My family's holiday budget is smaller than I'd like. Here's how I'm making sure the season is still magical for us.

Tech Insider : Business
The author with her son and husband.
The author is making sure the holiday season still feels magical for her family this year.

Courtesy of Ashley Archambault

I wanted to prioritize travel for my family of 5, so I learned how to maximize credit card points and started a travel fund

Tech Insider : Travel, Travel, Business
The author with her family in Maui.
The author booked a trip for her family to Maui using credit card points for the car rental and the flights.

Courtesy of Kris Ann Valdez

The biggest game changer in my relationship wasn't getting married — it was opening a shared bank account

Tech Insider : Business
Woman wearing pink longsleeve shirt and glasses sits on a picnic bench with man in yellow shirt and sunglasses
Each week, the author and her husband transferred a set amount into a shared bank account to go toward living expenses and savings.

Courtesy of Melissa Noble

The House just voted to end the longest government shutdown in US history after 43 days

Tech Insider : Economy, Business, Travel
mike johnson
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

I attempted to make Aldi's $40 Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people. It was surprisingly easy and delicious.

Tech Insider : Business
Author Terri Peters standing behind Thanksgiving feast
I was quite successful in making Aldi's $40 Thanksgiving dinner for my family, and it felt like a decent value with minimal effort required.

Terri Peters

My family of 4 moved to a small town to lower our cost of living. As our lifestyle slowed down, we got closer as a family.

Tech Insider : Business, Environment
A family of four hiking in the mountains on a sunny day.
The author and his family (not pictured) moved for a lower cost of living but ended up spending more time together.

AleksandarNakic/Getty Images

My husband and I spent all the money we were given at our wedding on our dream honeymoon. We have no regrets.

Tech Insider : Business
The author and her husband in front of a boat on a sunny day.
The author and her husband spent the money they were given at their wedding on their honeymoon.

Courtesy of Melissa Noble

A couple pulled off their dream wedding with 125 guests for under $25,000. From Costco cake to thrifted decor, here's how they did it.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
A bride and groom stand in a room embracing surrounded by windows.
Madeline Sideras and Greg Johnston at their wedding.

Bliss Katherine

I work so hard to provide a good life for my 4 kids that I hardly ever see them anymore

Tech Insider : Business
Woman working on a laptop at a counter with a man and kids in the background

MoMo Productions/Getty Images

We moved to a farm in rural Maine because we thought homesteading would save us money. It didn't.

Tech Insider : Business
Three goats looking through a hole in a fence
The author still keeps goats on her farm, even though she's no longer a homesteader.

Courtesy of Kirsten Lie-Nielsen

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