12 Month Money Challenge

You might be thinking, wait a 12 Month Money Challenge?! Yep, that's right! You've probably heard us talk about creating a new website for all of our finance tips and travel posts but in order to keep my sanity, we've decided to update this website to include those instead. You will find finance tips and trip/hike reviews in the coming weeks. We've also added a "money" page and "travel" page to the navigation. All of this will be continually updated as I move posts here from other websites.

You can read more here but we decided to add this section to our existing website to help individuals live an enjoyable life through health and wealth.  We share a strong passion for helping our community get better at budgeting, saving and investing, and general personal finance along with living a healthier lifestyle in regards to moving more and eating healthy.

>>>>> The Ultimate List of Ways to Save: 18 Ways to Save $15,000 in 2018!

Finance is just like Fitness - you have to STICK WITH IT to see results, sometimes they don't come as quickly as you would like but if you stick with it a year from now you will be amazed at what you accomplished!

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Interested in more money saving challenges? Try one of these:

• Save $1,000 in 3 Months
• 3 Month Money Saving Challenge
• Beginner 6 Month Money Saving Challenge
• 52-Week Money Saving Challenge
• 12 Month Money Challenge
• $300 12-Week Christmas Money Saving Challenge

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Looking for a printable version of this challenge? We've got you covered! Join our newsletter and you will be taken to a black and white printable version right away! Grab the printable challenge here.

If you have been "following" me you know that I love to save money.  My entire life I have worked and saved everything I made - it's in my blood.  I even ironed my money before putting it into my "cash box" when I was little.  You can read more about that here but I've received multiple requests to help share with you what I do to save money.  It's natural for me to save and I've actually had to work on letting loose of some of it.  I've realized that it's okay to spend money in order to create memories (for example, all the traveling we do).  I still have a hard time spending money on "things" though.  We choose to spend our money on organic food and quality supplements since those are things that really matter!

I've shared a few posts on how to save/make money but I wanted to end this year with a "12 Month Money Challenge" that you can start in the new year! If you follow my savings plan listed you will save $1,050 in one year!  The monthly amount may sound like a lot at first but there are ways that everyone can cut back!

Below are a few examples to look over when you do your budget:

• Prepare dinner at home instead of going out to eat
• Do your own nails instead of getting them done
• Watch a movie at home instead of going to the theater
• Make your own coffee at home, skip Starbucks
• Cancel your cable
• Sell things you don't use/need
• Or, find a way to make some extra money and put it away!

I challenge you, if you have more money to put away - double this.  If you REALLY can't make it work (I mean REALLY, not just that you don't want to give up your Starbucks or nails) then half the amount listed.

Banana Cream Quick Oats

We just returned from a hiking trip where we hiked in CO, UT, and NM. We shared some of our pictures via social media (Facebook and Instagram) but plan to do a series of posts from how we save money when traveling, what we eat when traveling, etc...so stay tuned!

We bought quick oats to make in order to fuel up before our hikes. There are so many different ways to make quick oats and we always seem to discover a new favorite while traveling!

Try these Banana Cream Quick Oats and let us know what you think - the coconut oil really makes this recipe!

Clean Eat Recipe: Banana Cream Quick Oats

Ingredients:

• 1/2 - 1 cup gluten free quick oats
• 1/2 - 1 banana
• 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil (you can melt before adding or just add it to your hot oats and let it melt in them)
• water or unsweetened almond milk
• sweetener of your choice (Stevia, Truvia, honey, etc.)
• dash of sea salt
• dash of cinnamon

Directions:

1. Prepare oats as listed on package (we usually use boiling water and a small amount of unsweetened almond milk)
2. Add all ingredients, except banana, and stir
3. Slice banana and add to the top - then stir into the oats
4. Enjoy!

How to Make the Perfect Omelet

I struggled with omelets for a long time. I would try to make an omelet and it would just turn into scrambled eggs because I would get so frustrated. I finally started experimenting and reading about cooking them (yes, I'm a dork!). I put together some of the information I found and so far it has been working! One of the most important things I've discovered is that you need to use a small pan! In case you haven't noticed, I'm a huge lover of eggs - I finally mastered the boiled eggs (by baking them!) and now I'm a pretty good omelet maker too!

How to Make the Perfect Omelet

Ingredients:

• Coconut Oil (to coat the pan to prevent sticking)
• Eggs (I normally use 1-2 whole eggs and 2-3 egg whites)

Directions:

1. Coat a small pan with coconut oil to prevent sticking
2. Heat pan on medium heat (6-8) and once warm add eggs
3. Once the eggs start to bubble add your choice of toppings (I normally use shredded spinach, onion, garlic, etc)
4. Once it appears that you can carefully fold the omelette do so with care (I use a fork and spatula)
5. Cook on one side for a few seconds and then flip to finish cooking