Sunday Scroll #124

Tips for saving thousands, finding hope, having heartfelt convos with teens, and making *really* good garlic bread

Good morning, and welcome to Sunday! How are you?

Tbh I’m feeling a little more put together this week. Because when I’m looking for a bit more peace and order, I clean. That includes cleaning up our finances. Bryan and I sat down for our annual money audit and looked at where we could pull back a little bit (spoiler alert: groceries. Always groceries. But we have a plan!).

The Breakdown of our Annual Money Audit

Ready for some scrolling? Me too. Let’s go!

1. 26 ways to lighten your mental load in 2026. “I’m tired of being amazing. I don’t want to be amazing anymore.” Oof. This is such a helpful list. Take what works for you, and leave the rest.

2. These are the best grocery stores, according to customers. I have heard so many things about the winner — I wish we lived near one!! But we do hit up the savings option pretty often. It’s saved us thousands. That is not a typo.

3. I need to make this pull-apart garlic bread ASAP. This looks SO easy, too!

4. What girls pick up from their mothers. “This is why motherhood is emotional modeling. Not perfection — but healing.”

5. Your net worth is not your self-worth. A good reminder of the things that are *real* wealth, not what the wealth Big Tech, Wall Street, and the rest of those who profit on our insecurity tell us what wealth is. I’m still thinking about the phrase “experiential wealth.”

6. The more you know 💫 This is why produce at grocery stores are sold in little colored nets.

7. “I keep learning again and again that hope is the right response to the human condition.” John Green is right about so many things — especially this. If you need a spark of hope this week, I think this may help. ❤️

8. This thirty-something comic interacting with some real-life Golden Girls showed up in my feed, and it’s the absolute best. 😂 (heads up: some language!)

9. Unhinged? Yes. True? ✅✅✅

10. Good link of the week.

A conversation worth having in the car. Instagram just launched Carversations. It’s a new series designed to help parents and teens talk more openly about social media (the first episode features Usher and his teen sons!). As a mom of tweens / a teen and someone who built a business online, I’m pro-social media — but even more pro-using-it-intentionally… and I’m learning that car rides are the perfect low-pressure place to start the convo.

Here’s the link to my Reel where I share a few simple questions you can ask your teen. And here’s the link to YouTube to watch the first episode of Carversations, with more to come soon. (Grateful to Instagram for this partnership!)

This may be my favorite thing The Simplified Post has ever done: compiled a list of GRANDMA HOBBIES! And tips on how to keep them going! Tbh 2026 may be the year I get into crosswords…

Also: Simplified’s Winter Warehouse Sale is here! ❄️ We’re clearing space for what’s next, which means up to 60% off desk and organization favorites you love. Plus, use code PLAN2026 to save 26% on 2026 Simplified Planners.

That's enough for today.

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Have a great week!