It's the financial equivalent of being stuck between a rock and a hard place: How can you build your family's savings when you're barely making ends meet as it is? Or when you're struggling to get out of debt?

Theoretically I should have two college funds going right now, one for each of my kids ... but I figure it's probably more important that they're fed and clothed in the meantime.

(The electric bill is a priority too, as I can't imagine doing homework by candlelight would do much for their academic future, either.)

If you're like me and getting your family's finances under control feels like an overwhelming, if not impossible, task -- take heart. And take one step at a time. 

Here are a few easy ways to get started ...

I don't know about you, but as a kid, I loved any chance I got to "camp out" in the backyard with my siblings and friends. Usually, this meant sleepovers on the trampoline. We had so much fun!

Wouldn't it be awesome to construct a backyard tent setup like the one pictured above? My kids would go crazy for something like that! Truthfully, I think I'd be the one sneaking away to read a good book (or maybe take a nap!) in there as often as I could. 

A backyard tent doesn't have to be elaborate. So in that spirit, I've gathered 4 more fun tent inspirations below.

If you want to test out your green thumb but don't have a lot of ground space, check out this inventive container garden Linsey and her family made out of wooden wine boxes for their patio in downtown Houston. I love their creativity in crafting a working garden for their urban lifestyle by re-purposing a common item and making it function inside their space. 

See a few more images of this clever little garden project below:

Plenty of people have found themselves in sticky financial situations due to the economy over the past few years, and some are obviously dealing with the hardships much better than others. Take Carl and Hari, for example. After losing their business, they made the ultimate sacrifice by moving out of their comfortable, 1,500-square-foot, 3-bedroom home, and settling into a much smaller pad with their two kids.

And when I say much smaller, I mean much much much smaller. Like smaller than your average NYC hotel room (which is next to invisible). Their "Tiny House," as they so lovingly call it, is a only mere 168 square feet. Can you imagine trying to maneuver around 168 square feet by yourself, let alone as a family of four?

I hate it when I get to the store -- like the Carter's outlet near me -- and find that I had to have signed up for their email updates to get a discount. Of course, being a frugal consumer (read: cheap bee-yotch), I am happy to take 10 minutes to step away from the register, sign up for the emails using my smartphone, and present my coupon like I'd planned to do that all along.

Never mind the irony of being a cheapo with a smartphone. I'd sooner give up my dishwasher.

There's just one problem with the money-saving emails: Sometimes the time you spend unraveling the exact deal, and how much you can actually save, costs more than the savings. And sometimes, if you really look, you aren't saving anything. When did my money-saving email deals turn into spam-scams?

You're a good person, and you work hard for your family. So, of course, you deserve the best around your home! Sadly, the best can be awfully expensive, can't it? Well, not to worry. Some of the dreamiest "little luxuries" in life are totally doable on a budget and can make home life all the more satisfying.

Fresh flowers, crazy soft cotton sheets, those pricey but amazing-smelling candles -- today we're celebrating 9 simple, super-satisfying splurges for the home. After all, every household needs at least one guilty delight.

Top image via Amanda Soule

I think soothing is what most people go for when it comes to creating a nursery, and soothing is exactly what designer Lindsay Brier managed to achieve with this space for her son, Hawken. Its neutral base with bright pops of orange could definitely work for either gender. But she also used stripes!

See more about how she decorated her baby's room, below.

So I couldn't help noticing today: There's an entire town for sale for $100,000. A whole freakin' town in Wyoming! And while I don't exactly have $100K sitting here in my back pocket, I can't believe how cheap that is. Do you know what $100K will buy you in my neighborhood? A bathroom. Maybe a parking space.

Can I please buy this town?

I have so many ideas! I mean, sure it's way out in Wyoming and there's only three houses, a gas station/convenience store, and a post office, plus one inhabitant. But I see soooo much potential here. I almost want to set up a whole new Pinterest account just to help me decorate my new town I'm about to buy.