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Archive for May, 2009|Monthly archive page

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The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter

In Budget Smart Girl's Newsletter on May 29, 2009 at 1:17 pm

Issue 1, Number 5, May 2009
It’s not yet officially summer until next month but it sure feels like it. The days are getting longer, new produce is arriving in stores and garden and yard products are already on sale. Sounds like the perfect time to save some money. And I hope this newsletter also gives you more ideas about how you can stretch your budget.

Health and Beauty
I made a return visit to the local Fantastic Sams hair salon last week and got another great hair cut for $9.99, plus more coupons for future visits. Getting and keeping your hair in great shape sometimes costs money so I asked top hair artist Kenneth Darrell of Studio 627 in Murfreesboro, TN, to give us some tips on how to look great without breaking the bank.
Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-What are some bargain priced hair care products that you’d recommend?
Kenneth Darrell (KD)-When you’re shopping for hair care products on a tight budget, I like the Pantene brand. They are effective and price point friendly.
BSG-Are there any products, for example, pre-conditioners that you can skip and save yourself some money?
KD-One of the best places to save money, time, and to actually help the condition of your hair is to examine the condition of the water that you are washing your hair in. Many times people will waste time and money on deep conditioning treatments when the problem is not with their hair but rather with the water they wash it in. Hard water minerals and metal deposits can make hair feel damaged. Solution….. buy a gallon of distilled water to wash your hair in or use a water softener for your water system.
BSG-Any tips on trimming your own hair? I know I put off trips to the salon by cutting my own hair and end up with one side longer than the other.
KD-The best way to cut your hair at home is to concentrate on “trimming the dead ends only” rather than removing real length. Removing length should be left to a pro. However, you can extend the time between professional cuts by removing just the last 1/8 inch of the “dead ends” of the hair. This will keep the hair looking healthy until your professional cut.
BSG-Any tips for making your hair color last longer?
KD-The best way to extend the life of your color service is simple… treat your hair just like a delicate fabric… wash it in cold water and avoid excess sun exposure. Hot water will fade your color and UV light from the sun will oxidize it.
BSG-Any tips for styling or products that can cover up roots if you don’t want to go to the salon so frequently?
KD-Simple retouches can be done at home between professional services. The trick is… keep the retouch on the roots only! And remember the golden rule of hair color…. you can always go darker, so let that fact guide you in your color selection.
BSG-How about children’s hair, some people say it’s easy to cut and you don’t need the expense of a salon but is that good advice?
KD-Children’s hair is perhaps the most difficult type of hair to cut. Kids have a hard time sitting still for very long, so that presents a moving target for the stylist. Also, in very young children the hair has not matured yet and can be quite fine making it difficult to cut without revealing flaws. All that being said; the time to begin to take your kids to a pro is when it becomes important to them as to how their hair looks. For some they couldn’t care less… cut them yourself. For others it is critical to their self image… take them to a pro!
BSG-Any new fashion, hair cuts that are going to be the hot new thing this summer or fall?
KD-This year identifying the hot new look in hair couldn’t be more simple!! Just add bangs! If you don’t already have them, consider adding to them for a more dramatic look. Add this to any hair style and you’re instantly “trendy!”

Check Out A Product
I love trying new beauty products but sometimes I’m nervous about spending money on something I might not like. I found this site that seems to have the answer. It has product reviews, all the latest news and yes, free samples too. www.totalbeauty.com
And speaking of free samples, next time you’re in a department store and thinking about buying a new lipstick, cleanser etc, ask if they have a free sample you can try first.

Outside Entertaining
Memorial Day kicked off grilling season and heading outside for a party or two. One of the biggest budget busters is having all the food and decorations and then getting caught in a downpour. So here, Penny Warner with Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kits www.balloontime.com offers suggestions for the perfect outdoor summer party-
Choose a theme
No matter what the weather, choose a theme for your outdoor party and decorate accordingly. Popular summer themes include a Garden Party, Pool Party, Beach Party, Neighborhood Block Party, Barbeque, Tailgate Party, or Fourth of July celebration.
Decorate strategically
Next, gather the decorations, but don’t actually decorate until day of the party. Because the weather could change overnight, prepare portable decorating items that can be moved indoors quickly. Helium-inflated balloons make the best decorations, as they add color, cheer and atmosphere to any party theme. If you use a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit, you can decorate quickly and easily at the last minute – indoors or out. Then add other touches related to your theme, such as potted flowers for a Garden Party, beach balls for a Pool or Beach Party, or American flags for a Fourth of July Party.
Think ahead
Here are some additional solutions for weather concerns:
- Set an alternate “Rain Location” on the invitation to alert guests to a possible change of venue.
- Reserve an indoor location as a backup, in case you need to move your party inside. Ask if you can pay a deposit so you don’t have to lose the entire amount for the reservation.
- Invite only as many guests as you can comfortably entertain inside your house in case you need to move inside at the last minute.
- Rent a tent or canopy – it adds fun, elegance and drama to your party, even in good weather. And it makes great protection if the temperatures soar.
- Rent heaters or fans to keep the guests warm if the weather is cool – and keep them cool if it gets too hot.
- Rent individual umbrellas or parasols for fun and protection.
- Go back in time and check the calendar, to see what your odds are for a good weather day. Then play the odds!
- Be sure to weigh or tie down decorations if the day turns windy.

In The Garden
On a recent trip to Home Depot, I noticed they have a newsletter you can sign up for. I’m not sure if it just contains tips and ideas, but I’m guessing they might offer news about upcoming sales and free DIY classes too.
Seems like it’s been weeks since we’ve had a good rainfall and that means using water to keep the grass happy. One way round a water ban and yes, spending money on water is to remove the grass and replace it with something more drought tolerant. I found this site www.stepables.com. Type in the features you want, like low growing, drought tolerant and it gives you a list of suggestions.

What’s Up with the Lawn?
Seems like my lawn always has some problem and most of the time I just don’t know what to do. Check out www.thelawninstitute.org for some answers.

Growing Your Own Food
It’s the big thing this year and if you think you don’t have enough space or time to grow your own veggies, here are two suggestions. Just the other day I dusted off the cobwebs from the hanging baskets and pots I keep from year to year. Normally I fill them with annuals but this year I’m thinking about planting things like tomato and pepper plants. And if the idea of growing food year round appeals to you, check out the Aero Garden outlet www.aerogardenoutlet.com. They offer overstock products and daily specials.

Manage My Home
And yes, if you’re a homeowner you know all too well that there’s always something that needs fixing. Yes, it can cost you a fortune every time a professional has to visit your home to fix it. However, check out www.managemyhome.com I’m not suggesting you do every repair job yourself, but the site has lots of great information on where to start and when to call in outside help.

I Don’t Do Windows
Just the other day, the sun was shining and I realized the outside of the windows are in need of a good clean. Not one of my favorite chores but Windex has a new way to make the task just that more enjoyable. Check out www.windexoffer.com to get a $2.50 coupon off a starter kit.

Worth Checking Out
A couple of months ago I was standing in the checkout at the supermarket and noticed a new publication called Dollar Savvy. Seems they not only have a book but a Web site too, check it out at www.getdollarsavvy.com

In the Kitchen
One thing I love about summer is all the wonderful produce. Yesterday I got a great deal on some cherries and last week I bought a large bag of green beans. Yes, I was intending to blanch and freeze the beans, but let’s just say we’ve been eating green beans almost every day. If you do have the time and the extra cash to buy more produce, now’s a great time to do some canning or even putting items in the freezer for future meals. Who knows when prices will go up again.

Looking for A Budget Recipe
Check out this government site http://recipefinder.nal.usda.gov The best thing is you can find a recipe by menu items, cooking equipment and also by cost.

Check Out This Book
I found this book at the library and thought I’d check it out-
The Everything Budgeting Book by Tere Stouffer
ISBN: 159869-631-9 $14.95
It has lots of worksheets you can use to help plan your budget. Some of the chapters include- saving money on groceries, reducing your biggest expenses, moving to a smaller house. And there are some special chapters on topics like surviving unemployment, changing your budget after you turn 50, saving for retirement, and a great one about staying motivated while you’re on a budget.

Interesting Articles
Years ago I had trouble finding articles about saving money, but I’m happy to say that’s no longer a problem. Here are some of the topics I found this month-

Warehouse Memberships
If you’re thinking about a warehouse membership, not only will this article help you decide if it’s worth it, but it gives a chart showing price comparisons for the major warehouses.
www.tinyurl.com/r59ons

Money Wasters
Yes, even Budget Smart Girls waste money from time to time. Check out this list-
www.tinyurl.com/clbfhd

Swap and Save
I found this on YahooUK about how swapping certain items can save you money-
www.tinyurl.com/psqrbv

A Brand New World
The global recession has definitely changed the way we shop and this article gives you tips on buying items in the new economy
www.tinyurl.com/6dmh90

Next Month-Ways to save money on travel, some summer recipes and sites that help you save money. Have a great month and be sure to send me your money saving tips to share with other readers.

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The Blog-Coupon Savings Galore

In The Blog on May 26, 2009 at 2:30 pm

Hope everyone enjoyed the holiday weekend. I used my extra ‘day off’ to try and catch up on getting my office organized and making some make ahead meals. So far so good, but I’m still running behind schedule.

Last week was a great week for coupons. I shaved close to $30 off my grocery bill. If you don’t think coupons are worth the effort, believe me, they are. I netted a whole bunch from the links in the newsletter from Hot Coupon World and used those coupons for items that were already on sale at the store. I had a coupon for $1 off Tombstone pizza. The store was offering 4 of them for $12. I noticed one variety had a $1 off coupon attached to it so I used that too. Both coupons were doubled as it was double coupon Wednesday so I finally paid $8 for 4 pizzas. An added plus was I qualified for a coupon for up to $3.50 off my next purchase of milk at that store.

And I took advantage of some of the sales that were going on. Hamburger and hot dog buns were on sale. I bought several packages of both to put in the freezer. I also stocked up on cans of baked beans and frozen juices. And Kraft cheese had a big promotion for their new line of cheese. 2 packages for $4 plus a 50 cent coupon that was doubled. I always buy cheese when it’s on sale and freeze it. Yes, it does change the texture slightly, but it’s great for shredding.

Do you read your local newspaper? If you don’t you should because it too has coupons for local restaurants and news about new stores that could actually save you money. Last week I found a flyer in my local paper about a bakery outlet that opened this past weekend. They make bread for lots of top restaurants in the area and have now decided to sell their unsold items every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. – 12 noon. I’ll be checking that out when I get a free Saturday morning and hopefully find some good buys to stock my freezer.

This week on Budget Smart Girl- As this is a short week and I’m working on a deadline for an article; it will just be the Budget Smart Girl newsletter this week. Watch out for it Thursday or Friday.

Have a good week.

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A Memorial Day Feast on the Cheap

In Budget Smart Cook on May 21, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I think of Memorial Day as the first of many days of eating outside, firing up the grill, or even putting together a picnic to take to the park or beach. Here are some recipes ideas that won’t bust your budget.

Hamburgers with a Twist
I know just about everyone loves a hamburger and they’re easy on the budget, but once in a while it’s nice to give them a little twist or two. Yes, there’s the cheeseburger, but how about forgoing the regular slice of cheese. Switch to something with a little more kick, like blue cheese, and placing it inside the burger, so it melts into the meat while it’s on the grill.

Not Just any Salad
How many picnics and get togethers have you either been invited to, or thrown yourself, where the same recipe for coleslaw or potato salad is rolled out every single time? Over the years I’ve been adding different items to potato salads, like chopped eggs, roasted red peppers, chopped celery, sun-dried tomatoes. So experiment and see what works best for you. I also like leaving the skin on the potatoes, and also using a combination of white and sweet potatoes.
As for coleslaw, I’ve been using the broccoli slaw you can find at just about any produce department, and adding blue cheese dressing instead of mayonnaise. Try it; it really puts a new spin on a favorite side dish.

Baked beans are another favorite side dish at most cookouts. I’ve been adding sultanas (if you can’t get them, use raisins, but plump them up in some hot water first), and curry powder. For every 2 cups of beans I use about ½ cup sultanas and one-tablespoon curry powder, depending how hot you like it.

Potatoes
I never think any meal is complete without the potato, but just throwing one on the grill can be a bit bland. Here’s an herb butter I’ve been using for a couple of years with baked potatoes. Add some to the potato as soon as it comes off the grill, everyone says it compliments just about any type of dish.

Fresh Herb Butter
½ cup trans fat free spread or if you’re not watching the cholesterol, butter
1 cup of fresh herbs, I like a combination of thyme and basil, sometimes dill if you’re serving fish
1 small clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
Place the butter into a bowl, and add the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything’s blended. Cover and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.

Another tip is to wash and scrub the potato, rub it with oil and then sprinkle with salt. It flavors the potato from the outside in.
And sometimes I’ll cook the potatoes indoors. I love homemade seasoned fries. Simply cut the potatoes into wedges, toss in oil and add salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and I’ve even had success adding soy sauce for a really savory taste.

Quick Picnic Fare
I’ve always been a big fan of picnics and here’s something that is so simple and easy to put together. It’s best made the day before the picnic. I like to use bread like a foccacia, or you can use French loaf, Italian bread, anything that’s not pre-sliced. You want to slice it in half horizontally. On both halves spread either some olive oil, or pesto sauce. Then just start laying it with whatever you like. I often select cheese, roasted red peppers, artichokes, olives, for a really summer taste. You can use sliced ham, turkey. When you’re done layering, place the other top on the sandwich and wrap the whole thing tightly in cling wrap. Put it on a plate and then place it in the refrigerator. Next put something heavy like a large can of tomatoes or a gallon jug of milk, and leave it overnight. In the morning just put it into your picnic basket and when you’re ready to eat, cut it into wedges.

Stock Up the Pantry
Remember it’s a holiday and that means lots of items like hamburger buns, BBQ sauce, etc, will be on sale. Stock your pantry and freezer for the hot summer days ahead.

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A Professional Looking Garden for Pennies

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 21, 2009 at 12:52 pm

Gardening is one of my hobbies and sometimes I think I spend too much time outside planting, landscaping, you name it. But just the other day I found out all my effort could be a wise investment. A home with a nicely landscaped yard always sells faster and sells for more money. Seems like no matter how much money you put into the yard, you eventually get the majority of it back when it’s time to sell.
And yes, some landscaping tasks are costly, but here are some ways to make the yard look like a million dollars for a lot less.

Swap
Do you have plants in your yard that you hate or are growing out of control? I’m guessing friends and neighbors feel that way too. See if anyone wants to swap plants with you. Some gardening clubs also have weekend swaps too.

Divide and Conquer
Yes, some of my plants fit into the category of growing out of control. However, it’s not a bad thing. Last week I divided most of them and replanted them in another area of the yard I’m landscaping. I managed to get a wheelbarrow load of plants for well, almost free. Some skill and knowledge is required so here’s a link to some great advice on dividing your plants www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/dividing-perennials.aspx

Two tricks I’ve found for success are- one, make sure you water them well when you first transplant them and continue to water them. And two, some of them look like they’re dead, but they just need some time to recover so don’t dig them up thinking you’ve killed them.

Sales for Charity
Where I live there are no end of plant sales that are held in aid of a local charity or two. Some of my best deals have been at charity plant sales. A couple of years ago I purchased two peonies for just $5 each. They’re just about to bloom and my favorite plants in the yard.

Herbs Stretch your Budget
I’m a big fan of herbs because I use them a lot in cooking, but they also make your gardening budget stretch further. Just about every gardening store and farmer’s market sells them, they’re cheap and they fill in any area for just pennies. Added plus, they’re edible and the budget cook’s best buddy.

They Keep on Growing
One good return for your money is perennials. Yes, it’s nice to see some colorful annuals hanging in baskets on the deck, but perennials are the better investment. Buy them once…and okay, unless you kill them, they’re in the yard for almost ever.

Mulch
I switched from using rocks to mulch and I’m glad I did. Not only is it cheaper, it’s easier on the back, and I find it keeps the weeds at bay longer and more efficiently. Drawback…it has to be topped up every year. However, some tree trimming companies have leftover mulch that they’re sell to you or let you have for free. Word of caution here, just make sure the mulch isn’t from a diseased tree. I know someone who saw a sign for free mulch, covered their garden with it and lost all their plants and a couple of their trees. And someone else had an infestation of beetles.

Use Mother Nature
I’ve been cutting down shrubs and tree limbs and keep some of the branches and limbs to add some design and texture in the flowerbeds. It’s free, it looks natural and keeps things interesting too.

Water Features
I’ve always been a huge fan of any garden design with a fountain or running water. Years ago they were pricey and had to be installed by professionals, but now just about anyone can install some type of water feature in their yard for sometimes less than $100.

The Blog-Some Things You Can’t Put Off

In The Blog on May 18, 2009 at 2:56 pm

I took a trip to Home Depot last week and finally found sharpeners for the garden tools! Seems like I’m going to need them because the outside chores are never ending.

And on the topic of things you can’t put off, our deck and fence have seen better days and we’ve finally decided to just replace them. I’ve been busy trying to remove all the plants that are near the fence and deck so they don’t get trampled on when the new stuff is installed. It’s more money than you plan to spend but we’re looking at it as a worthwhile investment to add value to the house. Plus, as we’re spending money on home improvement instead of going on vacation this year, we figure a nice deck is something you need when you head out with a glass of lemonade and a good book.

I’ve been spending so much time outdoors, I’ve found myself scrambling for quick and easy meals. One thing that came to my rescue last week was the Pillsbury’s ready- made pie crust. I used a coupon and got two pie crusts for just over $2. One night I made a cheese and asparagus quiche. And another night a pot pie. Great pastry and if you’ve never tried it, give it a test drive some time. I even took a shortcut with the potatoes I served with it. Last month the supermarket had a dollar sale on certain items and one was the Idahoan potato mix. I’m not usually a fan of instant potatoes, but I thought for a dollar, they’re perfect for emergency pantry supplies. I have to say they were great and paired perfectly with a pot pie. Today I’m making focaccia (yes, the dough is hopefully rising as I write this) which I plan to use for grilled veggie sandwiches with pesto sauce.

Hope you’re signed up for the newsletter at Hot Coupon World www.hotcouponworld.com because last week they had links for more coupons than I’ve ever seen. I printed out a bunch of them and hope to save a bundle this Wednesday when my local supermarket has double coupon days.

This week on Budget Smart Girl- Some low cost food ideas for Memorial Day and saving money on your yard.

Have a good week and a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend.

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Budget Smart Girl Finds

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 14, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Sometimes information about Web sites, books etc. about how to save money land in my e-mail box. Sometimes I’m surfing the Internet and something sparks my interest. Either way, I make a note of them to pass along to you.
That list has been steadily growing so I thought this week I’d tell you about some of the good sites, books, news, I’ve found.

The Frugal Life
You know I’m not the biggest fan of the word ‘frugal’. So when I heard about this book, well I was skeptical. However, when I checked out its accompanying Web site, I have to say I was hooked on finding out more. The books is The Frugal Life…How to Spend Less and Live More by Piper Terrett ISBN 978 1-90487 155 2 from The Good Life Press $14.95. Terrett is a financial journalist in the UK and writes the Frugal Life blog at http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com While the book and the Web site are aimed at primarily a UK audience, you’ll still find lots of tips that you can use no matter where you live. I really enjoyed reading the book and hopefully I’ll be chatting with Terrett sometime soon so she can pass along more money saving tips to us.

Seller or Buyer
It’s official garage sale season is here. Yesterday I checked out the first garage sale of the year in my local neighborhood. They’d taken a new approach to the words ‘garage sale’ and called it The Great Stuff Sale. Yes, they had some ‘great stuff’ but unfortunately nothing I needed. However, it’s a good idea to visit sales because you might just find something that could actually save you money. This sale had a bread machine and food dehydrator for $10 each. If I’d been in the market for these types of items I would have scooped them up. They’re both great money savers and pay for themselves over and over again. I found this site just the other day that’s for both sellers and buyers. It’s free to use and you can even print out maps to the sales in your area. http://garagesalefinder.com

Deals
You know I hate paying full price for anything so when I find a site that offers current deals and coupon codes, I’ll bookmark it. Check out www.specialoffers.com

This One’s Cheap
And someone told me about this site and I think its name says it all. www.cheapcheapcheap.com

Confused About Credit Cards
Seems like there’s new rules for credit cards and if you’ve probably been receiving letters from your credit card company outlining changes to your account that only an attorney could figure out, here’s a site with lots of information that might help you out. www.creditcards.com

Making Over Your House
An inexpensive way to give your house and garden a makeover is a dab of paint here and there. You’ve heard of Habitat for Humanity but did you know they also have stores where they sell leftover items? www.habitat.org/env/restores.aspx

Internet Security and more
You might have heard me mention this next company while I was shopping for tax preparation software earlier this year. The expiration on my Internet security is fast approaching and to renew online is $49.99. So I checked out www.nothingbutsoftware.com again and found the exact same thing for just $29.99, even with the shipping…I save $15.

Heard about any books, sites, services that can help us save money? E-mail me and I’ll include it in the next BSG Finds.

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The Organized Kitchen…yes, it can save you money

In Uncategorized on May 14, 2009 at 2:08 pm

How many times has this happened to you? You go looking for something in your pantry but you can’t find it and head to the store to buy that item. A few days later you’re looking for something else and you find the first item. Hopefully, you can use both packages, jars, whatever before their sale by date. Yes, I’d love a professional organizer to stop by my house once a month to sort through everything and put cans and jars in perfect order. But until then here are some tips I’ve found that have kept me on track to having an organized kitchen.

When Do I Use It?
Look at each item in your kitchen and think about how often you use it. I used to keep my food processor on the countertop, but realized I was only using it maybe a couple of times a month so it got moved to a cupboard. Items that I use for just the holidays, like the carving board for the turkey, is now stored in a cupboard above the fridge that also stores other items that I don’t use that often.

Should You Toss It?
I know most professional organizers tell you to throw away items you haven’t used for six months to a year, but call me sentimental, but some items I just can’t even consider giving away. I have a whole selection of different shaped nozzles used for icing cakes. I haven’t done anything fancy like that for years, but I just can’t seem to part with them. I decided to compromise and bought a storage box just for them and placed it in a drawer. Now they’re not taking up valuable space, but should I ever want to do some fancy cake decorating again, I know I have them.

Set Aside a Day
Another tip that works for me is setting aside a specific day and time for organizing certain items in the kitchen. For example, at the end of each month I make sure I sort through the fridge and pantry and use up items that are getting close to their sale by date.

Use Jars
I’ve found I keep my pantry more organized if I put items into jars rather than keeping them in their original packages. It also extends their shelf life, so it’s a money saver too. You don’t need to use anything expensive. Many companies use Mason jars for their pasta sauces, so I just remove the label, put them in the dishwasher and they’re good to go. You can be as creative as you like, I recently bought some orange juice in a bottle that was so attractive I’m now using it to store split peas. And I keep packages of gravy and taco mix in containers from an old refrigerator.

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The Blog-The Money Saving Trend

In The Blog on May 11, 2009 at 2:29 pm

I think it’s official. Saving money is now in style. Money saving shows, tips, companies promoting cheaper menus…the list goes on and on. Here are some to check out-

Two new cable shows premiered last week. One was Samantha Brown’s Weekend Getaways on the Travel Channel. This season it seems she’s focusing on more money saving travel features. Check out the show on Saturdays at 10 p.m. Eastern, 9 a.m. Central. www.travelchannel.com If you live in any of the cities featured, check out the site because it has a list, some with Web sites links, of places featured on the show.

And the Food Network rolled out a new show featuring Sandra Lee called Money Saving Meals. Sundays at 12 noon Eastern, 11 a.m. Central and you can see clips and tips at www.foodnetwork.com/sandras-money-saving-meals/index.html

And two more restaurant chains are jumping on the low cost meal bandwagon. Chili’s www.chilis.com is offering 10 entrees under $7. Plus Outback Steakhouse www.outback.com is promoting their 15 meals under $15.

I even saw Aldi supermarkets www.aldifoods.com advertising for the first time on TV. Well, at least where I live. It reminded me I need to check out their stores.

And thanks to all of you who sent me tips about sharpening garden tools and for passing along links to some great gardening articles about how to extend the life of gardening tools. Seems like spraying them with cooking oil is a big help.

This week on Budget Smart Girl- sites, books, and Web sites of interest to Budget Smart Girls. Plus, simple ways to keep the kitchen organized.

Have a good week.

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Contests, Refunds, Coupons

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on May 7, 2009 at 2:41 pm

Since I began Budget Smart Girl, I’ve been hoping to occasionally feature news of refunds, coupons, even contests, so here we are. So if find a special deal, coupon etc., that you’d like to share with other readers just e-mail me because I’d really like to make this a monthly feature on the site.

Specially Marked Boxes
Look for specially marked boxes of Fiber One cereal. Some have a coupon attached to the front of the box which entitles you to a free box of Fiber One Toaster pastries if you buy three other Fiber One products like yogurt, pancake mix etc.

And check out some packages of Sargento Cheeses. You’ll find a coupon that allows you to try the Sargento Finishers for free. Just buy one of the salad or potato finishers, keep your cash register receipt, circle the price and fill in the form. The rebate check is good for up to $3.99.

Look for specially marked packages of Total Whole Grain cereal. Some have a free sample of Craisins inside and on the back of the box you’ll find a coupon you can use the next time you buy Craisins.

Vote and Get Coupons
Visit http://bulbstorm.com/elmontery/ There you can vote on products and recipes and be entered to win $500 and receive $1 coupons for El Monterey products. Hurry because the offer ends May 13th, 2009.

Organic Hair Care

photos-for-budget-food-blog-039

Here’s a great deal I found last week at the supermarket. Organix hair products. The store was offering a buy one get one free deal. I purchased a shampoo and conditioner for just $6.99 and then saw the shampoo bottle had a tag with the words ‘try me for free’ on it. I had to send in my cash register receipt with the price circled, filled in the tag with my name and address and they’ll send me a rebate check for $6.99. So here are two great organic products I got for free! And one tip, I’ve found most of the forms they provide are small and if like me, you have large handwriting, sometimes you can’t fit everything in. I’d hate to think my refund gets rejected because they don’t know where to send the check, so I attach one of my address labels on the form.

More Organic Deals
And remember my prediction in the April Budget Smart Girl newsletter about organic products getting cheaper because less people are buying them now? Seems I might be right. Check out www.organicheroes.org Lots of good stuff going on here. You can win free Nature’s Path and Organic Valley products, get a $2 off coupon. And if you buy both products, they’ll send you a free subscription to Organic Gardening. And just today I saw an offer by the Organic Valley products in the supermarket offering $1 off coupons.

$5 Meals
Okay, another one of my predictions here. Restaurants lowering their prices or offering special deals to get us back to their establishments. Check our T.G.I Fridays $5 salads and sandwiches.

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Make Your Own Meal Kits

In Budget Smart Cook on May 7, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Seems like errands and stuff to do around the house have been taking up loads of my time. Some days dinner time rolls around and I think, if only I’d thought ahead and put more ready-made meals in the freezer. I’ve promised myself that on the first rainy weekend, I’ll stay in the kitchen and put together some meal kits and freezable ready to eat ingredients. I’ve done it before and here are some tips on during just that.

Get Organized
One key to planning ahead is making a list. I’ll take a calendar and write down what meals I plan to serve on each day.

See What You Need
See what ingredients you’re going to need for each dish. For example say it’s a chicken stir-fry with rice…chicken, green peppers, onions, carrots, celery, rice, marinade for chicken, cornstarch. Check what’s in the pantry and what you need to buy.

Think Ahead
Can anything be prepared ahead of time? The chicken can be cut into strips and placed in the marinade. The green peppers, onions, carrots and celery can all be washed, chopped and put into a freezer bag and the rice can be measured out, ready to go into the saucepan or microwave when you get home.

Get Some Freezer Bags and Labels
If you’re going to make lots of meal kits at one time, I stock up on freezer bags and labels and make sure everything gets indentified. For example, ‘Chicken stir-fry/marinated chicken’ and the date I made it. That way recipe ingredients don’t get mixed up and family members won’t eat something by mistake.

Just About Anything Can Be Pre-Prepared
It’s not just whole meals that can be made into meal kits. Things like cheese can be shredded; dry ingredients can be measured and put into small containers, spices too. And even if you’re using canned foods, they too can be set out on the counter top ready for when you come home. I’ve even spend an extra hour in the kitchen chopping things like green peppers and onions because I know most recipes call for those two vegetables.

An Added Bonus
Being organized and saving time aren’t the only pluses to getting everything prepped. Because you’re cleaning and cutting up produce and have a specific meal in mind, rotting and forgotten veggies become a thing of the past. And yes, no more wasted money. When the weather gets warmer, one of my favorite lunches is a salad. I’m usually in a hurry to get back to my work, so now I wash lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and cucumber ahead of time and have my own pre-made salad bar waiting in the fridge.

Some Other Time Savers
Two appliances that really help me out during busy times are my slow cooker and bread machine. Warm weather doesn’t always make you think of heavy stews and casseroles, but one thing I like is vegetable soup prepared in the slow cooker. It’s light, low cost and if you combine it with a sandwich, you’ve got a perfect meal for warmer days. Or you can pair it with some wonderful homemade bread that’s been mixing and baking in the bread machine while you’re out running errands or even working in the yard.

One of My Favorite Cookbooks
A few years ago I discovered this cookbook and so glad I did. The Everything Meals for a Month Cookbook by Linda Larsen. Great recipes, easy to prepare, easy on the budget, tasty and they all freeze perfectly. I highly recommend this one.

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