Free Printables
Here are some fun free tools I have created for you to download and print out. I hope you find them helpful!
Chart for Tracking Spending
Newly redesigned version of the chart my family has been using to track our spending for over ten years. Do you write down everything you spend? Try it. You’ll like it. Find out why the paper method works.
Download the Daily Spending Chart (pdf)
Download the Daily Spending Chart (pdf)
If you’re hooked on my old-school black-and-white versions, you can still get them here: Chart for Tracking Daily Spending (pdf) | Chart for Tracking Daily Spending (Word file) | Annual Summary (pdf) | Annual Summary (Word file)
Life Goals — More Important than You Think
Sometimes we’re so busy living our lives that we don’t take the time to sit down and figure out what we really want.
The magic is: people who write down their goals are 80% more likely to achieve them. Use this form to write your hopes and dreams — everything from taking a trip to renovating a house to having a plush retirement. Then figure out how much your goal will cost and what it will take to get there.
Download the Life Goals Chart (pdf)
Download the Life Goals Chart (pdf)
Savings Progress Charts — Go You!
As study after study has proven:what gets measured, gets done. Post these charts in a prominent place and use them to cheer yourself on.
Download the Thermometer Chart (pdf)
Download the Thermometer Chart (pdf)
Babysitting Co-op Forms
To find out more about babysitting co-ops and swaps, check out my Childcare & Work-Life Balance section, and for how to use these resources, see my (unfinished) series How to Start a Babysitting Co-op.
Card Count Chart and Contact Info Sheet (pdf)
Card Count Chart and Contact Info Sheet (Word file)
Online spreadsheet (using Google Docs)
Chore Chart
You can find out more about how I get my four kids out of the house on time in the morning, then download the chart we use and customize it to fit your life.
Download the Chore Chart (Word file)
Coupon Book for Favors
Find out exactly how to assemble this easy-peasy book of tickets for privileges or favors. Give it to the kids, a relative, or … figure out how to get someone to give it to you!
Download the Coupon Book Cover (pdf)
Download the Coupon Book ticket page (pdf)
Recipes
Peruse more of our family’s favorite dishes and recipes in the Food & Drink section and Birthdays & Holidays.
Here is a printable version of the cupcakes we make for just about every birthday party (and the recipe we used for our Robin’s Egg Easter Cupcakes and Chick and Egg Easter Cupcakes).
Download the Recipe for Yellow Cupcakes and Butter Cream Icing (pdf)
Stocking Notes
Read about how our family used funny love notes instead of stocking gifts at Christmastime, and then print some out for yourself if you like.
Download the Stocking Notes template (pdf)
Travel Games
Head over to Parentables for my roundup of 36 Fun, Free Printable Travel Games to Entertain the Kids on Your Next Trip.
More Great Places to Find Free and Pretty Printables
Here are some sites where I have consistently found well-designed tools to help me simplify life and save money.
Beautifully-designed yet super-useful tools at Buttoned Up, the thinking woman’s guide to organizing life (where I moonlight as their savings expert). I love their wide range of to-do lists, as well as holiday budgets and chore charts.
Tons of wonderful party decorations and favors, notecards, and kids routine posters at this graphic designer’s chock-full site.
Clean lines and good design on peaceful gray-tone forms that will help you get organized. Everything from packing labels to gift worksheets.
Unusual and vintage organizing labels, gift boxes and cards, as well as how to make things like coupon books.
Where do you find pretty printables? Let me know in the comments!
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{15 Intelligent opinions... read them below or add one}
Thank you Frugal Mama for the budgeting worksheets. I have been using them to budget and keep better track of my spending. These have helped so much for keeping me organized. Thanks!!
Candice
Amy:
I tried the chocolate covered toffee and it was GREAT. My family loved it at the tree trimming and I am now more popular with the nurses at Good Sam.
Thanks
In my family they use those rectangular Club Crackers, sprinkle with nuts and call it Poor Man’s Toffee. But poor men don’t buy butter! I think margarine would be gross. I do like Smart Balance but it is more expensive than butter! Would a sugar substitute work do you think? I really want to try the pretzels. Thanks!
Hi Kathy, I love the Poor Man’s Toffee story! I don’t use sugar substitutes or margarine, and I would imagine neither would improve the taste. I think the best plan is to make it taste the very best and then savor one at a time. A small piece of candy or dessert never killed anyone.
And p.s. I’ve never tried it with pretzels but other people say it’s great!
Take care,
Amy
Hi Mr. Stier,
Wow, I can’t imagine you could become more popular with the nurses. You must have done a great job with that toffee! Thanks for letting me know.
Merry Christmas!
Amy
I am so happy I found your site, Thank you!
Hi Nicole,
Wonderful! I’m so happy you found me too. I hope you’ll stop by often, or subscribe, and let me know your thoughts from time to time.
Take care,
Amy
Hi. Thank you for providing this valuable set of resources online! I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who can tell you that the simple pen and paper approach to setting up expense tracking and a household budget is still the easiest for many to start up and maintain.
Your Daily Spending form is easy to understand. One attempt to provide constructive criticism, though. Have you ever considered making it a 2-page form per month so the boxes aren’t so very tiny? I counsel many single men [some with big hands] who would likely find this form a bit hard to use, as they tend to write in big characters.
Thanks again for all you are doing. I expect you are helping more people than you can imagine.
Bob Broadwell, MA, LPC, CAADC
Cross Road Center
Dear Bob,
I appreciate your input. As a counselor, you must have a lot of experience helping people get their lives in order. Do you deal with the financial side often?
I also appreciate your note about the size of the boxes. I do realize they are tiny, but I felt it was very important to keep the chart simple. And one page to me means simple. Maybe I can make another version with bigger boxes. My husband does share this chart with me, I should say, and I think the main thing is to use a sharpened pencil. :-)
Your last sentence really made me feel good. Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
Sincerely,
Amy
Where do I find the info about the best chocolate is from Belgium and California?
Hi Kathy,
Oh yes, the one about Ghiradelli! Here it is: http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/dollars-sense/best-chocolate-belgium-and-san-francisco.html
Let me know what you think of it!
Amy
{15 Intelligent opinions... read them below or add one}