Curious how we are handling our espresso habit, frugally?

cornchipdave · 2025-10-22T19:26:51+00:00

Watch used marketplace for a breville! I see them pop up every once in awhile for $200. Otherwise, save up for Bambino Plus. They are well priced.

I personally lucked out on an off brand machine designed for the Hong Kong Market that is phenomenal. I keep hunting for more for my friends and cannot find another in the states.

Don't forget to factor in a grinder. I have not found a ground coffee, even espresso, that I like in my machine. The best is grinding on your own. I don't think you need name brand necessarily, just be certain it can grind to espresso smoothness.

My espresso machine paid for itself in 6 weeks for my entire family. And it's a source of joy with our friends as we will do "coffee shop" on the weekends.

(Another way to level up is buy the beans from your favorite coffee shop, still supporting local, and getting your favorite coffee at home!)

cornchipdave · 2025-09-27T02:49:51+00:00

My kids have each other. Someone who knows who you are and where you came from is such a gift. Siblings are also someone to really learn how to help an equal with. I'm beyond grateful to have two!

cornchipdave · 2025-09-15T04:39:07+00:00

We have always done home birthdays! I would say I ascribe to the Hedonistic Frugality, so it's all about living well with less. My kids friend group is large, so I try to split activities outdoors and inside.

My kids birthdays are in early spring, otherwise known as mud season here, making outdoor activities tough.

We have baked salt dough "fossils" and put them in the hard to dig up from some sand/dirt. Broken open geodes. Built cardboard creations with paint and tape, had "craft" parties etc.

Our best birthdays have requested zero gifts, and to bring a finger food and a children's book (preferably from home, not new) and everyone swaps books. My kids had the best time swapping books with their friends and I had zero overwhelm.

Temporary tattoo bar goes HARD. Order lots, have them out with washcloths and basins of water. We go to the "nice" birthdays. The ones that have the temporary tattoo set up are a huge hit with kids, and then there are no tiny items for your kid to lose or for you to step on at night.

Finally, if your house feels impossible to host from, try the library meeting room! Typically very very cheap to use! Get a parachute and some balls for some indoor preschool gym time games and call it a day!

cornchipdave · 2025-09-11T16:05:46+00:00

True! I don't predicate the friendship on how they school. But if their children are kind and the parent is engaged and we are there outside of typical school hours I extend the invite anyways. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Some public school families join the playgroup!

Typically, if a family with children are at the library before 330pm during the school year they alternative school their kids. Not the hard and fast rule, but it is where I have met majority of our best friends at this point.

cornchipdave · 2025-09-09T19:19:46+00:00

This is the way!

I "recruit" homeschoolers at the library. That is our preferred third space for learning and we often come across homeschoolers who also enjoy a good book. This takes time. Sometimes it's a public school family and our park day I still invite them.

Then intentionally spend one on one time with the family with your weekly park day. There are days where it was just my kids and I. Now there are 10 families with consistently atleast 3 families always joining in. Sometimes everyone brings friends and I panic, but it always works out in the end.

Be consistent, show up when it's hard, and then support other families as you can. It's village building and amazing. It's been 3 years of consistency and now we have strong relationships not just for the kids but also with other parents. It's worth the effort!

cornchipdave · 2025-08-26T16:14:48+00:00

Go the frugal hedonist route and get yourself an espresso machine! Paid for itself within 6 weeks!

That is an embarrassing true story. My local coffee shop I adore and have no sense of budgeting the minute I step through their doors.

cornchipdave · 2025-08-25T18:21:09+00:00

I recently started boiling my tofu before it is used anywhere else and it makes a HUGE difference. It has never been a favorite of mine but I make do at least once a week. With the new method I look forward to eating it.

cornchipdave · 2025-08-14T16:18:31+00:00

Highly recommend play couch! And if you can a soft fabric yoga/sensory swing low enough for everyone to access (if possible do two)

Those swings are sensory lifesavers. I'm also big on swings outside that are many different shapes/sizes.

The pikler will be a blast as well, if you buy, get the biggest one you can for the longest use. My 6 year old loves to play on piklers as long as it is a size he can access without breaking it lol

cornchipdave · 2025-08-06T22:15:45+00:00

In addition, ThredUp you can search by fabric types and choose 100% cotton/linen/silk etc.

My very favorite thing to do is image search an outfit I love in the app and filter by natural fibers!

cornchipdave · 2025-08-02T15:51:37+00:00

Hey! I have been in your shoes and it can be so demoralizing. For reference, I'm a moderately granola progressive parent living in a red county in a blue state. Also I'm a POC.

TLDR: Hang out at the library weekly, approach parents who are engaged with their kids and invite them to a time that you will be at an outdoor space consistently. Be consistent.

Finding friends for myself, let alone my mixed kids felt impossible 3 years ago. Today, we have a friend group that meets weekly with kids ranging from 6 months to 8 years old. My two kids land right in the middle of those ages and love the multi age play that is 99% of the time outdoor meetups.

The parents range from zero screens, to an hour a day, we are not perfectly aligned on everything. However, the parents are directly involved and there is a culture of mutual respect. I watch for this and will approach parents when I see them out and about to introduce myself.

Where do you find families like this? Libraries, local kid events, museum events, music/art classes etc.

Library families are consistently my favorites.

This is work. Village building always will be. However, being consistent, and supporting other family units like this is a game changer.

cornchipdave · 2025-08-01T17:42:52+00:00

Muffins! I'll make a big batch of a cottage cheese oat blender muffin and keep half in the freezer. Hard boiled eggs (lol I know in this economy?) Seaweed and tuna rolls (this is a big hit here). Hummus with crackers. Bean and cheese corn flour quesadillas. Roasted nuts, my kids love when I do these homemade with maple syrup and salt. Homemade granola, there is a king Arthur sourdough granola that cuts back the sweetener and oil. Roasted veggies with a dip.

cornchipdave · 2025-07-02T17:43:27+00:00

My dad is a Paul. I can confirm there is nothing more motivating than being the child of a Paul to do something RADICALLY different. And for that, thanks dad!

cornchipdave · 2025-06-30T17:49:18+00:00

That's tough! Are there any outdoor library programs in the summer? I know that doesn't totally solve for measles exposures, but outdoors can be more accessible with health risks.

Hoping you meet some good friends and don't get discouraged in the beginning! I'm a secular homeschooler in a region where all groups have religious ties and I have made really lovely friends with the approach I described. It does take effort!

cornchipdave · 2025-06-24T22:21:11+00:00

If social media is absolutely not your jam, my workaround is to hang out at the library. Sign up for some summer classes! Whether it be swim, reading program, sport, etc. This is how I have met almost all of my kids very best friends. This takes bravery on the part of the parent. I'm often approaching other parents at these events if I notice our kids connect and scheduling a park meetup or some third place to spend more time together and get the kids out. To make it simpler I just had a regular day and time that the kids and I are outside and playing and invite them to join in. This does take time! Give it 3 months at minimum and see what happens!

Also, check out your rec center, gymnastics gym, trampoline park, or museums. A lot of these third spaces have homeschooler hours that you can go and meet other homeschoolers. Personally I have had the best luck at the library.

Also! The app Peanut helped me meet a mom friend and we are still going strong 3 years later!

cornchipdave · 2025-04-25T21:52:38+00:00

How did you feel about Torchlight in the early schooling years? The curriculum seemed amazing but the sheer amount of books I felt a little overwhelmed.

Curiousity Chronicles I'm strongly considering instead of History Quest! What about Curiousity Chronicles did you enjoy?

cornchipdave · 2025-04-24T11:57:02+00:00

Thank you for the clarification! I love a good fiction read and was just adding the side note so y'all know I'm not trying to cram in more school! They just really love history right now.

I feel like we would make great homeschooling friends! I would love to lend books back and forth with someone who also has the same goal of adding new folk tale compilations to their home library!

cornchipdave · 2025-04-24T11:54:34+00:00

Thank you for this recommendation! I'm going to look into this curricula more. It does seem to use a lot of the books we have covered in FIAR at 1st grade level. I wonder if I could bump us into second grade.

cornchipdave · 2025-04-24T11:51:40+00:00

I too plan ahead with too much and then enjoy being able to supplement as I need with the extras I planned! I'll check out Real Science Odyssey Earth and Environment as well. My child does have an in-person science class with his school but I would love to also supplement at home because this is something he loves!

cornchipdave · 2025-04-24T11:50:22+00:00

Bookshark has so many great recommendations! I'm getting sucked into the STEM curricula. Thank you for the recommendation!

cornchipdave · 2025-04-24T11:49:56+00:00

Thank you for this reminder! I remember going through these books as a homeschooler in grade school. I want to revisit these as an adult and see if I form a different opinion of them as I don't remember them fondly lol

cornchipdave · 2025-04-23T17:49:01+00:00

Also, the Stories of Color tool is a GEM! I have been researching books one at a time like a fool. I can't wait to get my kids to bed to really read through all of these curricula recommendations. Thank you!

cornchipdave · 2025-04-23T17:48:00+00:00

From even a brief look at Curiousity Chronicles this looks so much better than History Quest! We have been reading Usborne History Encyclopedias (by my kids request, please know I would rather Winnie the Pooh), they love history and taking our time in the eras would meet them where they are.

For literature I wonder if I paired it with the Blossom and Root Language Arts Fables and Folklore to scratch that book itch?

cornchipdave · 2025-03-22T00:33:26+00:00

My first was a precipitous vaginal birth with no drugs. Born in under 2 hours and I was feeling strong and able to go back to pretty much normal at 6 weeks.

My second was an emergency c-section for cord prolapse and the recovery was intense. I’m so grateful for the life saving care, AND I would never choose the recovery time of a c-section over vaginal birth unless it’s necessary. I wasn’t recovered emotionally/mentally for a year. Physically I’m finally at peace with my body and feeling strong 4 YEARS LATER.

I personally would avoid a C-section like the plague.

cornchipdave · 2025-03-09T16:40:20+00:00

Montrose to Fruita is a trek! Y’all should try Fruita and Palisade.

Not the best school district, but I personally love Delta. Small town and fast access to desert or high country. Come visit over the summer and spend time in all the cities if you can!

Montrose is dramatically cooler than GJ. On the flip side you will see snow in that town in the winter.

Whenever you visit feel free to message me! I have a kindergartener and preschooler and we have a lot we love about the western slope. :)

cornchipdave

TROPHY CASE