing blueberries. It is extremely simple to do.

Easy Blackberry Recipes

Homemade Blackberry Pie

No recipe list would be complete without a pie recipe! Check out this Old Fashioned Blackberry pie. The author worked tirelessly, so you’ll get an amazing pie every single time whether you use fresh or frozen blackberries.

Homemade Blackberry Cobbler

Of course, if I have a pie recipe, I must also include a cobbler recipe. I found just the one with the Old Fashioned Blackberry Cobbler that’s just like grandma used to make.

Vegan Blackberry Cheesecake

It’s difficult to find good recipes for classic dishes with alternative ingredients. I stumbled upon this vegan Blackberry Cheesecake with a swirly blackberry puree over a cashew cream layer and chocolate crust bottom. I think it checks all the boxes.

Blackberry Jam

If you grow your own blackberries, there’s a chance you might get overloaded with them. Also, sometimes making jams and jellies is just a fun family activity and can bring back childhood memories. Making your own jam can also cut down on the extra sugar that’s usually in the store bought versions. This Blackberry Jam also works with fresh or frozen blackberries, so you can bring in summer freshness all year round.

Healthy Blackberry Breakfast Cookies

If there is ever a recipe that allows me to have cookies for breakfast, I’m going to shout it from the rooftops. The best part is it’s healthy, gluten, egg and dairy free. Next time you have a crazy busy morning, give these healthy blackberry breakfast cookies a try to get started right.

Fresh Blackberry Favorites

Leave a comment with your favorite fresh blackberry recipe! Don’t forget to pin for later!

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