Author: admin

If you love museums, don’t miss Bank of America’s Museums On Us deal each month! Looking for more frugal fun? Check out our latest posts about family fun events near you! Bank of America and Merrill Lynch customers can get free admission to over 225 participating museums nationwide on May 3rd and 4th, 2025! This freebie deal isRead More

If you love museums, don’t miss Bank of America’s Museums On Us deal each month!

Looking for more frugal fun? Check out our latest posts about family fun events near you!

Bank of America and Merrill Lynch customers can get free admission to over 225 participating museums nationwide on May 3rd and 4th, 2025!

This freebie deal is also valid the first full weekend of every month in 2025!

Go here to see a list of participating museums.

Be sure to bring your credit or debit card and a photo ID to get FREE admission.

Moms can get free TCBY frozen yogurt for Mother’s Day again this year! Psst! Looking for more restaurant deals? Check out all our latest free food deals! If you’re a mom, be sure to stop by TCBY on Sunday, May 11th, to get a FREE 6-ounce scoop of frozen yogurt! Choose from a cup or cone! NoRead More

Moms can get free TCBY frozen yogurt for Mother’s Day again this year!

Psst! Looking for more restaurant deals? Check out all our latest free food deals!

If you’re a mom, be sure to stop by TCBY on Sunday, May 11th, to get a FREE 6-ounce scoop of frozen yogurt!

Choose from a cup or cone! No coupon or purchase is required.

Only valid at select locations, so be sure to call your local store ahead of time to verify participation.

(That’s a photo of a photo of me at 14. I tried to find one of me when I was 12 but most of them were cut up into small sizes and shapes for photo albums!) When I was 12 years old, my parents let me start doing something that ended up changing my lifeRead More

(That’s a photo of a photo of me at 14. I tried to find one of me when I was 12 but most of them were cut up into small sizes and shapes for photo albums!)

When I was 12 years old, my parents let me start doing something that ended up changing my life in ways I’m still so grateful for today.

What was it? They let me start paying for many of my own expenses — things like clothes, gifts, and personal spending money.

I see it was one of the best gifts they gave me. Because it challenged me to learn to stretch my money as far as possible and it motivated me to think outside the box. For instance, I discovered I could often buy an entire season’s worth of clothes at the thrift store for $12–$20 (on their dollar days!) — instead of spending $60–$80 at retail stores.

The habit of thinking outside the box when it came to money laid the foundation for years of creative saving and smart spending. And that “figure it out” mindset? It’s saved our family thousands and thousands of dollars over the years!

It also encouraged me to find ways to earn my own income from a young age. At 14, I started teaching violin lessons. When I was 15, I was waitressing at a local tea room. By16, I was juggling violin lessons, waitressing, babysitting, and working as a mother’s helper.

I loved the challenge of learning to juggle a lot of different things. I loved getting to buy things with my own money and the fulfillment that brought. And I discovered just how entrepreneurial I was — which honestly laid the foundation for me now owning my business!

Looking back, I’m so thankful my parents let me pay for a lot of my own things. It challenged me to be resourceful, to look for opportunities, and to build experience and skills that have served me so well into adulthood.

If you’re looking for ways to help your teens start building great financial skills and are looking for ways to help them earn money, I have a free resource for you!

Most teens only hear about the same few money-making ideas (hello babysitting and lawn mowing!), but there are SO many other creative (and higher-paying!) ways for them to earn — and build real-world skills while they’re at it. That’s why we created this free download with 10 Genius Side Hustles for Teens.

When you download this FREE list of side hustle ideas, your teen will discover:

• 10 UNIQUE and high-earning side hustles.
• How to start making some spending money with little to no upfront costs.
• Some creative ways to turn their skills (yes, things they ALREADY enjoy doing!) into extra cash!

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help my teen earn money… I just don’t know where to start!” — this freebie is for you (and them!).

Learning how to earn money is about so much more than just a few extra dollars — it’s about helping your teen step into their potential. These side hustles build essential life skills (like confidence, communication, time management, and goal-setting)!

Let’s help your teen learn some SMART ways to earn their own money!

Click here to download your FREE side hustle ideas for teens.

Helping your teen take small steps now can set them up for big wins later!

Looking for ways to practice hospitality on a budget? Inviting people into your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Use this list of ideas to help you open up your home, feed your family/friends, and build community — all while still maintaining peace of mind about how much your spending. When money is tight,Read More

Looking for ways to practice hospitality on a budget? Inviting people into your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Use this list of ideas to help you open up your home, feed your family/friends, and build community — all while still maintaining peace of mind about how much your spending.

When money is tight, even the idea of practicing hospitality can feel overwhelming. You might love the thought of filling your home with laughter, connection, and community — but worry about the cost of feeding extra mouths or making things feel “guest ready.”

But here’s the truth: you don’t need a big budget or a perfectly styled home to offer meaningful hospitality.

With a little creativity, some realistic expectations, and a heart to bless (not impress!) others, you can open your door and create space for community without breaking the bank.

Many times, we think of hospitality as being when we’ll host another family or group of people for a meal. While that is definitely one form of hospitality, it is by no means the only form of hospitality.

We decided to ask our readers to share some of their best tips for practicing hospitality on a budget, and they came up with SO many great ideas!

Here are some simple, budget-friendly ways to welcome others in — without the financial stress.

Frugal Hosting Ideas

Instead of hosting a 3-course meal or blowing your budget on takeout pizza, consider these less-expensive ways to gather your friends in your home on a budget.

• Enjoy coffee on the front porch.
• Plan a group meal with 2 or 3 friends (1 brings the main dish, 1 brings a couple of sides, 1 brings dessert and anything extra).
• Invite people over for dessert after dinner. This could be as simple as brownies, cookies, or ice cream, or you could ask everyone to bring a favorite dessert. (Or skip the dessert and just serve coffee and tea!)
• Meet at someone’s home in PJs (morning or evening) and bring whatever snacks you have on hand.
• Host a Muffins and Munchies party — Everyone brings a sweet muffin and savory munchie to share.
• Serve cheese & crackers in the backyard.
• Set up a s’mores bar and bonfire.
• Host a potluck. There doesn’t even need to be a main dish if everyone brings something to share, such as a salad or dessert. This is also a fun way to get new favorite recipes as you all try each other’s food!
• Stock up on coffee cakes when they’re on sale and stick them in your freezer or make some freezer friendly snacks, so you’re ready for last-minute hospitality.
• Offer donut holes and coffee/hot chocolate on a Saturday morning.
• Pop a variety of different popcorns and ask your friends to bring their favorite drink.
• Have a “Spring Fling” — Everyone brings a plant they split from their garden and an appetizer to share.
• Keep healthy and frugal snacks for kids on hand to give your kids’ friends when they come over.
• Invite friends over to play in the sprinkler and eat popsicles while the moms chat.
• Host a cereal night — Each person brings their favorite box of cereal with a variety of milks.
• Plan your company meals around what you already have on hand and what is on sale.
• Serve canned biscuits with jam and honey and ask your friends to bring their favorite tea.
• Plan an ice cream sundae social — You supply ice cream and ask everyone to bring toppings.
• Enjoy a game night and snacks — Everyone brings a favorite game and snack.
• BYO Takeout — Invite a group of friends over with instructions for everyone to grab their own takeout on the way.
• BYO Meat to grill — and everyone brings a side to share.

Remember that your friends want to visit you because of the conversations and laughter you’ll all have together, not because of the food you serve and not because your home is perfectly-coordinated or impressive.

I always keep it simple when we open up our home…mostly because it makes me stressed if I try to cook a fancy meal. I’d rather be relaxed and be able to fully focus on loving on our guests and investing in them so keeping things really simple is what works best for me! And the reality is that most people care more about spending time with you than about how amazing your food is. People just like to be welcomed into your home and included!

Frugal Meals That Feed a Crowd

These frugal meal ideas are a great option the next time you offer to bring a meal to a friend or host a group at your home.

• Spaghetti
• Soup + salad
• Homemade pizza (everyone brings their favorite toppings)
• Breakfast for dinner (or Saturday morning breakfast!) — We LOVE serving breakfast for dinner at our house. Think pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Or a waffle bar with fruit, whipped cream, and chocolate chips. Or an egg casserole with cinnamon rolls and fruit.
• Hot dogs
• Chili — You could even have a chili cook-off where everyone brings their favorite chili to share!
• Taco bar
• Baked potato bar
• Breakfast burritos
• Sloppy Joes or Pulled pork (stock up when the meat goes on sale)
• Roasts or rotisserie chickens (when on sale) + potatoes, carrots, and some bread.
• Leftovers — Challenge yourself to make a “silly” meal out of whatever you have on hand.

Note: My extended family gets together every summer for vacation and we cook meals for 25+ people! You can see some of our budget-friendly ideas and meals here, here, here, and here!

You can also click here to grab a FREE list of 60 simple meal ideas when you’re not sure what to cook!

Frugal Tips to Entertain for Less

Planning a frugal menu is only one way to save on hospitality; there are many others ways to entertain on a tight budget!

• Skip paper products and wash your own dishes.
• Look for pretty plates, stemware, vases, tablecloths, etc. at the thrift store.
• Buy disposable seasonal plates/napkins/cups on clearance after the season/holiday.
• Make paper chains from strips of construction paper or pompoms from yarn as cheap decor.
• Cut flowers or greenery from your garden and use them to decorate your home for any occasion.
• Have your kids color images relating to the theme of the gathering, then cut them out and mount them on colored paper to hang on the wall.
• Serve water with lemons, limes, cucumbers, mint, or even cranberries for a festive look without paying for pricier beverages.
• Keep homemade sweet tea in the refrigerator and always have ice for ice water.
• Borrow from friends when possible. Don’t have enough folding chairs or serving plates? You could borrow from a neighbor or ask friends to bring their own!
• Play happy, calm music to frame the mood.

Frugal Ways to Show Hospitality to Others

Showing hospitality doesn’t always require food or hosting in your home — and it certainly doesn’t need to break your budget. It’s much more about opening yourself and your heart to relationships with others, which doesn’t have to cost anything! Here are several frugal ways you can show others how much you care.

• Pray for and send a card to someone.
• Fill a thrift store teacup with a few tea bags and give it to a sick neighbor or friend.
• Make frugal gift bags for neighbor kids — bubbles, coloring books, boxes of raisins, applesauce cups, and tiny toys.
• Pick up bagels and go to a park for breakfast and a walk.
• Bring brown bag lunches to a local park or community center.
• Many areas offer free concerts, festivals, or events that would be great for the whole family. Why not ask some friends to join you?
• BYO Snacks to a play date at a park.
• Use one of the ideas on this list of fun and frugal ideas, and ask some friends to do it with you!
• Invite someone to coffee. This is inexpensive (especially if you literally just order a cup of tea or coffee!) and can be a fantastic way to begin connecting with someone on a deeper level.
• Invite friends to meet you at a restaurant where kids eat free/cheap.
• If you have a little extra room in your budget one week, buy some ingredients to make muffins or soup to stick in your freezer and have on hand for taking meals to people. Or, double up your own meals when cooking and freeze one to share. You’ll be ready to help a friend in need, even if their need pops up on a busy day for you!
• Save your free samples and trial-sized items to make gift bags for neighbors or hostesses.
• Bring veggies or flowers from your garden to a few neighbors.
• Buy extra groceries on clearance and bring them to a family who could use them.
• Pair up with another friend to help your friend in need. If you know of another friend who might also be short on finances or time, ask if she’d like to help you with making a meal. One of you can make the main dish and bread, another the salad and dessert, and you’ve just pulled off a great meal for half the cost.
• Coordinate a birthday dinner at a restaurant (where everyone pays for their own meal), rather than hosting everyone at your house.
• Give a jar of homemade soup mix, brownie mix, pancake mix, cookie mix, etc.
• Offer to bring a friend some frozen goodies instead of a whole dinner. Instead of a full meal, you could make some banana bread, muffins, rolls, or a freezer-friendly dessert, and put them in a pretty basket with some notes of encouragement taped onto them. Bring it over and tell the family they can stick everything in their freezer and use them when they want to.
• Bake and deliver a dozen cookies to a friend or neighbor.
• Plan to make a double-batch of one meal each week and bring one of the meals to a friend or neighbor.
• Visit the elderly and shut-ins — even if you don’t bring any food along.
• Create a separate bank account for giving and hospitality and put a little into it from each paycheck.

Here’s the thing: hospitality isn’t about impressing others — it’s about making them feel loved and welcome.

You don’t need a fancy home, matching dishes, or a gourmet spread to open your door to someone. In fact, some of the sweetest memories are made in imperfect spaces with simple food and a whole lot of heart.

Want to hear something crazy? I used to be terrified of hospitality. I wouldn’t ever open up my home to anyone. But then I read Jen Schmidt’s Just Open the Door book, and it completely changed my life. Now, I adore hospitality and our home is a revolving door of people, friends, teens, and kids! (You can hear more about this journey in my podcast interview with Jen!)

So if you’ve been waiting for things to be “just right” before you invite someone over…don’t! Hospitality isn’t about having more — it’s about sharing what you already have.

Start looking for ways to show hospitality and reach out to others and I bet you’ll begin to find them all around you!

Other Posts You Might Like:

• How I Overcame My Fear of Hospitality
• Feeding Teenagers without Breaking Your Budget (100+ Ideas!)
• Crowd-Pleasing Meals for 25+ People
• Recipes for a Crowd of People on Family Vacation (26 People)
• Cheap Meals for a Crowd (Vacation Menu)
• Easy Meals for Big Groups
• When You Feel Lonely and Left Out
• How to Love Someone You Disagree With
• How to Find and Build Better Friendships

What are your best budget-friendly tips for showing hospitality to others? Let us know!

Interested in trying to lose weight and looking for the latest WeightWatchers deals? Don’t miss this HOT discount you can score right now! Weight Watchers Coupon Code: 10 Months at $10/Month! WeightWatchers is currently offering a HOT deal to get your first 10 months for just $10/month when you commit to a 10-month subscription! Plus, yourRead More

Interested in trying to lose weight and looking for the latest WeightWatchers deals? Don’t miss this HOT discount you can score right now!

Weight Watchers Coupon Code: 10 Months at $10/Month!

WeightWatchers is currently offering a HOT deal to get your first 10 months for just $10/month when you commit to a 10-month subscription! Plus, your first month will be free with code RESULTS10 at checkout!

That means you’ll get a total discount of $150! And you’ll pay nothing to get started today!

Valid for a limited time only.

How to use this WW promo code:

1. Go HERE.
2. Choose the Core plan.
3. Choose the 10-month plan that shows the promo price of $10/month for 10 months.
4. Click the “next step” button.
5. Use the promo code RESULTS10 to get your first month free!
6. Fill out your personal and payment information as you’re prompted to get started.

That’s it! You can get started right away!

Note: To get this deal, you have to commit to a 10-month subscription. You’ll get your first month for free, then pay just $10/month for the next 9 months and then the regular rate for any following months. After your 10-month introductory offer, your account will auto-renew at the standard monthly cost unless you cancel.

Weight Watchers Specials: What’s Different about this WW program?

Based on groundbreaking nutritional and behavior change research, the current WW program is completely personalized for the first time ever! When you sign up, you’ll be asked a series of questions that helps tailor the program to your preferences, allergies, diet choices, favorite foods, and more.

For example, I’ve been using WW on and off for almost 20 years. One thing that I haven’t liked in recent years is that as a vegetarian, I was really limited on my low-point protein options. But this time around, when I signed up, I was matched with a few protein options — eggs, lowfat yogurt, quinoa, etc. — to be ZeroPoint foods on my personalized plan! A few of my go-to favorite foods are also zero points for me (like avocados, whole wheat pasta, and potatoes). It’s really cool!

And on top of that, you’ll earn points for doing healthy things — like eating veggies, drinking water, and moving more.

The WW award-winning app makes it easier to lose weight while getting to eat more of the foods you love. It also includes 24/7 coach chat, weekly progress reports, a food barcode scanner (super easy to use!), a restaurant database, on-demand workouts, and more!

Try it out with this Weight Watchers Coupon!

If you’ve been wanting to try their new program, now is a GREAT time to do so while they’re offering this deal!

This is such a great offer because of the deeply discounted rate that we rarely see!

Also, when you commit to a longer subscription, you’re much more likely to see results than if you just try the program for one month — and results are what we love!

How much does Weight Watchers Cost?

The typical monthly fee for the Core Plan starts at $23 per month for a monthly subscription, and decreases to roughly $14 per month for an annual subscription. There is also a $20 starter fee (which is waived if you sign up for the annual subscription or for special promotions sometimes.)

Through this deal, you can get 10 months at just $10/month with your first month free!

Other Weight Watchers Deals

WeightWatchers usually has a few different deals to choose from depending on what you’re looking for and the time of year. You can choose from a few different plans and lengths of time — which varies the promotion and pricing.

If you’ve been wanting to try WeightWatchers, this is a really great opportunity!! Valid for a limited time only.

Go here to get started.

Looking for virtual work? We’re hiring! Read below for all the deets! We’re hiring for the next position on our team — a virtual assistant to one of our Directors! This position is for a contract position and you will be serving as an assistant to our Director of Brand Partnerships. This role requires exceptionalRead More

Looking for virtual work? We’re hiring! Read below for all the deets!

We’re hiring for the next position on our team — a virtual assistant to one of our Directors!

This position is for a contract position and you will be serving as an assistant to our Director of Brand Partnerships.

This role requires exceptional writing, proofreading, and communication skills, the ability to communicate well with brands on our behalf, a strong understanding of what is a good deal and what deals our audience most loves, an understanding of how to format a blog post on WordPress, the ability to post on Instagram Stories and Facebook Stories, as well as strong attention to detail. No professional experience is required to apply.

Please note that it is a very detailed application, and that is on purpose, because we want serious applicants only who can demonstrate and showcase the skills we’re looking for. Click here to see the job description & details, hiring timeline, and application.

Though this position is contract to start out, there is potential for an increase in hours and pay and the possibility that it may eventually turn into a part-time or full-time role on our team.

We are very excited to be hiring, and we have another position becoming available in the near future, so stay tuned!

Click here for all of the details and to apply.

Welcome to my monthly post where I share a peek into the last month at our house! Here’s a little peek into March… (And yes, I know it’s the first of May and I’m finally getting this up… I had so many good intentions to get it up earlier and it just is happening now!Read More

Welcome to my monthly post where I share a peek into the last month at our house! Here’s a little peek into March… (And yes, I know it’s the first of May and I’m finally getting this up… I had so many good intentions to get it up earlier and it just is happening now! Oh well!)

I started out the month in Disney with a group of amazing women who are clients of my business coach, Alli Worthington, and some of her clients. Alli has been so instrumental in my life and in our business since I started coaching with her and I was so excited to see what God had for me on this getaway.

Let’s just say, I was not one bit disappointed! Not only did we laugh so hard and have so much fun (which was so good for my soul!), but I also got to learn so much from other wise women. 

Alli structures the event so that there is a lot of fun but also a lot of time for coaching and mentoring. I came home so refreshed and also fired up with so much inspiration for ways to lead my company better.

I share more on this podcast about the surprising lessons I learned in Disney (who knew a trip to Disney would be such a deeply moving experience??)

We had a fun hangout at the library playroom with my friend, Kate, and her kids!

This picture is such a beautiful reminder of how God writes stories we could never, ever dream up! Almost 4 years before on the same date this picture was taken, we were together with our two little girls… we could have never imagined 4 years later, we’d have 5 little kids between us!!

I got to meet Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and interview her for a podcast episode. Listen to our conversation here.

At the beginning of 2025, I set a goal to try making 12 new-to-me things that I’d never made before. (See my list here.)

In January, my project was to make Homemade Vanilla. February’s project was to make Homemade Focaccia using my sourdough starter.

Because I love all things cinnamon and sugar, I decided to try this recipe from Acts of Sourdough for Cinnamon Roll Focaccia. I’ve learned pretty much everything I know about sourdough baking from Acts of Sourdough and she has yet to steer me wrong. See how it turned out here.

Kathrynne and I took a Spring Break trip to Isle of Palms, SC. It was absolutely beautiful and we had the most relaxing and fun time together, walking miles, enjoying the ocean, eating yummy food, and just soaking up time together.

We walked to Harris Teeter and found some CRAZY sales!!

While there, we had the most incredibly touching experience. I wrote more about it here on Instagram.

We spent a lot of time on the sidelines at baseball games in March. Since Jesse is an assistant coach for Silas’s JV and high school teams this year, I had all three younger kids by myself at most games. But it’s SO much easier this year compared to last year!!

Jesse and I are continuing our ABC dates and we went to Olive Garden for our O date (it’s been years since we gone to one!). I share in this post how we are finding time to make dates happen right now.

Micah is taking after me with his love of butter!

In case you wondered what it was like to take these three to the doctor!!

We closed out the month with a Leadership Team Meet-Up with our three directors for MoneySavingMom.com. These are the women who make all the things happen here and I’m so grateful for each of them!

We had a fun day full of planning and getting manis and pedis, eating at some of my favorite local places, and going axe throwing!

And we hit a big goal in March with launching our brand-new program: The One-Hour Budget for Teens! Psst! Want to get a coupon code to get it for just $19? Sign up for this freebie here.

When I visited Caldwell, Kansas, the manager of the co-working site said they had filled their private offices, but struggled to attract day users. People who work from home like working from home. They don’t want a full time office, so they said they don’t want to use the coworking space. How can the coworking […]

When I visited Caldwell, Kansas, the manager of the co-working site said they had filled their private offices, but struggled to attract day users.

People who work from home like working from home. They don’t want a full time office, so they said they don’t want to use the coworking space.

How can the coworking space attract those work-from-home folks?

Promote the “co” part more than the “working” part.

At their best, co-working spaces are human spaces, Emergent Research has been saying for ten years now. Studies found that people who use co-working say it makes them less lonely. That’s the part to talk about, much more than the fact that you can work there.

Start by providing your work-from-home people with social hours and temporary events so they can connect and build community with each other. That will help their wellbeing right away. Plus, as long as they’re in the space, they’ll look around and found out more about the space and the services it offers.

Social hours also give you (the manager of the space) a chance to ask more about what they do, what they want and need. Do they want day time hangout events? Are they eager to be social? Do they really just need a copier? I don’t know, but they’ll tell you when you get them together to Build Connections. (That’s Idea Friendly, of course.)

Bonus: you can bring in business supporters like the chamber of commerce or advisors like the Small Business Development Center. When they meet each other in an informal setting, they may be more likely to connect.

Schedule a social hour, and set a goal of three people attending. Even three people is enough to start building community. Put the word out all the ways you know how: local Facebook groups, the chamber of commerce email newsletter, signs around town, and text some friends. Take a lot of pictures so you can use them to promote the next one.

Then try another one, maybe at a different time or a different day. Experiment. Take Small Steps. (That’s Idea Friendly, too.) Let me know how it goes.

Learn more

Find more practical steps you can take in SaveYour.Town’s video Remote Work Ready: Zoom Towns. Everything you’ll learn is do-able, affordable and scaled for small towns.

Without making people mad! One common small town parking complaint is business staff taking up customer parking. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this brought up in discussing downtown businesses. Sometimes business owners or business employees park right in front of their business or along the Main Street. They might park out […]

Without making people mad!

One common small town parking complaint is business staff taking up customer parking. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this brought up in discussing downtown businesses.

Sometimes business owners or business employees park right in front of their business or along the Main Street. They might park out front for any number of reasons. Maybe they don’t have much room to park around back, or they’re just running into their business for a minute, or they need to carry some things in the front.

The problem is that this takes space away from customers. If all the business owners park in front, customers have to park further away, and some might use that as an excuse not to shop downtown.

I just heard the best idea for addressing this from Ivy Wells, Director of Economic and Community Development for Berlin, Maryland. It’s a solution that values the businesses and their people while keeping space open for customers and visitors.

The town reached out to a church near downtown to share their parking lot during the week for business owners and staff.

Each person working at downtown businesses received a numbered permit to display in their vehicle. The town sends someone to the designated church lot regularly to check the cars and record the permits they see, in essence collecting a list of who is using the lot. Then they enter those people for drawings for great local gifts. That’s a big secret: the gifts are things people really, really want to win.

Ivy said they may add valet service to make it even easier for owners and staff!

It’s a simple way to appreciate your business people and make room for more customers to come on in.

Header photo: Berlin, MD, downtown during the golden evening hour. Photo by Berlin MD Downtown district.

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By Rob Hatch Thirty-six weeks. Part of my process for planning my business for the New Year is to do a little reality check on exactly how much time I have to work with. What are you talking about, Rob? You have a year. Technically, that’s true. However, on closer inspection, I only have 36 […]

By Rob Hatch

Thirty-six weeks.

Part of my process for planning my business for the New Year is to do a little reality check on exactly how much time I have to work with.

What are you talking about, Rob? You have a year.

Technically, that’s true. However, on closer inspection, I only have 36 FULL weeks available.

36 is the new 52

My process is pretty simple. I set up a spreadsheet listing every week in 2025. Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the first whole week begins on January 6th.

Next, I block off the weeks when I know I will be on vacation and spending time with friends and family.

Then, I note each week a holiday or personal event occurs that will limit the time I have available for work.

I noted weeks when my children are on school break, and I want a lighter work schedule.

I look at the seasonal ebbs and flows of our family life, such as when we begin and end the school year.

Taking all that into account, I was left with 36 full weeks.

Thirty-six weeks is a very different number to work with than fifty-two.

Here’s what I found most helpful about this exercise.

1. I am starting my annual planning by prioritizing time with my family. I am deciding ahead of time to set aside significant time for that.

2. Many of the other weeks (holidays, school vacation, weeks of transition) will happen regardless. By planning for them, I can plan around them.

3. As I look at what I want to accomplish next year, I have a clear picture of the time resources available to commit to achieving them.

Thirty-six full weeks.

Your number will likely be different. The point is to figure out your number and plan accordingly.