I think it’s fair to say that September is officially the start of pumpkin season, right?
I am a pumpkin lover year-round but I can’t get enough of it this time of year. Yesterday I made this easy pumpkin cheesecake and it turned out incredibly good. Move over pumpkin pie.
The best part? It took about five minutes to throw it together using my stand mixer.
Don’t be misled, it still takes 50-60 minutes to bake (it is an actual cheesecake) and about another hour to cool. Read more...
I shared with you last month that I’ve had some credit card debt hanging around from an over-budget house remodel and dental implant that I can’t seem to make much headway with.
I am happy to report that I ACTUALLY made some headway last month and paid down my debt balance by $670 in August. My balance went from $9,800 to $9,130. I am on track to meet my goal to have the balance under $7,000 by the end of 2018! Read more...
I’ve rounded up some recipes from my closest blogging friends that are perfect for your end-of-summer cookout!
Labor Day is quickly approaching and many are celebrating the close of the summer season – unless you live in the South and summer weather drags on until October. I’d love to bring out those Fall sweaters but that is months away!
Hopefully, you’ll have many more opportunities this year to get together with friends and enjoy some nice weather. Read more...
I’m excited to share a fun way to save up to 80% on accommodations and activities in Florida with you today!
I’ve been a member of Florida Vacation Auction for years and I’ve partnered with them to offer my readers an exclusive $25 credit – read on for my review and to learn more…
Florida is one of my favorite vacation destinations (this might be obvious since I run a blog dedicated to Disney World) and I love to find creative ways to visit more often. Read more...
If you need a cake that is easy to make AND impressive, look no further than this super moist and delicious Lemon Raspberry Ricotta Cake.
This Italian dessert has a pound cake-like texture and is pretty rich, thanks to the stick of butter and whole milk ricotta. The lemon and raspberries complement the richness nicely.
I’m not at all ashamed to admit I eat this for breakfast. It is good for an afternoon snack, too! Read more...
I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own. 
There are so many things to consider when it comes to your little one’s birthday! This is where a bit of preparation and planning can help you and your budget out, and you’ll be able to take the time to celebrate with your kids, and not just run around like a headless chicken.
You can start by ignoring the competitive parents, and stop beating yourself up – your kids will love the fact the day is all about them, and everything else is just a bonus. Read more...
After much planning, we finally got to do some Great Smoky Mountains camping last month!
In this post, I’m sharing everything you need to know about camping in America’s most visited national park to help you plan a visit of your own. Great Smoky Mountains camping is a great way to relax and unwind in a gorgeous national park that is one of our country’s gems.
There is actually a LOT to know about camping in the Smokies so here are the ten things you should know before you go:
If you have visited some of America’s national parks before you might be expecting to stop at a booth and pay an entrance fee to visit the park (for example, we paid $25 to visit Everglades National park earlier this year). Read more...
One of my goals for this year was to pay down some lingering credit card debt incurred by a house remodel and dental work. Well, I have been failing at this goal (for some legitimate reasons, I admit) but now I am ready to buckle down and get serious about paying down this debt!
I need accountability for any goal that I set, so I’m sharing my commitment with you, my amazing readers. Read more...
South Florida doesn’t exactly have the reputation as an affordable family destination. While Miami and Key West can be ultra expensive, there are other places to explore that are just as much if not more fun for your family!
In this post, I’ll share five South Florida activities for families that are budget-friendly. These fun things to do are affordable alternatives to pricey tourist activities!
For more details on our budget trip to South Florida including where we stayed and a cost breakdown, check out this post. Read more...
Here’s a fun free sample… click here to get your sample of L’Oreal Pure-Clay Mask by mail. Read more...
I was gearing up for a little kiddo party and was in need of something to hold these yummy cupcakes. Of course I’m not going to shell out $20+ for a fancy cupcake stand, so I checked Pinterest for DIY cupcake stand ideas!
I found lots of ideas for homemade cupcake holders, like these from Sarah with an H. On my next trip to the Dollar Tree, I was on the lookout for supplies. Read more...
I am one of the rare people who grew up in the 80’s near the East Coast and didn’t visit Myrtle Beach. I finally checked it out this year and am sharing how we avoided the tourist traps and got a deal on a fantastic resort right on the beach for under $75/night!
If you want an affordable beach trip away from the touristy scene that is Myrtle Beach, read on…
When I was researching a visit to Myrtle Beach, I noticed that most of the extremely touristy attractions were located in central and South Myrtle Beach. Read more...
Father’s Day is fast approaching but don’t worry if you haven’t found the perfect gift yet – I’m here to help! Here are a bunch of ideas for practical and thoughtful Father’s Day gifts for any budget.
Get a fantastic deal on a Gillette Mach3 gift set here. Or upgrade to a monthly plan and keep the blades coming all year!
Head to CardCash and enter promo code FATHERSDAY to save an extra 5% on top of already discounted gift cards for Dad! Read more...
I was compensated for this post but all opinions are my own.
Can you imagine grabbing a hot shower, some delicious food, and complimentary alcohol all while waiting for your next flight at the airport? If you are a frequent traveler like I am then this probably sounds too good to be true.
Airport lounges provide an oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of traveling, and it’s possible that you’ve walked past them before and never know they were there. Read more...
If you have never had a Costco membership (or previously had a membership that expired before February 1st, 2018) then check out this fantastic deal on a Costco Membership Package from Groupon!
For $60, you’ll get:
This is by FAR the best deal you’ll get on a Costco membership all year so jump on it if you are interested – this fantastic deal on a Costco membership package is only available for a limited time but you have until September 29th, 2018 to activate your membership. Read more...
I tried out some products from Brandless this week, a new site on which every item is $3. I try out lots of deals and new sites for the blog and I only share the winners with you. Brandless is one I think you’ll want to check out!
Brandless products aren’t tested on animals and they don’t use over 400 harmful ingredients like parabens, polypropylene, phthalates, and sulfates in any of their beauty products. Read more...
I’m sharing another income report to help answer the number one question I get asked about my work, which is “How do you make money blogging, anyway?”
I have to pinch myself most days that I am able to pay the bills thanks to the blog. I didn’t dare to dream it would reach this point when I started The Frugal South as a hobby in October of 2014.
But about a year ago I saw the potential for this blog to make money and decided to treat it as a business instead of a hobby. Read more...
Looking for an easy Father’s Day gift that won’t break the bank? Click here to get $3 off your first Gillette On Demand order – that brings the Mach3 starter set down to only $7 for the handle and four blades!
You can choose to continue sending a box every one to six months, or you can easily cancel online after the first box. I have personally given this as a gift and it was very easy to cancel. Read more...