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Smoothies are just plain awesome! They’re great for on-the-go meals or just for times when you don’t feel like cooking up a big meal only to clean tons of dishes after. Not only do they taste delicious, they’re often loaded with vitamins and minerals depending on what you put in there. Some store bought smoothies can be loaded with fattening and heavy ingredients which may hinder any weight loss journey you may be on. Smoothies can be good for weight loss and fat burning depending on the recipe.

Smoothies can give you daily serving of vegetables and fruits while helping you lose weight. It will be best to add smoothies to your daily regimen along with a well balanced diet and exercise to really achieve weight loss. Smoothies can curb your appetite by adding protein powders to keep you full longer. Some natural ingredients may even help you burn fat easier and kick start your metabolism.

Smoothies are so simple to make too! Before you get started, make sure you have the right Blender for max efficiency. If you end up making a large batch of the smoothie, store it in cups and place them in the freezer. The night before, I will defrost the frozen smoothie in the refrigerator and it will be ready to go the next morning. Plus I love using frozen fruit and vegetables because there’s no cooking involved, it’s perfect for rushed mornings. These 45 healthy weight loss smoothie recipes will give you plenty of ideas that will last you a while, enjoy!

1 | Fat Burning Smoothie

This smoothie is a metabolism booster and fat burner according to Simple Green Smoothies. All you need to make this is spinach, mint leaves, celery, green tea, grapefruit, pineapple, and avocado.

2 | Metabolism Boosting Smoothie

This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a kick-start. It’s packed with lots of nutrients proven to help with weight loss according to Sunkissed Kitchen. All you need is green tea, coconut milk, spinach, banana, grapefruit, pineapple, ice, and whey protein.

3 | Skinny Almond Butter Banana Smoothie

Swap out your heavy deserts with this healthy and savory smoothie from Simple Green Moms. It’s easy to make and all you need to make this is frozen bananas, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, almond butter, and chia seeds.

4 | Metabolism Boosting Blueberry Smoothie

This smoothie is packed with antioxidants from the blueberries and other nutrients like fiber, folate, and vitamin C from the added spinach according to Suburban Simplicity. This smoothie is sure to give your metabolism a boost. All you need to make this is protein powder, unsweetened almond milk, ice, blueberries, spinach leaves, banana, and ground flaxseed or chia seeds.

5 | Protein-Packed Keto Breakfast Smoothie for Weight Loss

This healthy weight loss smoothie recipe is packed with protein, antioxidants, vitamins, essential minerals, and healthy omega-3’s according to keto pots. Instead of eating a heavy breakfast, try this smoothie instead. All you need to make this smoothie is berries, flaxseed meal, ice, almond milk, cottage cheese, vanilla protein powder, vanilla extract, and liquid Stevia.

6 | Skinny Mint Smoothie

Try this minty and delicious smoothie without all the excess calories but packed with nutrients instead. Get the recipe at Simple Green Smoothies. All you need for this recipe is unsweetened almond milk, spinach, mint leaves, banana, avocado, dates, and cacao powder.

7 | Super Berry Weight Loss Smoothie

This refreshing smoothie is delightfully sweet and packed with antioxidants, fiber and protein as stated on Nutrition Twins. All you need to make this is almond milk, bananas, berries, and protein powder.

8 | Fat Burning Strawberry and Mango Smoothie

Get this fat burning smoothie at Hello Glow. This smoothie has fat burning ingredients like Cayenne and Cinnamon as stated on their site. All you need to make this refreshing smoothie is coconut water, strawberries, mango, ginger root, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper.

9 | Fat Burning Chocolate Smoothie

If you love chocolate, then this recipe is perfect for you. It’s packed with protein and has the sweetness from bananas which will help your sweet tooth. Primally Inspired has this fat burning smoothie recipe. All you need to make this is coconut milk, banana, leafy greens, and protein powder.

10 | Peanut Butter Oatmeal Smoothie for Weight Loss

This smoothie should keep you full with added protein and rolled oats. Plus it has a bit of cayenne and cinnamon which aids in fat burning and weight loss as stated on Flaxseed and Fairytales. All you need to make this smoothie is rolled oats, banana, almond milk, peanut butter, protein powder, cinnamon, cayenne, and liquid Stevia.

11 | Slim Down Smoothie with Avocado and Spinach

Learn how to make your slim down smoothie at Elevate Fit Coach. All you need to make this is avocado, spinach, banana, peanut butter, vanilla whey protein, coconut almond milk, and ice.

12 | Green Keto Smoothie

This smoothie recipe from Appetite For Energy is full of healthy fats and veggies as stated on their site. It also can help with weight loss and burning fat. All you need is avocado, kale, cucumber, ginger root, coconut water, water, ice, chia seeds, MCT oil, and liquid stevia.

13 | Skinny Cherry Banana Smoothie

This smoothie is packed with protein and fruit which will help keep you full longer, find the recipe at Inside BruCrew Life. All you need to make this is cherries, banana, greek yogurt, fat free milk, and protein powder.

14 | Flat Belly Blueberry Basil Smoothie

This smoothie is loaded with bloat fighting nutrients, get the recipe at Eating Bird Food. To make this smoothie, you need blueberries, banana, almond milk, basil, greek yogurt, lemon juice, ground flaxseed, and almond butter.

15 | Weight Loss Chocolate Strawberry Smoothie

This smoothie will give you a protein boost and leave you feeling energized according to Driscolls. All you need to make this smoothie is strawberries, almond butter, honey or agave nectar, skim milk, chocolate protein powder, banana, and ice.

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Dinner is by far the best and most delicious but heavy meals of the day. There’s so much variety for dinner options it’s unlimited on what you can do. Sometimes dinner meals can be very heavy but why make it worse by loading it up with carb filled meals? Choose easy keto low carb recipes to make dinner somewhat better for you. So, what’s dinner without pasta, rice, or potatoes? There’s plenty of delicious keto-friendly and low carb options for dinner. Matter of fact, there’s a list of 20 scrumptious easy keto low carb recipes to choose from. What’s even better is that all these recipes are super easy to make and not complicated at all with less than 8 ingredients. Enjoy!

By the way, if you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.

1 | Keto Low Carb Tacos

Have a taco night without the carb filled tacos! Find out how to make keto friendly shells that’s made with cheese. All you need is cheese, protein choice, taco seasoning, and tomatoes and chiles. Find this recipe at Plain Chicken.

2 | Honey Garlic Shrimp Skillet

How does sweet and savory shrimp sound for dinner? All you need is shrimp, garlic, ginger, honey, and soy sauce. Find the recipe at The Cooking Jar.

Note: Honey in the recipe from The Cooking Jar may throw off your low carb goal but I’ve come across Pyure which is an organic and vegan honey alternative with 4g of NET carbs. Substitute the honey with Pyure and pair the dish with cauliflower rice to make it more low carb friendly.

3 | Asian Soup With Ginger

In the mood for some healthy soup? All you need on hand is chicken broth, ginger, mushrooms, spinach, and onions. Find the recipe at Kalyns Kitchen.

4 | Sesame Crusted Salmon

Get your healthy dose of Omega 3’s by eating salmon. For this dish all you need is salmon, poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, minced garlic, minced onion, and sea salt. Get the recipe at The Cooking Jar.

5 | Chicken with Rosemary Butter Sauce

How does delicious chicken with rosemary sound? All you need is chicken, butter, chicken broth, heavy whipping cream, and of course the rosemary. Get the recipe at Lets Dish Recipes.

6 | Chicken Tikka Masala

This super simple meal will cook up in no time plus it’s keto-friendly. All you need is chicken, olive oil, masala sauce, and cauliflower rice. Find the recipe at Organically Addison.

7 | Low Carb Mongolian Beef

Make this savory dish for your family tonight. All you need is flat iron steak, coconut oil, green onions, coconut aminos, ginger, and garlic. Get the recipe at Noshtastic.

8 | Keto Crispy Chicken Wings

Love chicken wings but not all the batter? Try this recipe out at Fat For Weight Loss. All you need are chicken wings, baking powder, smoked paprika, cajun spice mix, turmeric, and Salt+Pepper.

9 | Keto Creamy Asparagus and Shrimp Alfredo

In the mood for some Italian food, minus the pasta? All you need is shrimp, butter, asparagus, heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and Salt+Pepper. Get the recipe at Health Starts in the Kitchen.

10 | Jalapeno Popper Chicken

Do you like spicy food? Try this Jalapeno Popper Chicken dish from Cast Iron Keto. All you need is chicken breasts, jalapenos, cheese, and bacon.

11 | Low Carb Spaghetti Squash with Goat Cheese

Want an easy and healthy alternative to eating pasta? Try spruced up spaghetti squash. All you need to make this is bacon, garlic, spaghetti squash, walnuts, and goat cheese. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.

12 | Easy Keto Chicken and Zucchini Noodles Alfredo

Try another Italian inspired dish minus the pasta. All you need to make this dish is butter, cream cheese, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, chicken, and zucchini. Get the recipe at My Life Cookbook.

13 | Crispy Air Fryer Pork Chops

Do you love crispiness of food but want to avoid deep frying it? Try an Air Fryer to fry your food instead. To make this dish, all you need is pork chops, almond flour, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, creole seasoning, and paprika. Get the recipe at This Moms Menu.

14 | Keto Salmon with Pesto and Spinach

Get your nutrients in with this simple and delicious dish. All you need is salmon, mayo, pesto, Parmesan cheese, spinach, and olive oil. Get the recipe at Diet Doctor.

15 | Instant Pot Beef and Peppers

Make whipping up dinner a breeze by making this beef and peppers dish with an Instant Pot. This dish cooks up in 12 minutes with the Instant Pot! All you need to make this dish is bone broth, ground beef, red bell peppers, Seasoning, and a white onion. Get the recipe at 40 Aprons.

16 | Keto Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers with Cauliflower

Do you love Philly cheese steaks but don’t want to eat tons of carbs? Try this healthier version that will get you vegetable servings at the same time. All you need is steak, cauliflower, green bell peppers, Provolone cheese, onions, olive oil, and salt. Get the recipe at Food Faith Fitness.

17 | Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

In the mood for some soup? Try this creamy chicken taco soup if you have chicken broth, chicken, Ro-Tel, taco seasoning, cream cheese, and shredded cheese on hand. Get the recipe at This Moms Menu.

18 | Eggplant Lasagna

Swap out the heavy pasta with eggplant giving it a nutritional boost. All you need to make this dish is eggplant, sausage, olive oil, salt, marinara sauce, and cheeses. Get the recipe at KetoLogic.

19 | Instant Pot Pork Stew

Want something nice and hearty? Make this spicy pork stew in an Instant Pot. All you need is an onion, garlic, rotel, thyme, seasoning, pork, heavy whipping cream, and spinach. Find the recipe at Two Sleevers.

20 | Keto Pan Fried Coconut Shrimp

Try some sweet and crunchy keto-friendly coconut shrimp. All you need is shrimp, coconut flour, coconut flakes, fruit sweetener, eggs, salt, and coconut oil. Get the recipe at Meganseelinger.

Cut the carbs from your dinner meals by cooking up these delicious keto-friendly low carb recipes. Let me know which one of these easy keto low carb recipes was your favorite. Now that you have some ideas for dinner how about Breakfast? Find some more meal ideas below.

Related: 10 Easy Breakfast Ideas

I hope you will try and enjoy one of these easy keto low carb recipes for dinner. Let me know which one was your favorite.

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Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. Eating something in the morning will get you ready for the day ahead. What’s even better is having something delicious for breakfast. It’s always best to switch up recipes so you don’t get sick of eating the same thing over and over. Hopefully these 10 easy breakfast ideas will help you do just that. What makes these recipes easy is that it requires only 5 ingredients and under, so it’s super simple and easy to make. Enjoy!

If you ever get stuck on what to make for the week then check out $5 Meal Plan. They send you weekly meal plan recipes, ingredients list, and a nutritional breakdown so that it helps you save time and money when it comes to meal planning. Plus they’re offering a free 14 day trial right now, after the trial it’s $5 a month. It’s good for people who don’t like to spend so much time trying to come up with new things to make.

1 | On The Go Breakfast Muffins

These On-the-go Breakfast Muffins from The Cooking Jar have eggs, cheddar cheese, spinach leaves, bacon bits, and paprika. Doesn’t it look delicious? It’s great for a grab-n-go breakfast.

2 | Breakfast Energy Smoothie

Breakfast Energy Smoothie from Deliciously Sprinkled is perfect for those days when you’re strapped for time and need a quick pick me up in the morning. Whip this smoothie up if you have some OJ, yogurt, vanilla, and frozen berries around.

3 | Strawberry Breakfast Pastries

These Strawberry Breakfast Pastries from Just A Taste is perfect for when you want a something a little sweet in the mornings. All you need to make this is some puff pastry, cream cheese, strawberry jam, strawberries, and egg.

4 | Breakfast Quinoa Oatmeal

This Breakfast Quinoa Oatmeal from Feel Good Foodie is super easy to make plus it’s so healthy for you. All you need is your favorite fruit, quinoa, almond milk, maple syrup, and salt.

5 | Sausage Breakfast Bombs

Sausage Breakfast Bombs from Thirsty Handmade Days is awesome for grab-n-go breakfast plus all you need are 3 ingredients which are breakfast sausage, crescent rolls, and cheese. Super simple!

6 | Breakfast Coffee Banana Smoothie

This Breakfast Coffee Banana Smoothie from Homemade Hooplah will give you the pick me up you need in the morning plus a nutritional boost from the bananas. All you need to make this are bananas, sugar, yogurt, milk, and coffee.

7 | Breakfast Street Tacos

These Breakfast Street Tacos from Tried And Tasty are simple to make and all you need are sausages, tortillas, eggs, cheese, and tomato.

8 | Breakfast Yogurt Parfait

This breakfast yogurt parfait from The Spicy Apron is a healthy way to start off your mornings. All you need are yogurt, granola, and choice of fruit!

9 | Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast

This Chia Seed Blueberry Kiwi Probiotic Breakfast from Skinny Over 40 will give you a nutritional boost to start the day. All you need is chia seeds, yogurt, blueberries, and kiwi.

10 | Easiest Crepe Recipe

Make the easiest crepes from The Stay at Home Chef. These will be a delicious way to start your morning. You can always add your favorite fruits, syrups, cream, or butter to crepes to give it an extra bit of pizzazz. All you need to make these are milk, eggs, salt, flour, and butter.

There you have it! Try one these easy and delicious breakfast ideas the next time you run out of things to make. Please let me know which one was your favorite!

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We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Taking care of dogs is not a small task to take on. Over 15 years of raising dogs, I’ve come across 5 essential products for raising a happy and healthy dog that will save you money by keeping your dogs out of the vets office. Just like humans, our furry friends have needs too! They need love, proper hygiene, medication when they get sick, toys, and treats. Our pets are a part of the family and they deserve to be taken care of properly just like one of our own. 

Related: Best Money Saving Tips To Start Now

5 Essential Products For A Happy And Healthy Dog

Do you love your dogs? Do you want them to be happy and healthy as possible? There are a few products I’ve discovered over the years of raising dogs that has helped tremendously with keeping them from getting sick with infections and ultimately avoiding unnecessary vet visits. Dogs experience ailments which may include ear infections, gum disease/dental infections, diarrhea and upset stomach. Check out these top products that I can truly attest to and hopefully will help keep your pups from getting sick too. In addition, I’ve added two of both my dog’s favorite treat and toy as a recommendation that keeps my dogs happy, hope your dog’s will love too!

1| Ear Cleaning Product For Prevention Of Dog Ear Infections

Raising dogs is a rewarding experience. They’re so loyal and will always be by your side no matter what.

The tricky part is, we have to be a mind reader when it comes to taking care of them.

Since they can’t speak or tell you what’s wrong, we have to figure out if they’re uncomfortable or in pain. It’s about picking up on certain behaviors which tell us that something’s just not right.

For example, does your dog ever shake their head or scratch their ears a lot?

It can usually mean there’s something going on with their ears, maybe a possible ear infection or irritated ears.

A lot of dogs have big floppy ears and sometimes air doesn’t circulate well through them, which leaves it a breeding ground for bacteria build up.

Just like how we all have to clean our ears, dog’s need their ears cleaned too.

My dog used to get ear infections and irritations a lot. Once I started using Vet’s Best Ear Care Kit after her grooming, she never had ear issues ever again.

What I like about Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner is that it contains natural ingredients like chamomile, clove oil, tea tree oil, and aloe vera to help soothe and fight bacteria in the ears. It’s also alcohol-free which helps prevent stinging.

This $10 kit lasts well over a year and probably saved me hundreds in vet bills! I have to say that Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit has been one of the most essential products that help keep my dog’s healthy.

Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner Kit $10.49

How I use Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner:

• Trim ear hair with small blunted scissors 
• Take out a few or several q-tips 
• Take a q-tip at a time and apply the “Ear Wash” liquid directly on the q-tip
• Gently clean the part of pet’s ear that can visibly be seen (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
• Keep repeating last step until q-tip is clean and not filled with wax/dark debris
• You can also take a paper towel or towel and apply the “Ear Wash” solution to wipe down inner ear if there is too much debris to clean
• After the ear is cleaned of debris, take a q-tip and apply a very small amount of the “Ear Dry” solution on to the q-tip
• Carefully, apply it gently along the outer wall of ear canal (careful not to bring q-tip too far in to the canal)
• After a few days to one week, check the pet’s ears
• Repeat the process if there is build up again

Another important tip to keep in mind is to not let water go into your dog’s ears. It can result in irritation or infections if it’s not dried properly.

When cleaning your dog’s ears, just use the Vet’s Best Ear Cleaner. There’s no need to wash inside your dog’s ears.

If your dog has irritated ears, use the ear cleaner after you groom them according to the directions. If it doesn’t resolve after a few days then it’s probably best to bring the dog in to the Vet to have it checked out.

2| Dog Toothpaste For Prevention Of Gum Disease

Did you know that dogs can develop gum disease too? Just like people, dogs also secrete minerals in their saliva and eventually form into tartar which adheres to their teeth. The bacteria and tartar can eventually lead to gum disease and dental infections. Gum disease and dental infections can be very painful conditions where dogs and people alike eventually lose teeth and bone in the mouth. That’s why even for people it is recommended to brush at least twice a day and to floss daily. 

So let’s be real here, I’m not talking about trying to floss and brush your dog’s teeth after every meal. Realistically, people have a hard time even doing that for themselves. At least try to aim for once a day teeth brushing for your dogs. Your pockets will thank you in the long run. Dental treatment for dogs can run from hundreds to thousands of dollars! 

My co-worker recently had a dog go through with 14 teeth extractions and dental cleaning and it costed her well over $1,200. On top of all that, the poor dog was very sick and in tremendous pain because his body was trying to fight off the dental infections which persisted for who knows how long.

Moral of this story is to prevent dental disease, suffering of your dog, and save lots of $$$ by brushing your dog’s teeth at home every day.

Toothpaste

SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste

Toothbrush/Finger Brushes

Toothbrush Kit

How To Brush Your Dog’s Teeth

• Secure your pet in between your arms so they don’t get to escape. 
• Introduce the toothpaste to your dog by placing a very small amount on the toothbrush and give them a little taste. They may like the poultry flavor of Petrodex.
• Next, hold one side of their cheek open and gently use a toothbrush to brush from their molars forward, repeating on the opposite side.
• Don’t forget their front teeth and canines! 
• For my furry dogs, I use a baby’s toothbrush for the sides of their teeth and use the rubber finger brush for their front teeth. Don’t forget the inside parts of their teeth too, especially the lower teeth! 
• You will find what method works best for you and your pet.
• If your dog doesn’t let you get far with brushing their teeth it’s okay. Try again the next day. 
• Sometimes it may take many tries to finally get them used to the brushing. 
• Now my dogs come right up to me every night when it’s time to get their teeth brushed. 
• Remember to also praise your pets so they associate teeth brushing with a positive tasty experience!

Keeping your pet’s teeth clean will ultimately keep them free of any dental issues caused from gum disease. They can live long lives with dental free problems. Ultimately, this can also save you tons of money by not needing to get their teeth cleaned all the time and also putting their health at risk by putting them to sleep in the process. 

Teeth brushing is important but if your pet already has severe dental tartar, red swollen gums, and bad breath please bring them to the vet to get them professionally checked and cleaned. The tooth brushing is a preventative measure and not a 100% cure all treatment for dental gum disease in dogs. 

3| Best Dog Product For Diarrhea Treatment

Has your dog ever had diarrhea before? Pretty sure it has. Sometimes it often resolves on its own which is great news. What if it doesn’t and your dog has diarrhea all over your house? 

Yes, this has happened to me plenty of times. I have small dogs that are kept in the home. Unfortunately, when they have accidents they can’t hold, it turns into a smelly nightmare all over the house!

When feeding dogs treats and transitioning different foods, sometimes their stomachs may be too sensitive or unable to handle the food change. I have even had both of my dogs have diarrhea at the same time which lasted more than a week!

I was desperate to try something over the counter before spending hundreds to bring both my dogs to the vet. That’s where Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid came to the rescue.

Well & Good Dog Anti-Diarrhea Liquid

This product is amazing. I followed the instructions and gave it to both my dogs right before meals for 3 days. By the end of the third day, no more diarrhea accidents! It was a miracle. I ultimately saved hundreds of dollars. The key is to administer it diligently and follow the dosage requirements according to the dog’s weight. Also, evaluate what gave the dog an upset stomach in the first place

Oral Syringe and Dispenser

I have used this medicine on 3 other occasions and it has worked like a charm. If you followed instructions for this medicine and your doggy is still experiencing symptoms then definitely bring it to the vet. 

FYI: If Amazon doesn’t have this product, get it at HERE at Petco! It’ll be good to have this on hand just in case your dogs gets an upset stomach. 

4| Best Toy To Keep Your Dog Happy

Are you looking for something to keep your dog busy? Look no further, this interactive dog toy/treat dispenser will keep your dog plenty busy and happy! My house is literally filled with numerous dog toys but there is one that my dog is obsessed with! 

StarMark Bob-A-Lot Interactive Dog Toy

This toy also functions like a puzzle. There’s two compartments which hold treats/kibble. It gets dispensed by the toy being knocked around. You can also control how hard you want your dog to work at to get the treat by adjusting the size of the dispenser holes. My dog gets very obsessed with this toy and it keeps him busy for a long time. 

5| Best Natural Dog Treat For Happy Dogs

Have you ever looked at the ingredients of dog treats? There are so many artificial additives and preservatives added to most of them. Some ingredients have even been linked to cancer. I try to give my dogs the most natural treats and dog food I can find. That’s why I recommend Freeze Dried Liver Treats.

Stewart Pro-Treat, Freeze Dried Dog Treats, Grain Free, USA Made

What I love about this treat is that it only has 1 ingredient that consists of 100% pure beef liver, that’s it! No artificial flavors, additives, or preservatives. Plus it’s processed in the USA! Your dog’s will love these treats just like mine does. 

Takeaway

Being a dog owner is a great experience and it comes with a lot of responsibility. Dog’s need a lot of care from their teeth to their tummies. They need play time and delicious treats every once in a while.

Over 15+ years of being a dog owner, these products came in handy for keeping my pets happy and healthy. I hope these products and tips can do the same for your pets.

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

Going on a cruise can be a lot of fun. You set sail, enjoy the beautiful ocean views, island hop, explore different places, and just have a blast! But of course, cruises aren’t free or are they? Sure, going on a cruise can cost you a lot of money. But, there’s ways to enjoy a cruise to Mexico even if you’re on a budget.

We actually got our cruise fully paid for with credit card points. Find out tips and tricks on how you can get your free cruise too. 

Related: A FREE 5 NIGHT CRUISE WITH CREDIT CARD POINTS

We used our credit card points to pay for all costs of a 5 night Carnival Cruise to Mexico. The total cost for the cruise came about to be almost $1,000. We were able to apply our credit card points to cover the full $1,000. This meant that we got a FREE 5 night cruise trip!

Just because we got a free cruise trip didn’t mean we planned on blowing a lot of money on the trip. We only ended up spending $200 for the full 5 night cruise which went to two different islands.

If you’re planning to go on one, there’s a few tips that I’ll share so that you can also have a blast without breaking the bank.

1 Save on Beverages

If you have never been on a cruise, be warned that you will be bombarded with drinks (alcohol, sodas, coffee) everywhere! The downside is, it’s not free! You’re going to have to pay for every single drink and it can really add up.

To save money on drinks, you’ve got to be prepared.

Cruise lines may usually offer a drink package which allow you to drink cocktails, coffee, sodas, all at a cost. It can be about $50 per person/day. That can easily tack on $250 per person for a 5 day cruise trip.

If possible, skip the drink package.

What you can do instead is bring your own wine or soda on board.

Drinks To Bring On Carnival

• 1 750 ml bottle of wine per person
• 12 sealed cans per person
• Cannot bring on water

Different cruise lines have their own set of rules regarding what you can bring on ship. It’s important to check their rules before deciding to bring your own drinks on board. The last thing you want to happen is have it confiscated.

For Carnival, we skipped the drink package and brought on 2 of our wine bottles and a case of soda. Since, we couldn’t bring water, we ordered some to the room.

Avoid The Corkage Fee

One thing to keep in mind when bringing your own wine is how to avoid the annoying “Corkage Fee”.

Whatever you do, don’t bring your wine bottle to dinner at one of the cruise ship’s main formal dining halls. They’re going to charge you a fee. It can be anywhere from $14-$15.

What you can do instead is, bring the wine to any of their informal dining options so they won’t charge you.

Check For Drink Specials

When you’re on the ship, you’ll most likely get an itinerary booklet. It’s going to have all the day’s events, specials, entertainment, and more. Check it out, it’s going to have some great things in there.

Some days, they’ll even have specials for drinks.

For example, one day Carnival was running a special on beers for 50%. Instead of a $6 beer, we got them for $3. You can save the most on drinks if you find those specials.

Cost: $15 for beers

Overall, you can save hundreds by bringing your own wine, avoiding the corkage fee, and looking for deals on drinks.

2 Free Dining

Another way you can end up spending money when you don’t have to is by paying for dining at one of the specialty restaurants.

Why spend money on the food when there’s tons of free dining options?

Remember when I mentioned the little itinerary booklet with all the specials, deals, and events? It’s also a good reference tool to find out which restaurants cost money.

If you want to save some money, make sure you avoid the restaurants that charge you.

On Carnival, there were so many free dining options to choose from.

• Main Dining Room
• Lido Restaurant (Buffet)
• Pizza Pirate – Open 24 hours, fresh pizza
• Guy’s Burger Joint – Customized burgers
• Guy’s Pig & Anchor Bar-B-Que – BBQ
• Bluelguana Cantina – Mexican food
• Fresh Creations – Salad bar
• Pasta Bella – Pastas
• Swirls – 24/7 Frozen yogurt
• Carnival Delie – Deli sandwiches
• SeaDogs – Hot dogs
• Off The Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken, chicken tenders, and fries
• Room Service – A lot of free items to choose from like, continental breakfast, sandwiches, salads, desserts, and more.

There were so many free dining options to choose from, we didn’t have time to eat at all the restaurants.

3 Free Events

The itinerary on Carnival Cruise Line was ridiculous, in a good way! Literally every hour, there’s always something going on. You definitely won’t be bored.

If you’re not careful, this is another way you can easily spend money. They have a lot of free events/shows/and entertainment. Some of the events do cost money so just be careful.

Some events that could cost money is the poker, whiskey tasting, spa treatments, and so much more.

We avoided all the events that had a charge except one which was Bingo. We paid $15 for 3 tickets and ended up winning $5 back from a free scratcher they gave out.

Tip: If you want to play Bingo, wait till later on in the trip because the prize amount will increase significantly

Overall, all the events were enjoyable. There were comedy shows, evening performances, trivia, and more. We had so much fun! Carnival’s entertainment was awesome!

Cost: $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets

4 Land Ho’-Day 1 on Land

Once you hit land, you’re probably going to explore the island. Again, you could end up spending a lot if you book tons of excursions.

Instead of booking those expensive packages, explore the island on your own. Go on an adventure.

You’d be surprised how much fun you could have!

Rent a Scooter in Cozumel, Mexico

Our first stop was Cozumel, Mexico. We rented a motorized scooter and paid $35 for the rental and insurance all included. We also negotiated with the renter, we could’ve easily spent double had we not haggled.

Cost: $35 for scooter rental

Riding around in the scooter was so much fun!

If you’re ever in Cozumel, try it out.

When you get off the dock, there will be a line of businesses along the street that rent scooters. Talk to a few of the vendors and find the best deal. That’s the good part about Mexico, you’ll get far with haggling.

Once you get your scooter, the vendor can give you a map or directions to get around Cozumel. It’s really not hard at all. It was actually pretty safe too. There’s a separate pathway for scooters far from the main road which makes riding around much safer and very scenic.

We zipped around Cozumel, ate at a local restaurant, bought some souvenirs, went snorkeling in Playa Palancar (Beach), and headed back to the ship in the late afternoon.

Cost: $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store

Go On Your Own Snorkeling Expedition

You don’t have to pay for a snorkeling expedition, you can just do it yourself. Plus, a lot of the paid expeditions will bring everyone to the same beach which makes it really crowded. You can easily go off on your own adventure and find different beaches in Cozumel that’s not as packed.

When we got to Playa Palancar, we whipped out our own snorkeling gear and checked out the fishes/lobsters in the water. We had our own snorkeling expedition!

You can basically have your own snorkeling fun for free.

One thing to keep in mind is, if you’re on the beach you will most likely have to pay for beach chairs and umbrellas.

We paid a fee of $10 to rent chairs and a shared umbrella. We didn’t mind since we got to stay out of the sun and leave our belongings on the chairs. 

Cost: $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 

Skip The Beach Umbrella and Chair Fee

So, of course you could always save that $10 and skip the beach chair and umbrella. Or you could get it for free!

After a couple of hours of snorkeling, we decided to eat at the restaurant that sat right on the beach. They were offering free beach chairs and an umbrella if you ordered something from them.

We ended up ordering a fajita platter and soda for a little snack before we headed back to the ship.

Cost: $15 Fajita Platter and Soda

Tip: If you plan on eating by the beach, check to see if they offer free beach chairs and umbrellas. That way, you don’t have to pay unnecessarily.

Check Out The Small Shops Along The Road

On the way back to the cruise port, we stopped by a coconut stand on the side of the road to get a coconut drink! It was the best coconut drink I ever had. The gentleman made it fresh on the spot! 

Cost: $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)

There were a few shops along the road from Playa Palancar going back to the ship.

They sold things from beautiful hand woven blankets, clothes, souvenirs, and fresh coconut drinks. It’s definitely worth checking out.

5 Day 2 on Land

If you’re on a 4-5 night cruise, chances are you’ll be stopping off at more than 1 port.

Our second stop in Mexico was Progreso.

We did so much in Cozumel that we wanted to just take it easy in Progreso.

Take a Free Shuttle To The Beach

When you get off the ship, there will be free shuttles available to take you to the nearest beach called Playa Puerto Progreso.

Once you get off the free shuttle, all you need to do is walk 5 minutes to the beach. It’s very close by.

The beach of Progreso is actually very laid back. It wasn’t really crowded, the water was a warm turquoise color, the sand was nice and soft, overall it was a nice beach.

Get Free Beach Chairs and Umbrella

Just like most beach areas, those chairs and umbrella’s aren’t free.

Walk along the beach and try to haggle with different vendors to see what they offer.

Some may offer free beach chairs and an umbrella if you order from their restaurant. That’s what we did.

The great part is, you don’t have to step foot into the restaurant. It’s close by the beach so the waiter will come to you, take your order, and bring you food / drinks. It’s actually very nice to hang out right on the beach and enjoy some delicious fried fish and drinks.

Overall, we did splurge a little bit at this particular place because we wanted to enjoy our scrumptious fried fish by the water and drinks. We ended up spending $50, $20 for the fish dish, $20 for drinks, and $10 went towards tip and tax. Overall, I don’t regret it since it was our last land day before going back on the cruise ship. 

Cost: $50 Lunch/Drinks on the beach

After our beach day we were headed back towards the shuttle and went through the market. We picked up 2 magnets for $5 for souvenirs. 

Cost: $5 for Souvenirs

Once we got back on the cruise ship, we enjoyed one more day of being on the cruise ship since we were sailing back to our home port. It was sad to have the trip come to an end. 

6 Debarkation 

If you ever go on any Carnival cruise trip, be prepared to have a lot of fun. The best part about cruises are that you can have a great time without spending a lot of money.

Don’t fall into the trap thinking that a few dollars spent here and there isn’t much. It can really add up.

Once your trip comes to an end, you’re going to get an overall bill for everything you purchased while on the cruise.

If you were mindful and didn’t overspend, then the total shouldn’t be shocking.

Ours came out to under $1,000, which we paid for fully using credit card points. We also ended up spending $200 cash in total for a 5 night cruise, which isn’t too shabby I’d say.

One thing I need to mention is try saving some money for your cabin steward. They do such an amazing job and getting your room nice and clean all day, it seems. They definitely deserve a nice tip. We tipped our steward $25, however I think he deserved much more than that. I’m going to have to increase my budget for our next steward.

Cost: $25 Tip for cabin steward

Total Spent:

• $15 for beers
• $15 on Bingo for 3 tickets
• $35 for scooter rental
• $24 consisting of $10 for Tacos, $10 for sunglasses and $4 magnets at a local store
• $10 Rental Beach Chairs and Umbrella 
• $15 Fajita Platter and Soda
• $6 Coconut drink with rum added (Regular coconut drink $3)
• $50 Lunch/drinks on the beach
• $5 for Souvenirs
• $25 Tip for cabin steward
• TOTAL $200

Budget Friendly Cruise Tips:

• Bring your own case of sodas/wine and purchase the cruise’s water package 
• Avoid the corkage fee by avoiding bringing your own wine to formal dining areas
• Avoid purchasing the cruise line’s drink package, it can tack on additional $280-$300 per person
• Check out their drink special discounts (We purchased beers at 50% off on the cruise ship when they advertised)
• Try their no-fee dining options
• Stick with their no-fee activities (There are tons of them)
• If you want to try playing bingo, wait till their jackpot gets higher (usually towards the end of the trip)
• Try to avoid booking the excursions and go for your own adventure
• Sodas and other beverages can quickly add up, bring your own bottled water especially when on land. 
• When purchasing anything in Mexico, try to negotiate, a lot of the vendors will haggle with you
• Try not to buy too many souvenirs (Do you really need to buy all your co-workers, friends, family something? It can really add up)

Takeaway

If you’re looking to go on a nice cruise, it doesn’t have to put a strain on your finances. Even you could get a free cruise, or even spend minimally while still being able to have tons of fun.

What’s the point in life if you can’t enjoy it. You can still go on great trips and vacations but being budget conscious can help you save more money for your next adventures.

We partner with some awesome companies that offer products which can help our readers. If you make a purchase through one of our partner links, we may receive a commission at absolutely no additional cost to you! Please see my Policy & Disclosure page for full details. 

When you think of Las Vegas you may be thinking how expensive it may be. You can absolutely have an amazing time without breaking the bank at all. I’ll show you what we did to get a free flight for two people, tickets to a popular show, and a trip to the Grand Canyon. Plus there’s SO MANY fun, free, and cheap things to do there. Discover 22 ways to do Las Vegas on a budget and still have tons of fun!

Have Credit Cards Pay You to Travel

So you may be wondering how to get a free flight to Las Vegas. Well, have credit cards pay you to use their card. They pay you by offering travel points when you use their credit card. A lot of travel rewards cards out there offer 50,000 to 70,000 points just for using their cards, that’s pretty much an equivalent to $500 to $700.

Popular Travel Reward Cards:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card – 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card – 20,000 after spending $1,000 in 3 months
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 after spending $4,000 in 3 months
• Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card – 20,000 after spending $1,000 on purchases
• Bank of America Travel Rewards Card – 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases
• United Explorer Card – 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in 3 months
• Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard – 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $2,500 in 3 months
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card – 40,000 points after spending $1,000 in 3 months
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card – 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in 3 months
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card – 125,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 in 3 months
• Hilton Honors American Express Card – 75,000 bonus points after $1,000 in 3 months

Now before you go off and start applying for credit cards, you need to read how we got approved for 6 rewards cards and accumulated 508,421 worth of rewards points.

Credits Cards We’ve Used:

• Capital One Venture (His) 102,009
• Capital One Venture (Mine) 57,534
• Baryclays Arrival 129,966
• Chase Sapphire (Mine) 87,836
• Chase Sapphire (His) 68,909
• Delta Skymiles 62,167

Total 508,421

Breakdown of points used for this Las Vegas trip on a budget:

• $293 – Flight for two using Capital One Venture
• $98.10 – Paranormal Mind Reading Show in Vegas  using Chase Sapphire
• $226.10 – Day trip for two to The Grand Canyon  using Chase Sapphire

We may be getting all these travel points but it wasn’t always like this. Matter of fact, we had 8 credit cards with lingering balances of over $31,000. We got serious about paying off our debt and cleared up all 8 of our credit card balances by using 5 simple steps.

Related: How to Get Out of Debt with These 5 Tips

If you want to get started knocking out some debt today, grab your free Debt Thermometer and join us in the free 5-Day Debt Free Bootcamp.

Steps Used to Get Approved For 6 Reward Cards:

1. We cleared all our credit card debt by using the Debt Snowball Method
2. Our credit naturally shot up to the 800’s by clearing credit card debt which helped us get approved for great credit cards
3. Applied to 1 travel reward card at a time
4. Use 1 credit card for ALL EXPENSES, that way it’s easy to meet the minimum spending requirement for these credit cards
5. Pay off balance in full every month

By paying off all credit card debt, it can tremendously boost your credit score which will help you to get approved for amazing offers too. I also really recommend using only 1 card at a time and pay off the balance in full each month so that you won’t be stretching yourself thin trying to juggle multiple cards. Getting major bonus points from travel cards is the best way to travel for free!

Related:

Use The Debt Snowball Method to Pay Off Debt

Tips on How to Get a 800 Credit Score

How We Got Our First Time Cruise Trip For Free

How To Get Out Of Debt With These 5 Tips

Look For Best Travel Deals Before Booking

Besides finding ways to use credit card points for travel why not get even more savings by finding the best travel deals?

Best Site for Cheap Travel Rates

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is one of the best travel search engines. They provide some of the cheapest flights I’ve seen around. They also have a nice ‘Everywhere’ feature in case you’re not sure where to go, it can pull all different destinations both domestically and internationally and include the best flight prices.
• Orbitz – Orbitz is a reliable site where you can search flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and cruises. They have really great prices, very competitive rates compared to other travel sites. Plus they also have their own rewards program, where you can earn points to apply towards your next trip.
• Hotwire – Hotwire is another very popular travel booking site that’s been around for nearly 20 years. They have great rates for flights, hotels, car rentals, and bundles.
• Travelocity – Travelocity has also been around for a while. They also offer low rates for flights, hotels, vacation packages, car rentals, and cruises.

Before booking any trip, make sure to get the most out of your money. Stop by Rakuten first because they will have cash back offers for a lot of travel sites like Orbitz, Hotwire, and Travelocity.

Sign up today with Rakuten to get $10 in a welcome bonus and be on your way to start earning cash back for online purchases. Don’t miss out on FREE MONEY!

22 Ways To Do Las Vegas On a Budget

If you’ve never been to Vegas, you have to go! Walking along the Vegas strip is quite an experience, there’s SO much to see and do. There’s great food, entertainment shows, activities, and incredible sights to see. There really is no other place like it. You can find so many places to explore and don’t have to spend a fortune. If you’re thinking about going to Las Vegas in the summer, think again. We went in June and it was VERY HOT! The desert heat is literally no joke. Pick a cooler month other than the summer to go because of how hot it gets. 

1 | Bellagio Fountains

Bellagio Fountains is one of the staples of Las Vegas. It’s a magnificent show of water, lights, and music perfectly coordinated which is both mesmerizing and romantic. The best part about it is that it’s absolutely FREE!

2 | Volcano Show at Mirage

The Volcano show at Mirage is also another free night show that displays intense fire and explosions coordinated to music. Walking down the Las Vegas strip can keep you entertained and all without spending a dime. 

3 | Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a must see. They have spectacular and seasonal displays that change every 3 months. If you want to get some great pictures with large sculptures or just walk through beautifully decorated floral paths then check out this spot. Oh, and it’s free too!

4 | Aquarium at Silverton

Silverton Casino offers a free aquarium with an abundance of fish, stingrays, and live mermaids to interact with guests on the other side of the glass. It’s a great place to bring your kids to spend a few hours in Las Vegas without spending a cent!

5 | Fremont Street Experience

Experience a free over head light show as a part of the Fremont Street Experience. It’s fun to just walk around and people watch. You will see a lot of street performers and characters. Use caution when bringing your kid’s there. Some people dress up in obscene costumes. Walking around Fremont Street can be fun too, check out the different souvenir shops, staple casinos, museums, restaurants, and more.

6 | Binion’s Casino

While you’re at Fremont Street, stop by Binion’s Casino to get you a free souvenir photo.They will take your picture with a huge stack of 1 million bucks. They give you the glossy 6×8 photo for free! 

7 | Golden Nugget Casino

Have you ever seen a 61 lb gold nugget? You can see it at the Golden Nugget Casino in Fremont Street. It’s called the Hand of Faith.

8 | Welcome To Las Vegas Sign

You have to take your picture at the iconic Welcome To Las Vegas Sign. 

9 | The Park 

The Park is nestled in between New York-New York and Park MGM. It has a lively outdoor hangout spot where you can check out 40 ft tall sculptures, grab a bite to eat, enjoy live music, grab some drinks, and explore more art. 

10 | Sunset Stampede Show

Check out a 10 minute water, laser, light, and sound show at the Sunset Stampede Show at Sam’s Town Hall and Gambling Hall.

11 | Streetmosphere

Experience Streetmosphere which consists of live outdoor entertainment of jugglers, singers, performers, stilt walkers, and living statues at the Grand Canal Shoppes

12 | Seven Magic Mountains

Check out the artwork in the middle of the desert called Seven Magic Mountains. It’s located near Jean Dry Lake and Interstate 15 about 10 miles from  Las Vegas. These colorful boulders are stacked 30 feet high. It makes for some kool Instagram pictures.

13 | 3-D Murals 

Get some trippy photos with 3-D murals at The Linq Promenade + Experience along with free night live entertainments with a light show.

14 | Chocolate Fix

Satiate your sweet tooth at M&M’s World . Do you want to see how chocolate is made? Get a free tour at Ethel M Chocolates & Cactus Garden plus you will get a free chocolate sample at the end of the tour.

15 | Circus Act

Check out a free Las Vegas Circus acts show at Circus Circus. The performances range from trapeze tricks, clowns, juggling masters, contortionists, and more. 

16 | Forum Shops

If you love Roman inspired architecture definitely check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. It’s an awesome place to window shop at some luxury stores plus they have The Atlantis aquarium as well. It really is a pleasant experience just to walk around and marvel at the architecture, you’ll feel like you’re in another country. 

17 | Lake of Dreams

Watch a free entertainment show called Lake of Dreams at the Wynn. View a spectacle light display against a 40 foot wall coordinated to music. It might be something your kid’s will enjoy. 

18 | Coca-Cola Store

Get away from the Las Vegas heat and head to the Coca-Cola store where you can enjoy some refreshing Coke Floats and try 16 different international beverages. Don’t forget your picture with the notorious Coca-Cola polar bear. 

19 | Flamingo Wildlife Habitat

Get away from all the noise, lights, and step into paradise at the Flamingo Wildlife Habitat in the Flamingo Hotel. There are also, swans, ducks, pelicans, turtles, parrots, koi fish, Sacred Ibis, and more. 

20 | Las Vegas Strip

Put on your walking shoes and just explore the Las Vegas Strip. Take in all the lights and architecture of the casinos. 

21 | Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam is a must see National Historic Landmark. It stands more than 725 feet above the Colorado River. It’s about 40 minutes from Las Vegas. You can see the Hoover dam for free if you park in one of the free parking areas and walk across the dam and marvel at it’s magnitude. There is a visitor center and tour of the dam itself and the price ranges from $15 and up if you want to learn more about the dam. 

The cheapest way to get there will be to rent a car for your Las Vegas trip and scope out the Hoover Dam for free. 

22 | Grand Canyon

If you go to Las Vegas then it’s a must to check out Grand Canyon. Marvel at the beauty and the magnitude of beautifully carved rock formations. Pictures do not give it justice as the sight will take your breath away. It’s a definite must see. 

The Grand Canyon has 3 major parts. One is the West Rim which is closer to Las Vegas about a two-and-a-half hour drive. The admission is around $56 per person. If you want to take a tour bus the costs are usually doubled but that often includes the ride, admission to the park, and lunch. 

The more cost effective way to go would be to venture to the North and South Rim since the admission is only $35 per vehicle. The downside is the long drive of around 5 hours to and from. People say the North and South Rim have more incredible views compared to the West Rim. I’ve been to the West Rim and was still amazed at the views. 

Do you have any children in the fourth grade? You’re in luck! Fourth graders and their family can enjoy the parks for free here at everykidoutdoors. All you do is print the ticket and show it to one of the rangers there and you’re in. 

The Grand Canyon is truly magnificent and a beautiful place to visit. Whether it’s the West, North, or South Rim, you won’t be disappointed. 

Las Vegas can be full of adventure and fun while staying on budget too! There are tons of things to see and experience without spending a dime. Once you go, it will leave you planning your next trip back to Vegas. Remember, you can still have a blast and not break the bank. Las Vegas is the perfect place for that. 

Thanks for reading and happy travels!