Val McCauley

About Val McCauley

Val McCauley was drawn to writing about Living on the Cheap after moving to Columbus from her small hometown after college. She realized that there were a ton of events and activities going on around the city, but there wasn't a website that made it easy to find out about these things. Her love of travel and desire to get out of debt after college cemented the need to live on less while still having fun. Over the last several years, she has paid off all of her debt and still has fun. In her free time, she loves to workout, play sports, and cook gluten-free meals. Val is the owner and operator of Columbus on the Cheap and That’s What We Did.

Tips for traveling with family and friends on a budget

We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases.

Traveling with a family can be expensive, but the memories are priceless. Whether you are envisioning a relaxing trip to the beach, a thrilling amusement park visit, or exploring one of our great National Parks, there are ways to make a vacation fit your budget. With careful planning and great … [Read more...] about Tips for traveling with family and friends on a budget

How to have a great wedding on a small budget

I was never one to dream of a big, traditional wedding with all of the trimmings when I was a little girl. When my now-husband and I got engaged, we talked about exactly what we wanted for our wedding and reception, instead of what we were “supposed” to do. We didn’t realize it right away, but by … [Read more...] about How to have a great wedding on a small budget

Build a salad table to grow your greens

Do you love vegetables and salad, but can't plant a regular garden? A salad table might be the ideal solution for you. What is a salad table? A salad table is a portable, waist-high table just deep enough to grow salad greens, herbs and other shallow-rooted plants and vegetables. The … [Read more...] about Build a salad table to grow your greens

Save money in the grocer’s bulk bin aisle

We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases.

The next time you are grocery shopping, don’t skip the bulk bins aisle. Tremendous savings can be had when buying grains, beans, spices, flours or other baking or pantry staples in bulk rather than packaged in bags and jars. Whether you need two pounds or two teaspoons of an ingredient, you’ll … [Read more...] about Save money in the grocer’s bulk bin aisle

Great gifts for a first Mother’s Day

We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases.

Being a new mom is hard. Really hard. So let the new mom in your life know what a good job she's doing by giving her a great first Mother's Day. Giving gifts for first-time moms can be tricky, as they are usually responsible for catering to every whim of a helpless tiny human. Here … [Read more...] about Great gifts for a first Mother’s Day

Can Costco membership save you money?

Many people seem to have a love-it-or-hate-it attitude toward warehouse stores, but I am a proud card-carrying Costco member because it does save me money. Here's how I save money at Costco and avoid the (expensive) pitfall of overspending on bulk goods. With only two in our household, we … [Read more...] about Can Costco membership save you money?

10 best budget-friendly kitchen gifts

As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase using the links in this post.

As an avid cook who feels at home in the kitchen, I'm familiar with lots of kitchen tools and gadgets. This list of affordable kitchen gifts will make life easier for the home chef on your holiday list. I own most of these items myself and use them often enough to know that they're worth the … [Read more...] about 10 best budget-friendly kitchen gifts

Mother’s Day gift ideas she’ll love

We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases.

There’s an important holiday coming up in May and it’s time to start thinking about gifts! Whether you’ll be celebrating your mom, stepmom, mother-in-law, mother of your children, or someone you think of as a mom, it’s a holiday that deserves more thought than a bouquet of grocery store … [Read more...] about Mother’s Day gift ideas she’ll love

Recycle old magazines into beautiful bowls

I love reading magazines and get a lot of free and cheap subscriptions. Once I'm done reading them, I often swap them with friends or leave them at the gym for others to read, but I always end up with a stack at home that I need to get rid of. One of my favorite ways to recycle magazines is … [Read more...] about Recycle old magazines into beautiful bowls

Make felted wool dryer balls, a cheapskate’s fabric softener

Here's a project that will help you save on electricity from your dryer and eliminate the need for fabric softener, which has harmful chemicals and perfumes. Fabric softener can be expensive, isn’t recommended for certain articles (towels, cloth diapers) because it reduces absorbency, and it can … [Read more...] about Make felted wool dryer balls, a cheapskate’s fabric softener

How to pick the best roadside assistance program

You can never predict whether you’re going to need roadside assistance for a flat tire, dead battery or other vehicle issue, but if you’re a member of a roadside assistance program, you’ll be covered when it happens. The difficult part is deciding which program best fits your family's needs. … [Read more...] about How to pick the best roadside assistance program

8 reasons to choose an Amazon Wedding Registry

We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, Living on the Cheap earns from qualifying purchases.

Getting engaged and planning a wedding often means that a friend or family member will offer to throw you a bridal shower, and Amazon Wedding Registry will make the gifting part easy for you and your guests. Bridal showers stem from the old-fashioned practice of the bride needing a dowry to marry … [Read more...] about 8 reasons to choose an Amazon Wedding Registry

Cheap stocking stuffers for kids

We may earn a commission if you make a purchase using the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Granted, the video game crowd is hard to impress but every kid deserves a goody-filled stocking on Christmas morning. To keep from breaking the bank on this beloved Christmas tradition, think cheap when you’re looking for stocking stuffers. Traditional stocking stuffers that are relatively … [Read more...] about Cheap stocking stuffers for kids

50 white-elephant gift exchange ideas

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase using the links in this post.

White Elephant gift exchanges, or as some call them, Yankee Swaps, are about as popular as ugly Christmas sweater parties. Finding the perfect gift can be difficult because there are often a variety of people participating, and you may have to gear the appropriateness around the type of party: … [Read more...] about 50 white-elephant gift exchange ideas

10 great affordable gadget gifts

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase using the links in this post.

This list of gifts would make perfect stocking stuffers or gifts for guys and girls who love gadgets. The best part is that they are all affordable, with most less than $35, and you can get free shipping if your order total is over a certain amount. Most of these are items that I've given in the … [Read more...] about 10 great affordable gadget gifts

Val McCauley

About Val McCauley

Get Our Free Newsletter!

Find Deals and Free Events in These Cities

Footer

As Seen On