Who doesn’t love a good date night?

The average American spends $102.32 on a date, but some can cost as much as $300 or more! Over the course of the year, that really adds up!

Now don’t get me wrong, date night is certainly one of my favorite things because it’s a time that we can connect with the ones we love, unwind, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

For my boyfriend, John, and I, that usually consists of margaritas and burritos at our favorite Mexican restaurant, but every now and then, we like to step outside of the box and try something different. 

The good news is, date night doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, some of my favorite date nights didn’t cost a penny. That’s right, they were free!

I put together some of my favorite frugal date nights because I want you to be able to enjoy some quality time together without worrying about your wallet. 

Now I’m not saying you can’t go out all of the time, because believe me I love margaritas and burritos, but opting for a cheaper date night every now and then can really help you save some cash.

Date Night Ideas on a Budget

1. Watch a Movie

Now I know this one sounds cliche since the average date is “dinner and a movie.” I get it. Plus if you’re at home, in your jammies, on the couch, watching a movie, are you really doing date night?

If you’re anything like John and I, you probably watch TV together all the time, and if you have kids they’re probably are right there with you too. That’s not the kind of date night I’m talking about.

I’m talking about when you get on Netflix or you go to the local video rental store (old school, I know), and going all out. Make snacks, turn the lights off, turn the sound up, and most importantly no kids!

This is just you time; the two of you. If not, then it’s probably family time, not date night.

Then snuggle up on the couch, get comfy, and enjoy the show. The best part is, you don’t even have to leave your house, so you don’t have to really spend any money and you can wear whatever you want!

2. Go to a Local Farm

There are so many fun experiences you can have at a farm! 

Whether it’s fruit picking, going to a pumpkin patch, learning about honey, or tasting homemade cheese, the opportunities are endless. There is just nothing like a day in the great outdoors supporting the local community.

These are dates that John and I do all of the time. One of our favorite things to do in the Fall is go to a local pumpkin patch in someone’s backyard farm and across the street is their apple orchard. We end up spending a whole day pumpkin and apple picking for only about $40, which is amazing!

Plus there’s just nothing like fresh picked fruit and vegetables or freshly made cheese and honey!

3. Get Outside

It doesn’t matter what you do, just go outside. Most of the time, you can do this for free at local parks or even in your own backyard! At most, you should really only have to pay a small park entrance fee or for parking, depending on where you live. 

• Take a hike
• Go to the beach
• Build a snowman
• Go skiing
• Have a snowball fight
• Take a bike ride
• Have a picnic in the park
• Go for a walk
• Watch the sunset

Now I realize that some of this is seasonal and it’s much more difficult to get outside during some seasons than others. 

In Western New York, we have brutally cold and snowy Winters so we are pent-up inside a lot. But that doesn’t stop John and I from getting our cross-country skis out for a day or having a snowball fight. Sometimes you just have to get outside and get some of that vitamin D!

There’s nothing like feeling like a kid again, except maybe doing it with your best friend. The two of you can relive your childhoods together and make new memories at the same, all while saving money!

3. Have a Game Night

Take time to play and be kids again. Whether it’s board games, video games, or something like a scavenger hunt around town, do something together to really bring out the best parts of one another.

There is nothing like some good, clean, fun and genuine laughter every now and then. And best of all, it’s free most of the time! 

You won’t have to spend one penny on this date night because you probably already have at least some games at home.

Even something as simple as Googling some trivia questions and playing some online trivia can do wonders. It’s also amazing on long road trips to help pass the time! 

John and I like to play Song Quiz on our Amazon Echo. We see who can beat the other and what songs we know from each decade. John is very competitive so I usually end up losing, but that’s okay because it’s still just fun to play together!

4. Take Relationship Quizzes

This is one of my personal favorites because it’s something that lets you get so intimate with one another, and it really lets you connect and get to know each other all over again. 

Now, I’m not talking about some simple trivia questions. I’m talking about some deeper personal and relationship questions. 

John and I started doing this on date night after we got The Quiz Book for Couples as a Christmas present one year. We only did a few sections at a time, so it took us a full year to get through the entire book, but it was so much fun to learn things that we didn’t know about each other! 

Now, we’ve moved on to a new book, 101 Quizzes for Couples. I believe that taking some time to continue dating each other and connecting on a deeper level has really made our relationship stronger. 

Plus, you can save all the quizzes or books that are filled out. That will make such a cute momento when you get older and share them with your children, which is very sweet!

5. Camp Under the Stars (Even if it’s in the Backyard)

Depending on where you live, you may only be able to do this during certain times of the year, like Summertime. 

There is just something about being outdoors that brings a sense of peace. Plus, who doesn’t love a campfire and some s’mores? 

Taking time to unwind and having a night to yourselves can do wonders for your relationship!

Getting a tent setup and a fire going both require teamwork. You also get a chance to disconnect, eat some good food, and enjoy each other’s company without any of your normal distractions. 

I highly recommend the Ozark Trail 6-Person Instant Cabin Tent because it gives you enough room to stand up and move around, and have your kids in there also. You can also take the rain cover off and look up at the stars all night long through the screen roof.

You don’t need to go to the campground for this either! You can save money on a campsite, by just setting it up in your backyard. This way, you can have an amazing night together while still having access to the luxuries of home. Plus, you will have so much less packing to do, since everything is just a few steps away inside! 

6. Volunteer Together

Giving back feels great, but it feels even better when you are doing it with the one you love. 

Find a cause or charity that you both are passionate about and dedicate a few hours for your date night. You will love spending time together and helping others at the same time. 

John and I are huge animal lovers, so we like to volunteer at local animal shelters. We get to spend time together playing with dogs and taking them for walks. What could be better than that?!

Not only do we have a blast together, but we feel good knowing that we are helping the animals socialize and get exercise.  

It doesn’t only have to be volunteering at animal shelters though! There are so many causes, charities, and organizations that rely on volunteers, and any of them would make for a great date night. 

Feed the hungry, build homes for the homeless, help provide safe activities for children, the possibilities are endless. Just pick one, give back, and spend time together. 

7. Exercise

As someone who hates exercise, I have to say, this date is actually so much better than it sounds. 

There is something so motivating and subtly sexy about working out together. 

Not only do you get to push each other to be better, but you are getting an adrenaline rush and saving money at the same time. 

A lot of the time you can work out right at home outside, so you don’t even need a gym membership!

Believe me, there is no better feeling than achieving a new personal best with your best friend and biggest cheerleader by your side. Often times, John is the only reason I keep going when I want to quit! 

8. Get Nostalgic

This one is so much fun! You get to relive your glory days together and reminisce about all of the great things from your childhood.

Recreate your first date, look at your old yearbooks together, or even watch one of your favorite movies or TV shows from when you were younger. Do things to stir up memories and learn more about each other’s past. 

You might even come across of few surprises. I learned John’s never seen The Goonies before!

Best of all, you can usually do this for free, from the comfort of your own home! 

9. Watch for Deals

Groupon is a treasure trove of discounted activities that you and your partner can do together. 

Scroll through the deals every now and then and see if there is something that sounds fun or appealing to you. Whether it’s bowling, a cooking class, comedy tickets, or more local experiences (in WNY it’s usually winery/brewery tours and boat rides around Niagara Falls), there is something for everyone.

Often times, you can find deals for things that you might never tried otherwise, and those turn out to be some of the best dates. 

Spending a little one-on-one time during date night is important to any relationship. It gives you a chance to connect on a deeper level, have fun, and simply enjoy each other’s company. But it can get pricey! 

By getting a little creative, you can have an amazing date night on a budget. You don’t have to worry about your wallet, you simply need to spend some quality time together. 

Next time you’re planning date night, try some of these! I’d love to hear how it goes and if you have other budget-friendly date ideas!

The post 7+ Killer Ideas for a Budget-Friendly Date Night appeared first on Simple Socialite.

What’s the key to engaging content? How can I keep people coming back for more?

These are questions that I hear all of the time, so when I had the opportunity to go to Facebook Community Boost and speak directly Facebook’s creative team, I jumped at the opportunity to ask the questions that you want answers to!

I asked about everything from increasing sales with social media to the latest ad trends and best practices. I totally geeked out! I walked away with so many nuggets of wisdom, but one theme that kept coming up over and over again, was the importance creative visuals. 

Everything starts and ends with eye-catching, visually appealing, and interesting content. 

We’re living in a world where we have less than 2 seconds to catch someone’s attention and most of the time, the visual is the only thing that stands out. The problem is, making those visuals takes time. 

Luckily, Facebook recommended 10 best photo & video apps to make better content, quicker and easier!

Before you get frustrated or spend hours trying to make a good photo or video, make sure you check out these apps to see if they can save you some time (or money). 

After all, you have better things you can be doing than editing a photo for the 1,000th time!

Best Photo Enhancing Apps

1. Adobe Photoshop Express

It’s Photoshop on your phone and at your fingertips! 

This is a very powerful app, especially, if you take a lot of photos on your phone. The app boasts being a fast, easy, and fun way to touch your way to better looking pictures, and best of all it’s FREE!

It is jam-packed with features and is a great way to edit on the go. It’s the perfect for those who aren’t as well-versed in the full Adobe Photoshop program and don’t have time to learn an entire new program.

Features Include:

• Over 60 Unique Looks (like filters)
• Image Corrections
• Dehazing (removing fog and haze from the atmosphere)
• Luminance Noise Reduction (brighten and sharpen dark, grainy photos)
• Text Styles (to make memes)
• Perspective Correction (straighten crooked images)
• Apply Blur 
• Connection to Creative Cloud (save and continue edits in other connected Adobe Photoshop apps)
• Collages

It is available on the App Store, Google Play, and the Windows Store.

2. Adobe Spark Post

A quick and easy way to make eye-catching graphics and images, all in the palm of your hand!

It’s from Adobe, so you know it has to be good. This app promises to create stunning graphics, in seconds. It is full of time saving features and is the perfect for those who aren’t the best with design and don’t have time to create templates from scratch.

Features Include:

• Professionally Designed Templates
• Themes for a Consistent Look
• Magic Text (applies typography automatically as you resize text to make it pop)
• Automatic Resize (instantly adjust size for each social platform)
• Text Effects (apply shadows, outlines, and cut-out effects)
• Animated Video Posts (one tap animations)
• Hand-Picked Designer Fonts & Shapes
• Auto Recolor (change color palette with one tap)  
• Text Cut-Outs (reveal background image through text)
• Free Premium Stock Photos
• Connection to Creative Cloud (save and continue edits in other connected Adobe apps)

It comes in both a free and premium version, and is available on the App Store and Google Play.

3. PicLab

This is another one to make eye-catching visuals, quickly and easily. 

This app aims to make editing photos fun and effortless. It’s stocked with easy-to-use features that can take your images to new heights.

If I’m being honest, this isn’t my favorite app out of the bunch, but it still gets the job done. It doesn’t have as many features as some of the other apps and it prompts a lot of in-app purchases, which I am never a fan of with free apps.

Features Include:

• Image Overlays and Masks (shapes, borders, textures, light-leaks, & more)
• Stickers and Artwork
• More Than 20 Photo Filters
• Designer Fonts & Typography
• Text Effects (adjust opacity, drop-shadows, and layers)
• Photo Effects (adjust brightness, saturation, contrast, blur, and exposure)
• Drawing Tool (scribble right on your photos)
• Collage Tool 
• Cropping Tool (preset and custom cropping ratios)

It is available on the App Store, Google Play, and the Windows Store.

4. Plotaverse

Facebook recommends this as a simple way to animate still photos or turn videos into GIFS.

Plotaverse claims to be the #1 Motion Art App that allows you to easily animate images and add video overlays in minutes. It is a premium app, that requires a membership ($4.99 monthly or $35.99 annually).

Full disclosure: I do not use this app, therefore, I do not recommend it. My promise to you is that I will not recommend something that I, myself, don’t use or test out first.

Part of the reason that I don’t use or recommend this app is because of the ongoing membership cost. I’ve looked into this app quite a bit, and I just don’t think it packs enough value for the ongoing cost. 

I’ve also looked at a lot of content made on Plotaverse (it’s website is a giant gallery), and the animations just look a little too fake to me. For the cost of this app, I would expect a high quality final product and this just falls a bit short. 

Facebook must see something in this app though since it recommends it!

Features Include:

• FX Overlays (video overlays)
• Animation and Selection Tool
• Instant Playback
• Image Adjustments (brightness, contrast, hue, saturation)
• Magnifier and Pinch Zoom
• Crop Presets
• Social Sharing Presets
• Save to Camera Roll
• GIF, MP4, and Animated PNG Exports
• Apple Pencil Pressure Sensitivity
• Real-Time Animation Speed Control

It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

5. Ripl

This is a great app that can give you professional looking content in a matter of minutes! 

You can quickly and conveniently layer animations on top of photos to make eye-catching videos and slideshows–no editing or design experience required.

It is full of templates, connects to social media so you can schedule content out, and it offers analytics to see which video is working the best. It has both a free and premium version, so you can test it out thoroughly before spending any money on it. 

This is a great app that’s very easy to use. If you have the Adobe Creative Cloud, you can make the same type of content without buying another app, but if you don’t want to learn another program, Ripl is a great option. 

Features Include:

• 250+ Customizable Design Templates (collages, banners, slideshows, etc)
• Animated Post Recommendations Customized For You
• Hundreds of Font and Music Choices
• Desktop and Mobile Compatibility
• Email and Social Media Integration (one-tap sharing and scheduling)
• Export Saving (save files outside of the app to use elsewhere)
• Real-Time Analytics

It is available on the App Store, Google Play, and Desktop.

Best Video Enhancing Apps

6. Videoshop

A simple and easy way to take your videos to the next level! 

This app boasts being a simple video editor, with fast editing tools so that anyone can have customized videos. It not only lets you combine photos and videos, but it also lets you resize videos and experiment with stop motion. 

This is another paid app with membership fees ($3.99 monthly, $23.99 annually). I’ve tested it out and it is a good option, especially for beginners, but I no longer use it. 

If you have the Adobe Creative Cloud, you can accomplish everything that this app does, without having to pay another membership fee. 

Features Include:

• Trim (cut unwanted footage, split into multiple clips)
• Music and sound Effects
• Slow and Fast Motion
• Adjust Display (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.)
• Merger (combine clips into one)
• Text Overlay
• Voice Over (record your voice over video)
• Animated Titles
• Filters and Transitions
• Stop Motion
• Resize
• Reverse (play videos in reverse)
• Copy and Undo
• Tilt Shift and Rotate
• Social Compatibility (one-tap sharing)

It is available on the App Store, Google Play, and the Windows Store.

8. Quik

This is probably the best video editing app in the whole bunch!

It’s simple to use, and it’s made by GoPro (to edit GoPro footage), so you know it’s going to be good. The app claims that video editing has never been so fast or fun. It takes just a few taps to create a powerful, professional looking video. 

The best part is, it’s free and you don’t have to have a GoPro to use it. It is compatible with videos shot on GoPro models, phones, and other devices. 

Features Include: 

• Video Analysis to Select Best Footage (detects faces + colors to frame perfectly)
• HiLights (tag the best footage)
• Upload Your Own Photos and Video Clips
• Works with Motion Photos
• 23 Themes Designed for Any Occasion (includes transitions and graphics)
• Customize Themes to Fit Your Style (font, filters, and graphics)
• Slow and Fast Motion
• Smart Cuts (Quik will magically cut footage for you)
• Text Overlays, Title Slides, and Stickers
• Smart Audio (automatically turns on audio when voices are detected)
• Custom Formatting (cinema, square, or portrait formats for easy social sharing)
• More than 100 free songs (or upload your own)
• Sound Sync (automatically sync transitions to beat of the music) 
• Save Videos in HD (1080p or 720p)
• Easy Social Sharing
• Save Drafts for 7 Days (get more time to work on projects by saving as drafts)

It is available on the App Store, Google Play, and Desktop.

8. Instagram Stories

This one isn’t actually a stand alone app, it’s part of the Instagram app.

Facebook owns Instagram, and it is really pushing stories on both platforms as “the next best thing”, so it makes sense that they would recommend using Instagram Stories to create awesome content. 

Stories are a fun way to elevate your content with text, drawings, stickers, and more. It can be a little less polished because Stories only live for 24 hours, unless you add them into your highlights. 

Features Include:

• Stories Archive (so you never have to save it to your phone)
• Stories Highlights (save stories to your profile, even after it’s disappeared)
• Stickers (location, hashtag, mentions)
• Engagement (polls and questions)
• Text Overlays
• Drawing Tool (scribble on your photos/videos)

Instagram is available on the App Store and Google Play. 

9. Boomerang

This is another fun one from Instagram. Even though you can make a Boomerang within the Instagram app, it actually has its own stand alone app too!

Boomerang lets you easily create mini videos that loop back and forth. All you need is your phone and something that is moving. The app does the rest!

Because you can make this same type of content right on the Instagram app, I don’t think you necessarily need to download the Boomerang app, unless you want to use your Boomerangs elsewhere.

Features Include: 

• Uses Front and Back Facing Camera
• No Sign Up or Account Required (start using immediately)
• Create Video with Only One Button 
• Easy Social Sharing (share directly to Facebook or Instagram with one tap)

It is available on the App Store and Google Play.

10. Legend

Combine typography and video with this simple app. 

Legend animates text to create stunning videos and GIFs . All of the text animations were handcrafted by professional motion designers and combine hundreds of typography, animations, backgrounds, and colors. 

I love how easy to use this app is, but I don’t like that it only works on iOS.

I’m always a bit weary of apps that are exclusive to one operating system. It makes me question whether or not the developers are skilled enough to build a functioning app for both iOS and Android, or if they just didn’t care enough to put in the extra work to get it on both operating systems. 

Whatever the case, I wonder if the app will be updated regularly and if bugs will be worked out in a timely fashion.

Features Include: 

• Add, Crop, and Trim Photo/Video Backgrounds
• Background Images by Flickr
• Save Videos and GIFs to Photo Library
• Easy Social Sharing
• Send Autoplaying Messages
• Custom Animation Triggers (time, distance, percentage, etc)
• Highlights Hashtags and Usernames
• Animates Numbers and Displays Emojis

It is available on the App Store.

Standing out on social media is hard. Not only is it time consuming, but it can also be expensive and frustrating if you struggle with design. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be!

The key is to create interesting and eye-catching content.  By using any of the 10 best photo and video apps that Facebook recommends, you can create professional looking content in a matter of minutes.

The best part is, you don’t even have to be good with design because most of the apps have professionally made templates that you can customize! 

The more time (and money) you can save making awesome content, the more time you will have to do things that you want!

Next time you need to make some social media content, give these photo and video apps a try and let me know how it goes. 

Believe me, your Instagram will thank you!

The post 10 Best Photo & Video Apps for Great Content (According to Facebook) appeared first on Simple Socialite.

Do you ever find yourself in a funk that you just can’t get out of? Not making progress as quickly as you wanted? Doubting you have what it takes?

You might be stuck in the messy, ugly, and harsh reality that is the comparison trap. And it sucks! But believe me, you’re not alone. I’ve been there more times that I’d like to admit. 

After I graduated college, I struggled (and I mean struggled) to get hired anywhere. For two whole years, I spent almost everyday applying to jobs and trying to connect with people who worked in marketing. In theory, that sounds like a good idea, but all it did was make me feel bad that those people were able to get hired somewhere and I couldn’t.

The same thing happened again, when I signed up for a 5k with my friends just as I was starting to exercise again. The entire time it was really hard, it hurt, and I was really slow. But my friends seemed to just breeze through it because they had been working at it much longer than me. 

The end result is always the same. Feeling bad about yourself, doubting yourself, punishing yourself. 

The thing about the comparison trap is that it always disguises itself as failure. And the truth is, it’s not. Not even close.

What Is The Comparison Trap?

The comparison trap is an ugly little monster. It shows up when you’re starting to make progress on something and it holds you back or stalls you. 

It happens when you enter what Ruth Soukup likes to call “the messy middle.” That’s when things stop being new & exciting, or they become boring or hard. It also happens almost every time you scroll on social media and see your friends enjoying lavish dinners and vacations.

You stop focusing on yourself and you start to pay more attention to other people. Specifically, what they have or what they are doing. And then you compare yourself to them. 

This is almost never a good thing. That’s why it’s called a trap!

When you fall into the comparison trap, you typically start to get down or feel bad about yourself. You might doubt yourself and question why you are doing something if you will never compare to that other person. 

Nancy from down the street might have more money or be in better shape. But the truth is, she’s probably been working at it much longer than you, so she should be better and have more!

Or maybe she’s really struggling financially and her health isn’t the best, but she is really good at keeping up appearances. 

The truth is, we never know what journey someone else is on or what they had to endure to get to where they are now. 

Nancy might have had to sacrifice valuable time with her family so she could work late and earn extra money. Or maybe it took her a whole year to be able to run one mile because she was injured.

The comparison trap completely ignores all of the struggles, sacrifices, and hard work that it takes to get to where you want to be. It tells us that we should be further along even though we haven’t put in all of the effort. Or that we aren’t good enough just because we aren’t caught up to where someone else is yet. 

But guess what, you should not be able to run as long, hard, and fast on day 1, that Nancy can run on day 528. 

Everyone starts somewhere, but not everyone starts at the same time. 

Jon Acuff once said, “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.” In other words, don’t fall into the comparison trap! 

How To Avoid The Comparison Trap

Once you know what the comparison trap is and what it looks like, you can take a few simple steps to make sure you avoid it (or at least don’t stay stuck in it too long).

1. Flip Your Perspective

Instead of comparing yourself to someone else, try to view the situation as a proof of concept instead. Say to yourself, “If they can do it, than I can too!”

Seeing someone else be successful doesn’t have to (and shouldn’t) make you feel badly about yourself. It should motivate and inspire you. It should energize and excite you. It should show you that you can do anything you set your mind to! 

That simple switch in mindset can stop the comparison trap in its tracks! 

By looking at success stories from a different point of view and focusing on the possibilities, you can actually use it to your advantage. 

2. Change your social media feed

Social media is the place where people show off the best parts of their lives, but hardly ever share the realities of hard work, struggle, and boring everyday life. 

If you find yourself getting sucked in to all of the lush vacations and lavish meals, and wondering why your life can’t be like that, then it might be time to switch up your social media feed. 

Unfollow (or unfriend) the people who make you feel bad. Snooze (or completely leave) groups that trigger the comparison trap. Change your ad preferences in the settings so you don’t see content that will make you question yourself. 

Your feed is yours. You shouldn’t follow someone just because you are friends in real life. If it doesn’t build you up, make you laugh, teach you something, or if it’s just generally not positive, get rid of it! 

Social media can be a very fulfilling and helpful space if we use it wisely, so don’t be afraid to change it if it’s not working for you. 

3. Practice self-care

This is a big one! Take care of yourself – both your mind and your body. While this is always good advice, it is especially helpful if you are struggling with comparing yourself to others. 

Start prioritizing yourself over everyone and everything else (including your family). This might be hard, but if you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. 

If you need a break, take it, and don’t punish yourself for it. Just accept that this is a time where you need to slow down and breathe, and that it’s okay.

Whether they admit it or not, everyone needs to slow down and take care of themselves. If the comparison trap has a hold on you, take some time to practice a little bit of self-care.

Go for a run. Take a bubble bath. Get a massage. Watch a movie. Have some drinks with your girlfriends. Dance to your favorite song. 

Just give yourself whatever it is that you need. Nothing is worth your health or peace of mind.

4. Own Your Journey

If there is one thing that will kick the comparison trap to the curb, it’s accepting who you are, where you’re at, and why you are doing what you’re doing. In other words, own your own journey. 

Stop focusing on other people and quit looking at where you are not. Start focusing on yourself and look at how far you’ve come and how you feel about the things you’ve accomplished. 

Realize that you are unique and there is no one else like you. No one else has been through what you have. No one else knows what you know. And no one else can walk the journey that you are walking.

When you accept where your at and stay true to the reason you are pursuing goals in the first place, you will start to realize that it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing. You will grow to learn that you can’t ever compare to others because we are all different, and therefore, you can’t fall into the comparison trap. 

5. Reward Yourself For Your Accomplishments

The thing about the comparison trap is that it robs of all of the joy, excitement, pride that goes along with your success. 

No matter what, someone will always be further along than you (we are all on different journeys after all). But that doesn’t mean that your accomplishments are less than or are unworthy. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Your accomplishments are awesome and should be celebrated! 

Reward yourself for making progress. 

Ran a full mile without having to stop and walk? Finished that big project you’ve been working on all week? Hit your savings goal, or anything other goal for that matter? Awesome! Let’s celebrate it! 

Give yourself some sort of reward for accomplishing even the smallest of successes. Don’t save the rewards for only the big accomplishments. Every goal is met by taking small steps, so rewarding yourself along the way will only encourage you to keep going. 

I would try to make the reward match the accomplishment though. Taking a lavish vacation because you accomplished one small, albeit difficult, task isn’t necessarily the best idea. You will want an even bigger reward when you achieve one of your large goals, and if you are taking vacations for smaller tasks, it might not feel like a reward anymore. Save the big rewards for the big accomplishments. 

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what other people are doing (or how you measure up to them) if you feel good and are striving for your next prize (and goal).

When it comes to the comparison trap, it is easy to get stuck in a never-ending loop of failure and self-pity. You start to be consumed with what other people are doing and compare how you (seemingly never) measure up. 

But just because it’s a trap, doesn’t mean we have to get stuck in it. Once we recognize the signs and realize that everyone’s journey is different, we can take the steps to avoid the comparison trap. 

A few simple things like flipping your perspective, changing your social media feed, practicing self-care, owning your journey, and rewarding yourself for your accomplishments can make a world of difference. 

If you ever find yourself stuck in the comparison trap, give these few tips a try. And if you’ve been through it yourself, please share the tips you’ve used to overcome it. Together we can beat the comparison trap!

The post 5 Simple Ways to Avoid the Comparison Trap appeared first on Simple Socialite.

Roughly $15 billion dollars are spent on Facebook ads every quarter and nearly 2 billion people see ads on Facebook every single day. With numbers like that, it is no surprise that businesses are flocking to the social network for their advertising needs. 

While Facebook is pretty simple to navigate on its own, the ad platform is anything but. There’s so many places to click, different levels within the ad accounts, and the whole thing just looks overwhelming and complicated. 

Trust me, I get it! The good news is, once you know what you’re doing and where to look for things within the ad platform, Facebook ads get a whole lot easier!

And because the people at Facebook are so awesome, they offer Facebook Blueprint, which is a FREE way for anyone to learn Facebook ads. All you need is a Facebook profile! 

What Is Facebook Blueprint?

Blueprint is Facebook’s online learning platform. It contains short lessons and a variety of courses so that you can focus only on what you need. 

Its covers everything from how to make an ad, understanding the ad policies, and targeting your audience to more advanced strategies like mastering pixel analytics and optimized ad buying. There is literally something for everyone at every level! 

Facebook Blueprint is completely self-paced and is designed for you to only do the lessons that you need. You are not supposed to do them all (unless you are opting for the certification), so there is no way that you can ever fall behind.

But speaking of that certification, Facebook does offer a Blueprint certification, but most people don’t need to do this. This is designed primarily for digital agencies and professional marketers, but even most of them don’t have the certification either! 

Think of Blueprint as a resource. If you get stuck on something or have some extra time and want to learn a little more, then dive in. But if you’re pressed for time, no worries! It will be there whenever you get back to it.  

Why Is Facebook Blueprint The Best Way To Learn Facebook Ads?

1. It’s free. It will not cost you a dime (unless you want to go for the certification).

2. It’s accurate and updated frequently – it comes from straight from Facebook after all!

I can’t say enough about these top two reasons! These two things alone make Facebook Blueprint stand out against other Facebook ad courses.

3. It’s very convenient and you can do it on the go! You can fly through a single lesson in about 5 minutes and you can access all of the courses from any of your devices.

4. It lets you focus only on what you need. You can jump around and do only the courses that fit your situation and progress. You don’t have to complete one course before moving on to the next.

5. It provides personalized support, transparency with the updates, and certification options to help you troubleshoot and further your skill set.

Getting Started With Facebook Blueprint

If you need to learn about Facebook ads, or just have a quick question about Ads Manager, the algorithm, or targeting your audience, then Blueprint is a pretty awesome free tool. 

Getting started is super simple also! Just make sure you are logged into your Facebook accounts (which you most likely are anyway) and visit https://www.facebook.com/business/learn. From there, you will be able to start your first lesson or browse all of the Blueprint courses. 

With roughly 2 billion people exposed to Facebook ads on a daily basis, the opportunity for growth is huge! But Facebook ads can be very tricky, especially if you are just starting out.

Facebook Blueprint is not only free, and self-paced, but it is also completely accurate and updated frequently so it never goes out of date when something changes. Thanks, Facebook!

Because there are so many benefits of using it, Blueprint is the best place to learn Facebook ads, especially if you are just getting started!

The post The Best Way To Learn Facebook Ads For FREE appeared first on Simple Socialite.

You know social media is important, but you also know that it’s time-consuming and it drives you crazy!

It’s hard to keep up with and to always make new content, especially if you’re posting every single day (or multiple times a day) on Facebook and Instagram.

At the same time, you know social media is an awesome tool that can help your business grow. So then you’re left wondering, how often should a business post on social media?

But let me tell you a little secret. You don’t actually have to post every single day to have a successful social media strategy.

Let me say it again for the people in the back. You don’t actually have to post every single day to have a successful social media strategy. 

What’s More Important on Social Media: Quality or Quantity?

For a while now, there’s been an ongoing debate about quality versus quantity when it comes to your content on social media. Is it better for a business to have a lot of content and post all of the time, or is it better to post solid, knockout content much less often? 

The answer to that question is that it depends on the platform that you are using. 

Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social media platform, so a business should post a little bit more often on there. But when it comes to Facebook or Instagram, it’s okay if you pull back a little bit!

When social media first came out (& even up to  just a few years ago), it was all still brand new, so the algorithms really favored the quantity of posts that people were putting out. They just wanted content on their site, so the more the merrier!  

Back then, the more often a business (or anyone) posted content to Facebook and Instagram, the more likely it was that a lot of people would see that content. 

Now that it’s been around for a little while, we have had the chance to see how social media actually works and how people consume content. Because of that, Facebook has changed the algorithm a few times so that its platforms better align with how people are actually using them.

• It is very, very hard for anyone to post good content 365 days a year!
  • Even professional sports teams & big brands don’t have enough good stories to tell every single day. It just doesn’t happen.
• People are more protective of their newsfeed than ever before!
  • Consumers are aware that businesses post on social media often, and they don’t want their newsfeeds to be taken over by posts from a business they follow
• By focusing on quantity instead of quality, you can actually lose customers
  • Just because a business posts something, doesn’t mean the audience actually wants to see it, especially if it doesn’t provide any value. Don’t annoy your audience because you are posting just to post.

How Often Should A Business Post on Social Media?

The way it works now is that the algorithm favors quality content over quantity of content. That just means that it is better to have a few solid posts that get a lot of engagement than a lot of just okay posts that don’t do as well.

Facebook owns Instagram, so they actually share the same algorithm and ad platform policies. If the Facebook algorithm favors quality over quantity, then so does Instagram!

It’s much better to have 4 posts with 100 likes and 27 comments, than it is to have 17 posts with only 2 likes each and no comments. 

The algorithm is based on our interests and targeting, but it also factors in how people are interacting with the content we put out.

If it consistently sees that a business is posting content that people don’t engage with (they don’t like it, comment on it, or share it) then the algorithm is going to show that content to less and less people, because it thinks people don’t like what you’re putting out.

But if a business was able to put out a post that got 100 likes and 27 comments every single time, but they only posted twice a week, then algorithm would see that people love that content, so it would show it to more people. 

It is going to vary on how often each business should post on a social media and that is because each business and industry is different. A good rule of thumb is to post at least 2-3 times per week, minimum. That way, your feed will be updated frequently and you will have more time to focus on making quality content over sheer quantity.

Why Should A Business Post Less on Social Media?

Focusing on quality over quantity is good for so many reasons!

• You can spend less time on social media because your business doesn’t have to post every single day
• Your audience (and users on Facebook) have a better experience because they enjoy better content from your business
• New people and other potential customers get a better first impression when they stumble on your content
• Facebook & Instagram shows more people your content for free
• Your content reflects your business and brand better because it is more aligned with your audience
• Your business can get a reputation for producing a high quality of work and potential customers may perceive your products to be higher quality as well

A few years ago, when social media was still new, everyone focused on putting out a lot content, as often as possible. It was all about quantity and posting as much as you possibly could. 

But now that things have changed, the algorithms really favor quality of content over the quantity of content. That means that a business should post better content, less often, on social media! 

Gone are the days of posting every single day (or multiple times a day) and endlessly spinning your wheels to try to make this social media thing work. But you can still use this awesome tool to grow your business!

The best part is that you can actually save time and work less on social media, while seeing even better results than before! Win-win.

The post Quality or Quantity: What’s Better on Social Media? appeared first on Simple Socialite.

When the weather cools down, it’s time to break out the slow cooker! There is just nothing like coming in from the cold and having a nice, hot meal ready to go at your fingertips.

Where I live in Western New York, we get absolutely buried in snow for months on end. After clearing off my car and shoveling for the hundredth time, nothing makes my heart happier than a nice hot bowl of turkey chili made in the slow cooker.  

It warms the soul from the inside out. This hearty turkey chili is filled with wholesome veggies, rich seasoning, and protein-packed beans.

The best part is, it’s really easy to make and the slow cooker does most of the work for you!

One batch feeds the whole family and then some. It’s freezer-friendly, so you can save the leftovers for a rainy day, which makes it perfect for a busy week!

How To Make My Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Recipe

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Ingredients:

• 2 lbs of ground turkey
• 28 oz (2 cans) of diced tomatoes
• 8 oz of tomato sauce
• 1 can of dark red kidney beans
• 1 can of light red kidney beans
• 1 bell pepper
• 1 large onion
• 3 tbsp of chili powder
• 2 tsp of Adobo seasoning
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp of minced garlic
• Hot sauce to taste (I usually start with ¼ cup and add more if needed)

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Directions:

1. START OFF BY COOKING AND DRAINING THE TURKEY.

I know, I know. The slow cooker is supposed to do the cooking for you. And it can, but putting ground beef or turkey in the slow cooker without cooking it first causes all of the grease that would normally be drained to get mixed into your meal.

At this point, you can add additional seasoning to the meat, but I highly recommend buying pre-seasoned Festive Italian Style Ground Turkey because it’s packed with flavor and lets you skip a step!

 2. PUT THE TURKEY AND THE CANNED GOODS IN THE SLOW COOKER.

This is one of the easiest parts of making chili. As long as you have a good can-opener, you can pretty much just open the cans and dump them in.

Just make sure to rinse off the dark and light red kidney beans before adding them in. You don’t want to put all of the juice and oil they come in, into your slow cooker turkey chili.

3. CHOP UP THE PEPPER AND ONION, AND TOSS THEM IN THE SLOW COOKER.

I normally opt for green bell pepper, but I will also use red, yellow, or orange if I already have it in the fridge. No sense buying another pepper if you already have one that  is going to do the job just as well.

 4. SPRINKLE IN THE SEASONING.

This is where all of the flavor comes in!

Don’t be afraid to be generous with the hot sauce (unless you really don’t like spicy foods). A lot of it will mellow out as it cooks down.

 5. MIX IT ALL UP, THEN SET IT AND FORGET IT.

Once everything is in the slow cooker, stir it very well until it’s fully mixed. Then simply put the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours.

TIP: To save time on a busy morning, make the turkey and put everything together in the slow cooker the night before, then refrigerate overnight. That way, you can just turn it on before you leave and you don’t have to worry about it!

This Wifi-enabled slow-cooker from Black + Decker is also a game-changer because you can start, stop, and adjust the slow cooker right from your phone, wherever you are!

 6. SERVE AND ENJOY!

That’s all. It’s really that easy!

For a little extra splash of flavor, I sometimes like to top it off with shredded cheese and oyster crackers, but it’s great on its own too!

Simply cook and drain the turkey, toss all of the canned goods and veggies to the slow cooker, add in some spices and stir. The slow cooker does all of the rest.

Try this easy slow cooker turkey chili recipe on cold and busy winter day and let me know how you liked it!

Print

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 hours hours

Total Time 6 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Ground Turkey
• 28 oz Diced Tomotoes
• 8 oz Tomato Sauce
• 1 can Dark Red Kidney Beans rinsed & drained
• 1 can Light Red Kidney Beans rinsed & drained
• 1 Bell Pepper chopped or diced
• 1 Large Onion chopped or diced
• 3 tbsp Chili Powder
• 2 tsp Adobo Seasoning or garlic powder
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
• Hot Sauce to taste

Instructions

• Cook and drain the ground turkey
• Put cooked turkey, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, pepper, onion, and seasonings in the slow cooker
• Stir until everything is fully mixed
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours in the slow cooker

The post The Best Slow Cooker Turkey Chili appeared first on Simple Socialite.

Sick of paying all of your bills and barely having enough money left over for yourself? Yeah, me too!

What if instead of paying all of our bills first, we paid ourselves first and saved more money?

It’s a crazy idea that Mike Michalowicz came up with to help his business become more profitable. If we take those same ideas and apply them to our personal finances, it can completely change the game!

What is Profit First?

The long and short of it is that profit first means setting aside a designated amount to pay yourself (or save) before paying any bills.

Normally profit is calculated Income – Expenses = Profit. Typically, we follow that pretty much to a T. We pay all of our bills first and then whatever is left over is ours to keep; it’s our “profit”.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can flip the equation on its head and say Income – Profit = Expenses. Mathematically, it works out the same, but it’s a completely different mindset. We are putting ourselves first and setting aside what we need to reach our goals, then building a budget around that, instead of the other way around.

How To Save More Money With Profit First?

By paying yourself first you are taking control of your finances. You are deciding how much to save and what you’re going to use that money for, before you ever pay any bills.

Too often, we let our expenses take control of our lives and that leads to things like debt and hardship.

I started doing something similar to this, very young, before I ever knew what Profit First was. I began saving for my retirement at about 21, even when it felt like I couldn’t afford to. If I’m being honest, I did that because I absolutely refuse to work my life away.

Funny thing is, it ended up turning my entire financial situation around and now I’m in a pretty comfortable spot because of it.

Saving 20% of your income is a pretty common piece of financial advice (I can’t tell you how many lectures I got about this growing up), but if that number doesn’t work for you, feel free to change it.

The simple act of paying your bills last will help you know how much you have to work with to live within your means, and help you build wealth at the same time.

Gone will be the days of having too many bills and not enough income! You will finally be able to afford to save for your retirement!

By flipping the equation around and saving more money for yourself first, you are taking control of your financial situation. You are putting yourself, and your family’s needs, above everything else that life throws at you. And you are setting yourself up with a security net, should you need it.

You will be surprised how quickly that money adds up once you start putting your profit (savings) first. Eventually, it will get to the point where you don’t even think about it.

It will become routine, and then all of the sudden you will be able to pay down some debt, take more vacations, and you will be much more comfortable with your financial situation!

How To Implement Profit First And Save More Money?

I’m going to warn you. It might be a little bit difficult at first, especially, if you already have a significant amount of bills or debt that you’re trying to pay. But fear not; it can be done!

The first step should be to figure out what your goals are and how much you need to save (each month, each year, each paycheck, etc.) to achieve them.

For example, if your goal is to retire at a certain age (mine is 45), then perhaps you should save $500-$600 a month in a designated retirement account with tax benefits.

Don’t be afraid to set big goals because you can always break them down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Just make sure you add in a buffer to factor in recreational spending, because that’s important too and I would never want you to give up going out entirely!

The next step is to take inventory of your expenses. How many bills do you have? How much are they? Does your current income cover all of your bills?

Once you know how much money is going out, compared to what is coming in, you can look for ways to cut unnecessary expenses and reduce the others. Do you really need to pay for Netflix, Hulu, and cable, or can one of them go?

Really take stock in what you value and what you need. Try to reduce or cut things that don’t fall in line with that. Odds are, you probably aren’t using it that much anyway.

Unless it’s insurance. Please keep your insurance! Believe me, it’s so much better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.

Once you do all that, it is smooth sailing until your next pay day. You simply set aside your “profit” amount into your desired accounts and use the rest of the budget you built.

From there, you can then pay your bills and if there is anything left over, that’s even better!

Putting yourself first is not selfish, and neither is paying yourself first!

Mike Michalowicz’s  concept of Profit First, where you set aside a portion of your income for yourself, or your profit, before paying any expenses puts you in charge of your own finances. By figuring out how much you need to save each month in order to achieve your financial goals, taking inventory of what expenses you have, and looking for ways you can reduce, you are able to build a better budget and plan.

Remember, Income – Profit = Expenses. Set aside money for yourself first, then build your budget and pay expenses from the remaining amount.

It’s fairly easy to do, and if I’m being honest, it takes a lot of stress out of looking at your bank account. Plus, it’s very easily to tell what you can and can’t afford.

I mean hey, if it can work for businesses and people like Mike Michalowicz, it can work for you too!

The post How Being Selfish Can Change Your Finances appeared first on Simple Socialite.

(Psst) I have to let you in on a little secret. How many followers you have on social media doesn’t really matter all that much! There I said it…

Growing the number of followers on platforms like Facebook and Instagram is the one thing almost every business owner I talk to is concerned with. While it’s true that this used to be very important, the truth is, that is one of the last things you should care about when it comes to social media.

That is of course, as long as you have some social media followers and aren’t starting completely from scratch. I’m not saying you don’t need any followers on social media (because you do). I’m just saying, the number of followers isn’t all that important. Your time is better spent focusing on something else and here’s why…

1. People Don’t Like To Follow Brands

Our news feeds are filled more click-bait and ads than ever before, and the amount of spams emails we get on a daily basis is overwhelmingly high. The worst part is, once it all starts, it feels like it’s almost impossible to stop, no matter how many times you unfollow or unsubscribe.

Consumers have taken notice and now they are much more guarded with their online activities. They know once they follow your brand on social media, they are going to hear from you, consistently, and that you are going to be selling to them.

They also realize that the algorithms are going to show them other, similar content because it is something they are “interested” in. That can easily start to take over their feeds, which ruins their social experience (and frankly, annoys them), so they would rather just not follow you.

Sorry if that sounds harsh, but think about it this way. Can you think of 5 brands/businesses (that aren’t your friends or family) that you like to follow? What about 10? If the answer is no, you are just like most people, and that’s perfectly okay!

2. You Can’t Take Likes To The Bank

It’s as simple as that. Even if you have the most likes, comments, shares, and followers in the entire world, you can’t walk into a bank and cash them in. It doesn’t work like that. 

On their face, followers are worth a total of $0. Leads, sign-ups, and sales are where the money is at and that is what you should be focusing on.

Just because someone follows you doesn’t mean they are going to buy your products/services. In fact, most purchasers don’t like, comment, share, or follow the brands they buy. They linger.

Most people are too busy with their normal lives to take time out to engage with a brand regularly. Instead, they poke around, quietly doing research until they are ready to buy. Those are the people you want to focus on, not your social media followers.

3. There Is A More Important Metric

Follower count is nothing more than a vanity metric. It looks nice to outsiders, but it doesn’t give you an accurate idea of how many people are actually seeing your content on a regular basis. That is where Custom Audience’s come into play.

Facebook and Instagram allow you to create Custom Audiences based on people who have engaged with your pages, in a custom time period that you set, up to 365 days. (Personally, I like to set it for at least 7, 30, and 365 days). From there, you will be able to see how many people engaged or took some action (like, comment, share, click, etc) on your page.

When you compare those numbers to the amount of new followers you got in the same period, 9 times out of 10, you will see that the engaged with the page numbers are much, much higher. It all goes back to people not wanting to follow brands and quietly engaging in the background instead.

The real beauty of this metric is that it can also be used to retarget those who have engaged with your content in the past. That means that you can show those people, who already like you at least a little, your high converting sales content in an effort to make money!

As long as you have some social media followers (500+ is a solid number), you probably don’t need to worry too much about gaining even more. That fact of the matter is, gaining followers is hard, and it doesn’t necessarily do much for your business.

People are hesitant to follow brands because they are already annoyed and bombarded with marketing messages; followers do not equal sales because most buyers are quiet lurkers; and there are simply better metrics to measure your success.

At the end of the day, social media followers look nice, but they don’t bring home the bacon!

The post 3 Reasons You Should Ignore Your Social Media Followers appeared first on Simple Socialite.

Approximately $1,036 billion is spent on travel each year in the US according to the US Travel Association. That doesn’t even begin to include how much money is spent by Americans internationally. The moral of the story is, travel is expensive!

Everyone likes to get away (and everyone should!), but sadly not everyone has the resources to do so. Travel is good for both your soul and your health, so it is crucial to carve out whatever time you can to experience the world around you. Of course, that is easier said than done, but the good news is, there are a few things you can do to make travel easier when you’re living on a budget.

How To Travel On A Budget

1. Make Your Credit Cards Work For You

Rewards credit cards are one of the greatest things ever invented. More likely than not, you are going to be spending money anyways, so you might as well be racking up rewards for it. That is, as long as you can trust yourself not to go into debt. Personally, I’m a fan of the cash rewards cards because you get back a percentage of what you spent and you can use it any way you want. That said, there are a bunch of other great cards with benefits like frequent flyer miles, hotel stays, and much more. By putting your everyday purchases on one of these cards (and paying it off each month!) you can build rewards very quickly and you might even be able to travel for free! Just make sure to keep an eye on interest rates, annual fees, and foreign transaction fees.

Here are some of my favorite cards:

• Bank Americard Cash Rewards
• Capital One Venture Card
• Southwest Airlines Card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

2. Be Flexible

Finding the time to travel is never easy. You usually have to get vacation time approved by your boss and then you’re subjected to flight schedules, check -in times, and the like. If you have kids, don’t even get me started on having to work around their schedules as well. But if you find a little room for flexibility in your travel plans, it can pay off big time!

Booking flights with flexible dates is usually a much cheaper option because it helps the airlines fill less popular flights. Less popular flights tend to coincide with a slower time for hotels, as well, and slow means better rates. Traveling on a Tuesday does not cost the same as traveling on a Saturday or Sunday. That said, traveling in September or October is much less expensive than traveling during peak times in February and April. A little flexibility can go a long way when it comes to stretching your wallet.

3. Go Off The Beaten Path

It is no secret that some countries are cheaper than others. Places like Thailand or Peru might not be the most popular travel destinations, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have the trip of a lifetime. The beauty of these places is they come with the added benefit of not busting the bank! There are so many inexpensive places to travel, you just have to research to find what you’re looking for.

No matter what destination you choose, you will want to steer clear of tourist traps. When you’re in a foreign place, it’s easy to fall victim to it and end up spending more than you should. Avoiding high traffic tourist areas and opting for different experiences can really pay off. Simply put, taking the road less traveled will save you some moola and give you a more unique experience!

4. Ask For Discounts

This is one of my favorite ways to save! It’s super simple and requires almost zero work. You might be thinking, “this is too good to be true” and honestly, it could be. The truth is you never know until you ask. They might say no, but even better, they might say yes! That’s even more true if they’re trying to fill flights or rooms at the last minute. You will be surprised how far you can get just by asking. Some of my favorite advice that I’ve ever been given is what’s the harm in asking when the worst they can say is no?

5. Seek Cheaper Accommodations

Aside from flights, lodging is probably the biggest expense when it comes to travel. Let’s face it, hotels aren’t cheap, especially if you’re staying for an extended period of time. That doesn’t mean you can’t find good deals on hotels though. There are plenty of discounted travel sites that can help reduce your costs. Renting from a local, staying in a hostel, camping, or couchsurfing are some other great options for saving some dough. A few of my favorites include: 

• Booking.com
• Airbnb
• Agoda
• Hostelword
• VRBO
• Homeaway.com

6. Go Grocery Shopping

One of my favorite things about traveling is trying all the different foods. There’s just nothing like enjoying some authentic, local cuisine. But eating out all of time gets expensive, especially when you’re traveling and need to buy three meals a day. While I don’t think you should completely give up going out to eat and experiencing amazing restaurants, one simple way you can save money is to go grocery shopping and make some of your own meals as well. As a general rule of thumb, I try to stick to going out for one meal a day when traveling. This way I can enjoy the local cuisine, but also save some money by relying on groceries or free hotel food (depending on where I’m staying) for the rest of my meals.

7. Save On Transportation

There are so many different ways to get around today that it makes no sense to pay more than you need to. Taxis are expensive and they add up quickly. Public transportation is a great way to get around if you can figure out how it works and where you need to get on and off. It’s also a great way to meet the locals and see what they recommend doing while you’re in town.

I come from a rather rural area with no public transportation and I’m terrible with directions, so I usually have no idea what I’m doing or where I’m going to end up. If you’re anything like me, you might want to look into ridesharing options like Uber or Lyft. It is super easy to get a ride and they tend to be less expensive than getting a cab. You can even save money if you sign up with my links! 

Renting a bike or choosing alternative transportation like a rickshaw can also be a great way to get around.

8. Know How To Pack

Packing can make or break your trip. Over-packing leads to extra baggage fees, while under-packing can mean you have to buy clothes or supplies during your travels. Neither of these are ideal. Packing light, but making sure you have all of the necessities to get you through your trip, is essential. I try to get away with only using a carry-on or travel backpack [affiliate link], but sometimes I have to bring a large purse along for extra storage. Packing light usually means you have less room to bring souvenirs or other mementos back. Instead of purchasing little knick-knacks that will ultimately end up collecting dust, you can save money and usually have a much better experience if you focus on making lasting memories over buying things. If you need some tips on how to pack light, Becoming Minimalist has some great advice!

While the amount you pack matters, so does what you pack. You need to make sure you have the appropriate clothing and footwear for the climate you are going to. Nothing stinks more than being under-dressed for the weather. You will want to make sure you are strapped with everything you need so you don’t come across any surprise expenses while you’re traveling. It’s tough, I know. I’m from Western New York, so often I find myself traveling from a winter wonderland to a much warmer climate, and I need to have clothing for both. It certainly makes packing, especially packing light, a bit more challenging, but trust me, you and your wallet will be glad you came prepared from the start.

9. Make Money While You Travel

Perhaps the best way to travel while you’re on a budget is to actually make money in the process. I always advocate starting your own business or having a side hustle, and this is just one of the reasons why. Setting up your own income is great, but it is a lot of work and can take a while to pay off. If you don’t have that kind of time, there are plenty of other options for you. You can actually work while you are traveling, even if you are overseas. Here are just a few options:

• House sit
• Seasonal work (beach or ski resorts)
• Farm work
• Au pair
• Teach English
• Work remotely
• Tend bar or serve

10. Embrace Local & Free Experiences

Experience is everything when it comes to travel. Instead of relying on paid excursions, you should embrace the free and local experiences around you. Free walking tours are a great way to see the city and usually you stumble upon things you would never would have thought of. There is just nothing like experiencing a city the way the locals do.

You don’t want to take your destination for granted. It’s filled with hidden (and not so hidden) gems. Head to the beach, go for hike, see a local landmark, or even swing by a park. There are so many things you can do without spending a dime. Who knows, they might even be some of the best adventures you’ve ever had.

Your time is incredibly valuable. It’s the one thing you can never get more of, so when you decide to step back and take time for yourself it becomes all the more priceless. That doesn’t mean you need to break the bank though. It’s pretty simple to travel on a budget.

Using rewards credit cards, being flexible with your dates, traveling to cheaper destinations, asking for discounts, staying at less expensive accommodations, cooking instead of eating out, saving on transportation, packing light and packing right, earning money, and opting for free experiences are just some ways that you can travel on a budget.

Try them out on your next trip and let me know what your favorite travel tips are!

The post 10 Ways To Travel On A Budget appeared first on Simple Socialite.

Nothing says Summer like fresh veggies, bbq cookouts, and eating outside. There’s just something about warm weather and tasty food that makes you feel good. One of my favorite things to make on a hot summer day or when I’m craving a dose of sunshine in the dead of winter is my easy tri-colored rotini pasta salad recipe.

It’s filled with fresh and crisp veggies, rich blocks of cheese, savory pepperoni, and best of all, it requires very little cooking so your house doesn’t get even hotter than it already is!

In fact, the only cooking this easy tri-colored rotini pasta salad recipe requires is boiling the noodles!

When it’s all said and done, this pasta salad is served cold, and each bite is more refreshing than the last.

How To Make My Easy Tri-Colored Rotini Pasta Salad Recipe

Tri-Colored Rotini Pasta Salad Ingredients:

• 1 box of tri-colored rotini
• 1/2 onion
• 1 1/2 – 2 bell peppers (green, red, orange, yellow)
• 1/2 block of pepper jack cheese
• 1/2 block of colby jack cheese
• 1/2 cup of cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup of pepperoni
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup of cucumber (optional)
• 1/8 cup of banana peppers (optional)
• 1/4 – 1/2 cup of olives (optional)
• 1 bottle of Italian dressing

All of these ingredients can be adjusted to taste. If you think something seems like too much or too little, feel free to modify it to your liking.

Tri-Colored Rotini Pasta Salad Recipe Directions:

1. Whenever I make this dish, I always start out by boiling water with a little bit of salt.

I don’t think the salt is actually necessary, but it’s something my mom always did while I was growing up, so I just carried on the tradition.

2. Once that’s going, just toss in the tri-colored rotini noodles and start chopping the rest of the ingredients.

Just make sure to check on them periodically so you don’t overcook them.

One of my favorite things about this tri-colored rotini pasta salad recipe is how much flavor is packed in one dish!

3. Chop up about a half of an onion and some brightly colored bell pepper.

I like to use red, yellow, orange, and green bell pepper if I have them, but if not, any combination or only one color will do. I usually end up only using two colors because that’s all I seem to keep in the fridge at once, so don’t feel like you need to go out and buy all 4 peppers if you don’t want to.

Once the peppers and onions are chopped up, then move on to the cheese.

4. Cut a half a block of pepper jack cheese and a half a block of colby jack cheese into bite-sized cubes.

If you think that’s too much or not enough cheese, feel free to adjust accordingly. I like cheese, so sometimes I tend to go overboard!

5. Slice cherry tomatoes in half, or in quarters, depending on how big or small you cut the other ingredients.

I typically use about half of the container, which equates to about a half of a cup.

6. Add in about ¼ to ½ cup of pepperoni.

Lately, I’ve been cutting up pre-sliced pepperoni into smaller bites because I’ve noticed the pepperoni seems to stick together in this salad. You can certainly use sliced pepperoni without any further cutting, just know you might get clumps that are all pepperoni.

Another option I’ve been experimenting with is cutting whole pepperoni into bite-sized cubes, just like we do with the cheese. I’ve noticed that it doesn’t seem to stick together in this form, but I almost never have whole sticks of pepperoni in my house, so I tend to stick with just cutting the pre-sliced stuff that I do have.

Variation: Add cucumber, banana peppers, and/or olives.

I love veggies, so I absolutely love adding cucumbers to this easy tri-colored rotini pasta salad recipe. I chop it up into small pieces the same way I do the peppers and onions. I use about ¼ cup of cucumber and I think it adds a little boost of freshness to the pasta salad.

If you like a little bit of zestiness here and there, I would definitely recommend adding some banana peppers to this recipe. Their tanginess stands out and adds another layer to this dish. Just be careful not to over do it. Out of all of the ingredients, this is the one I would add the least amount of because it can quickly over power the whole pasta salad.

You can certainly add in some black olives if you wish. My friends do, and they love it! I personally don’t like olives, and neither does my family, so we opt to keep them out of our pasta salad.

7. Strain the pot of noodles and rinse them with cold water.

Make sure you use a spoon and stir the noodles while the cold water is running on them so you don’t burn your hands. You should do this long enough until the noodles feel completely cool to the touch.

8. Mix everything together in a big bowl and stir in Italian Dressing.

It’s a little surprising how much dressing this easy pasta salad recipe will actually take. I usually use about a half of a bottle on the day I make it, but since I always have leftovers, I end up adding a bit more after the noodles absorb the dressing.

8. Serve and enjoy!

That’s it. It’s that simple! Just boil tri-colored rotini noodles, chop up some veggies, add in some pepperoni, and mix everything together with Italian dressing.

Try this easy tri-colored rotini pasta salad recipe at your next cookout and let me know how you liked it!

Print

Easy Tri-Colored Rotini Pasta Salad

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 1 box Tri-Colored Rotini
• 1/2 Onion diced
• 1 1/2 Bell Pepper any color, diced
• 1/2 block Pepper Jack Cheese cubed
• 1/2 block Colby Jack Cheese cubed
• 1/2 cup Cherry Tomatoes sliced in half
• 1/4-1/2 cup Pepperoni
• 1/4-1/2 cup Cucumber (optional)
• 1/8 cup Banana Peppers (optional)
• 1/4-1/2 cup Olives (optional)
• 1 bottle Italian Dressing

Instructions

• Boil noodles until al dente. Strain and rinse with cold water until noodles are cool to the touch
• Dice onion, peppers, and cucumbers (optional), and cut cheese into cubes
• Slice cherry tomatoes and olives (optional)  in half
• Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with Italian dressing

Notes

All  ingredients can be adjusted to taste. If you think something seems like too much or too little, feel free to modify it to your liking!

The post The Best Tri-Colored Rotini Pasta Salad For Summer (Or Any Time Of The Year) appeared first on Simple Socialite.