budgetsmartgirl

Archive for December, 2009|Monthly archive page

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The Blog-A Grocery Bill to make a Budget Smart Girl Smile

In The Blog on December 28, 2009 at 6:18 pm

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and got everything on your wish list.

My last grocery shopping trip of the year was a great one. It was not only double coupon day but I had two $10 gift cards I earned from the store. Plus, my husband was given a $20 Butterball turkey gift certificate at work. All this meant that I left the store with a turkey and four bags of groceries….in fact, just about everything for the holiday meal including drinks, appetizer, bread etc. for just $9.87. And I earned $1 off per gallon of gas next time I fill up the car. Only wish I could do that every week!

Look out for lots of sales and discounts this week. I bought some marked down Christmas wrapping paper for future craft projects. Many food items are also still on sale.

Budget Smart Girl will be back to its regular schedule next week. However, here’s a preview of what’s in store for 2010. Lots of expert guests will be stopping by giving us tips and advice on ways to save more money. I’ll be chatting with the folks at RedPlum, also a teacher will share with you his tips for making ends meet. A new feature will be ways to make more money or earn a second income. Entrepreneurs will share their stories with us and show us how to get started. And I’m going to follow one of my dreams. I’m going to write a cookbook (yes, it’s a budget related one). I’ll be testing recipes and sharing them with you. I’ll give you a link to where you can follow along with me as I put the book together and share photos of the dishes. Finally, this is just in the preliminary stages right now but chances are good that in the fall, I’ll be launching Budget Smart Girl as an Internet radio show.

I thank you all for your holiday wishes and for being part of the Budget Smart Girl community. If there’s anything you’d like to see featured or have a budget related question, feel free to e-mail me.

Here’s wishing you a very Happy New Year.

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Six Desperation But Yet Budget Friendly Last Minute Gift Ideas

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on December 21, 2009 at 8:20 pm

Still not sure what to get one or two people on your list? Running out of money? Or has someone unexpectedly given you a gift so now you feel obligated to buy them something too? Just a few days left but don’t despair. Here are my six favorite ideas.

Coupons
More people are finding it hard to make ends meet. These days I’m seeing just about everyone in the supermarket holding coupons as they peruse the aisles. If you’re in a bind, buy a coupon wallet and add some coupons from your own supply. Even download some from the Internet. It’s an idea gift for an elderly neighbor or someone who’s out of work and needs to stretch their budget.

Books
I always head to the bookstore when I need a gift that looks expensive but isn’t. Places like Barnes and Noble and Borders have at least a couple of aisles full of books that are deeply discounted. Some are fiction; some are illustrated books on topics like cooking and gardening. They even have aisles packed with children’s books, some as low as $1.

Magazine Subscription
Here’s another gift idea that’s come to my rescue at the last minute, a magazine subscription. Buy the current copy and wrap that along with a card saying a year subscription is on its way. Best thing is most magazines have cards placed inside with discount offers for subscribers. An added bonus, it’s the gift that arrives every month of the year.

Coffee or Tea
Check the supermarket shelves and you’ll find holiday flavored teas and coffees at bargain prices. The other year I found eggnog flavored teabags that tasted a lot more expensive than their $1.99 price tag. Great for drinking yourself or for keeping on the shelf just in case someone stops by with a gift for you.

Chocolates
One other thing that seems to go on sale and is often marked down drastically a few days before Christmas is chocolate. I’m seeing most stores offering boxes of chocolates, buy one get one free. Most are in the $5-7.99 price range, making this another bargain buy.

Gift Certificates
Many stores and businesses are offering added bonuses when you purchase gift cards. For example, buy a $25 gift card and get a $5 gift card free. One option is to keep the larger amount gift card for yourself and give away the $5 gift card or vice versa. Either way it’s an added bonus and a quick gift.
And if you’re really in a bind, time and money wise, you can always make your own. Maybe one week of dog walking services, I’ll make dinner one night, I’ll wash your car…Best thing is you can match them to the recipient’s needs.

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The Blog-Last Minute Shopping

In The Blog on December 21, 2009 at 5:51 pm

Hope you’re all done with your holiday shopping and that you found some great bargains. I saw a commercial for Walgreens the other night where they were advertising stocking stuffer ideas. Seems like the stores have a separate display of suggested items. I checked their Web site but couldn’t find any further information but if you’re looking for last minute gifts it might be worth a trip there.

I decided to stock the freezer and pantry while everything’s on sale. Don’t think I can get another item in the chest freezer right now. I got some good deals on shrimp, salmon, frozen vegetables, bottles of sparkling fruit juice. I even stocked up on flour and cream cheese. I also decided to buy extra to qualify for another $10 gift card. That means this week I get a $20 gift card to use towards groceries.

Be sure to check out the ‘after the holiday sales’ this coming weekend. I have a feeling the discounts will once again be deep and in our favor.

As this is a short holiday week, there will just be one article…desperation yet budget friendly last minute gifts. Next week I’ll be taking a short break. I will post the Monday blog but the normal schedule will be back the week of January 4th.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

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Meal Planning for the Holidays and Beyond

In Budget Smart Cook on December 17, 2009 at 7:33 pm

There’s no better time to get into the habit of planning meals than during the holidays. If holiday shopping has you running short on time, or you’re planning the holiday meal, put some of the following suggestions into action. See what works for you, and what doesn’t, and hopefully by the New Year you’ll be on your way to saving time and money.

Master Grocery List
I’ve been revamping my master grocery list. I spend a couple of minutes here and there thinking about the food I buy on regular basis and add it to the list. I also think about the layout of my local supermarket. First of all, there’s the produce section, so fruits and vegetables go into that category. Next it’s the deli section, etc. then the bread, salad dressings, etc. I visualize walking around the store and think about what food’s located in what aisle. If you have a tough time remembering, next time you shop you can take a sheet of paper with you and make some notes Some stores have one already made out for you, especially if they’ve recently been remodeled. Another plus to having the master grocery list on hand is you can print out a copy whenever you need it, stick it on the fridge and have other family members use it. They can jot down what they want, or remind them when they use the last of something, say like mayonnaise, to put a check by it on the list. All you need to do is grab it and head to the store.

Involve Others
And speaking of getting the rest of the family to help you. It’s a great time to start getting your children involved get meals on the table. They learn about organizing things, nutrition, and how much food actually costs. You might ask them to sort coupons with you, or help you plan a meal. Lots of teenagers also like helping in the kitchen. If you have a budding chef in the family, they might also like to plan and cook a meal one day a week.

Create Your Own Cookbook
I have recipes that I fall back on time and again. Meals that I can still put together even if I don’t have the recipe in front of me. Also, meals made from ingredients I have sitting in the freezer or pantry. Unexpected things happen all the time and even if you do follow a meal schedule, you always need to have a back-up plan. Jot down at least two meals you can substitute for the one you originally planned to serve.

Let the Internet Help You
I sometimes wonder what we’d all do without computers and the Internet. Two things that have become quicker and easier are grocery shopping and cooking, so it pays to take full advantage of all the new technology.
You can check your supermarket’s Web site for coupons; see what’s on sale, and get ideas for meals. You can also compare prices. Some sites even have recipes you can print out on 3 X 5 cards, and others go one step further provide you with a grocery list for you for all the recipes. More about these types of sites in the New Year on Budget Smart Girl.

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Reasons for the Budget Smart Cook to Love Christmas

In Budget Smart Cook on December 17, 2009 at 7:26 pm

There’s so much to love about the holidays. Being with family and friends, the food, creating memories, and okay, the gifts too. But the budget smart cook has some other reasons to celebrate this season.

Sales During the Holidays
Have you noticed how many food items are on sale between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? Being a budget minded cook, I really look forward to receiving fliers from all my local stores this time of the year. If I’ve been a bit lazy about planning ahead or organizing the pantry, seeing all the items I can buy gets me back on track. December is the perfect time, and if your budget allows it, to stock up on extra items. Things like cans of vegetables, cranberry sauce, pumpkin. And don’t forget items like flour can also be stored in the fridge or freezer. My local store is selling its brand name cheese for just 88 cents this week. I don’t always like the texture of cheese when it’s taken out of the freezer, but adding it to things like sauces and soups is a perfect way to use it.

Sales After the Holidays
Sales don’t only happen during the holidays. You can find some great deals long after the last Christmas decoration is taken down. And don’t just think food items. Christmas canisters and bags are perfect to put aside ready for next year’s holiday food gifts. I often see gift packages with things like dried fruits and nuts, sometimes 50-75% off during the first week of January. I don’t buy them to give as gifts, but use them myself during the next couple of months. They usually end up being cheaper than buying these items in bulk. Plus, I also get a container or basket to use for gifts next year.

Leftovers
Holiday dinners and parties often result in lots of leftover food. Some can be made into new meals, but other things like appetizers can also be frozen and pulled out for a quick lunch or snack during the New Year.
Making Resolutions
Whether it’s making a resolution to eat more healthful foods, or trimming your budget, the holidays are a great time to think about your goals for the coming year.

Making Extra
While you’re cooking for a crowd it doesn’t take much more effort or money to put together extra servings. Sometimes I’ll cook extra mashed potatoes and put them in my food saver bags. Sometimes it’s extra stuffing that I’ll freeze. And around this time of the year I’ll put together complete meal kits, potatoes, veggies, and chicken that I put on a plate that’s suitable for the freezer and once again seal them using my food saver machine.

Food of the Season
Do you have a favorite food that’s only available during the holiday season? For me that’s cranberries and sweet potatoes. If you want to use these types of food in a recipe in say July, first of all good luck trying to find them, and secondly, if you do, they cost twice as much. I always buy at least five bags of cranberries during the holidays and keep them in the freezer. I also cook and mash sweet potatoes, put them in storage bags and load them in the freezer too. Sometimes it’s just a nice change of pace to pull them out in the middle of summer and think back to the holidays.

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The Blog-The Temptation Was Too Great

In The Blog on December 14, 2009 at 6:46 pm

I have a contest to tell you about from the folks at Mom’s Best Natural Cereals so get out those video cameras, here’s what they sent me to pass along to you-

We’re hosting a Pantry Makeover Contest to help families clean up their act—literally! All your readers need to do is submit a video explaining why their pantry is in need of a makeover for the chance to win $1,000 worth of groceries, a visit from registered dietitian Elizabeth Ward, and a year’s supply of Mom’s Best Naturals cereal. Two runners-up will get a sampling of Mom’s Best Naturals and $200 towards groceries. You can check it out at http://www.momsbestnaturals.com/pantry-makeover.

And if you followed me on Twitter, you’ll know that I bought myself a holiday gift last week. Yes, I’ve been good all year, done my best to stick to a budget so I figured I deserved a splurge. And okay, yes, it was no sale, I got free shipping…yes, it will hopefully save me money down the road. Remember an AeroGarden was on my wish list? I’m on their e-mail mailing list and they had the twelve days of Christmas promotion. Each day they sent you a different offer. One day it was the SpaceSaver 6, normally $149.99 that day just $79.99 and the order has a pack of herbs to get you started. I just couldn’t resist buying one. I’ll keep you up to date and post photos here when I get the garden up and running. I’m looking forward to growing things like lettuce, beans, tomatoes etc. especially in the dead of winter.

And here’s a photo, I know it’s not budget related but thought I’d show you anyway. This fine looking deer paid a visit to the backyard last week. I was lucky enough to get him to look toward the patio door while I snapped a photo of him.

This week on Budget Smart Girl…some budget smart meal planning for the holidays and beyond. Some sites and info I didn’t have space for in the newsletter.

Have a good week.

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Parties for the Budget Minded

In Budget Smart Cook, Uncategorized on December 11, 2009 at 3:23 pm

Being on a budget shouldn’t stop you from entertaining this holiday season. With a little planning and ingenuity you can throw a great together. Here are things I always keep in mind-

Serve Food You Can Eat Later
Okay, I’m guilty of this one, making too much food and ending up with leftovers. Not just any leftovers, but sometimes food that I can’t ‘recycle’. I know I’m never going to shake this habit so now I plan ahead. What could I serve that could be used for other meals after the party’s over? Cold cuts and things like baked chicken could be turned into sandwiches or even fillings for omelets.
How about the vegetable platter with the leftover carrots or celery, etc.? They can be added to soups, salads, even roasted, or turned into veggie stock, frozen and used in the New Year.
Leftover dips make ideal substitutes for things like butter and mayonnaise. And leftover chips and bread can be put into the blender to make homemade breadcrumbs. And if you’ve got flavored chips they make a tasty topping for casseroles and baked pasta dishes.

What’s On Sale? What Does Double Duty?
One of the best things about the holiday season is supermarkets slash prices on lots of things from crackers and chips to more expensive items like shrimp. Even things like fresh pineapple that you don’t usually think of as party food is on sale. My local store was selling them for $2.55. They work as a centerpiece and you can eat them after the festivities are over. Pick up the store flyer or go to their Web site and check out the specials of the week. Plan you menu around those items and save yourself some money.

Buy in Bulk
One way to save money is to serve a buffet. Something else that usually goes on sale in December is value packs of items like chicken wings, meatballs. All foods that can fill a buffet table for a lot less.

The Pasta Party
Just about every guest asks what he or she can bring along to a party? This idea takes care of your response and also takes a lot of pressure off you. Ask each guest to bring along his or her favorite pasta sauce. You supply three or four different pastas, a salad and bread and each guest arrives with the ready-made sauce.

A Recipe Swap Party
And speaking of homemade recipes, you’ve heard of cookie swap parties during the holidays, how about throwing a recipe swap one? Each person arrives with a homemade dish along with copies of the recipe. Everyone gets to take home leftovers and recipes for their favorites of the evening.

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The Budget Smart Girl’s Annual Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide-2009

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on December 9, 2009 at 11:36 pm

I think shopping for stocking stuffer gifts is one of the best things about the holidays. And don’t know about you, but they’re fun to receive too. Here is this year’s selection.

For the University Student…or those college bound

Twist and Pout’s 20 GLEAM SPIRIT™ lip glosses are available in a various university designs They have SPF protection and are certified natural formulation. $9.50 with lip clip, $7 without at amazon.com . I got to see these in person and try them out. The lip gloss is great and I can’t imagine a teenager or college student who wouldn’t want one of these to tote around campus.

For The Younger Person on the List

These caught my eye, Bella Sara Adventures. And just in time for the holidays are the “Bella’s Ball Trading Cards,” each with inspirational messages and a secret code. By entering these secret codes at www.BellaSara.com, children can enhance their online experiences by redeeming horseshoes to play games and care for their magical horses. The more secret codes, the more adventures you can unlock when playing Bella Sara Adventures www.bellasara.com/mini_bsahome.aspx . Best of all they cost just $2.99

For The Dry Winter Skin
Seems the holidays arrive at just the time of the year when your skin starts to feel dry and itchy, so maybe someone on your list will like the Softsoap® BRAND . They cost less than $5 Softsoap® Body Wash is an affordable luxury that offers the advanced skin care benefits typically found in more costly treatments such as Softsoap Nutri Serums – The first body wash infused with nutrient rich softening Serum Pearls that help keep skin nourished and healthy. Softsoap Coconut Body Butter Scrub has ultra rich formula with jojoba butter and crushed coconut extracts. www.softsoap.com

Gift Coins

Here’s a really great idea, buy someone a gift and help a worthy cause.Target has GiftCoins™ which are GiftCards with a twist. Packaged in a set of five for $25.00 total value, each GiftCoin comes pre-loaded with $5.00.Target will donate $2.00 for every purchase to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® when purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, for a maximum donation of $750,000. www.target.com

Don’t Forget the Photos
Here is a way to document and share all your holiday memories with family or give a gift that won’t break the bank. HotPrints Ltd., a web-to-print publishing group, recently launched its own personal photo book maker to make it easier for anyone on the Web to make 16-page photo books for little to no cost. Users can now make high-quality photo books using images directly saved on their computer rather than going through a third party site. There is no subscription fee to sign up, and, with the company’s new freemium program, every user will receive one free book each month. Additional photo books only cost $2.99 each plus $2.99 shipping and handling. www.hotprints.com

Quit Buying Bottle Water

Okay, I’m guilty of buying the odd bottle of water or two, but the budget smart thing to do is buy a reusable bottle then cover it with the next gift idea ‘skins’. www.skinthebottle.com

Mitt Minders

As soon as I saw this one, I thought, thank goodness I’m not the only adult who needs something to attach gloves or mittens to my winter coat. Seems someone else kept losing their gloves just like yours truly. However, this person turned it into a business called Mitt Minders. I gave a pair a test run at the weekend when I went shopping and happy to say, I still have my gloves! Mitt-Minders are available in 8 stylish designs like animal prints and patent leathers for women of all ages. They cost less than $15 and best of all are handmade in the USA by League for People with Disabilities. www.mittminders.com

For the Stressed on the List

Who isn’t stressed these days and one of the best ways to relax is aromatherapy? This next gift is the PocketAroma created by a flight attendant who needed a travel friendly way to de-stress anywhere. It uses a blend of premium French lavender and other essential oils from around the globe. It costs less than $10. www.pocketaroma.com

The Superhealer
Here’s another gift that’s idea to give this time of the year, The Superhealer combines yarrow, comfrey, white sage, lavender and organic extra virgin olive oil to create a superb treatment for all those everyday skin ailments. 1 oz tin makes it easy to keep in the car, purse, backpack, desk. www.schoolgardenco.com/superhealer.html (The School Garden Company was started by a former garden teacher to raise awareness and funding for garden programs).

More Soaps and Good Stuff

Here’s some more goodies for the stocking, soaps and products from the Sonoma Soap company. They have lots of items for less than $10 such as the Citrus Medley Bubble Bath
www.sonomasoapcompany.com

And Finally…
You know I love gifts that save money in the long run. The Dymo Label Buddy for just $7.99 fits into that category. http://cableorganizer.com/DYMO-label-printers/dymo-label-buddy.html

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The Blog-Couldn’t Resist This One

In The Blog on December 7, 2009 at 5:55 pm

If you follow me on Twitter you know where I headed on Friday morning. Yes, the local library ‘end of year’ book sale. It was a cold morning which kept a lot of folks away which meant browsing with ease. I stocked up on paperbacks…some were brand new. And yes, I couldn’t resist the odd cookbook or two. One was on canning so I figured it would save me money in the long run.

I just finished reading the latest issue of All You magazine. One of the features was the winners of their Grocery Challenge. (Spend no more than $25 per family member per week for four weeks on groceries). Some great ideas and they’re running the contest again in the spring. If you’re up to the challenge check All You in the coming months.

Another magazine I love to read is Woman’s World, lots of great recipes and tips. And here’s some shameless self promotion, pick up the December 12th issue and you can read a mystery story written by yours truly.

Remember the Eco Bags from the first gift guide? They’d like to offer you a 20% off coupon for all your purchases at www.ecobags.com (Enter code FF09 at checkout)

And here’s yet another gift idea, The Joy of Green Cleaning by Leslie Reichert www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com It’s full of green cleaning recipes you can make at home. Leslie will be sharing some of her money saving cleaning tips with us in the New Year.

And finally, Marlene who’s a BSG reader in Canada is venturing into a new job as a coupon converter. She’d like to hear from other Canadian readers who have food coupons they’re not using. She’s looking for coupons for items such as Betty Crocker products, Bisquick, Jet Dry Rinse, Campbells soups etc. Contact Marlene directly at goldenopportunity@yahoo.ca for more details.

This week on Budget Smart Girl…only a few more weeks left until Christmas, so it’s time for the annual stocking stuffer gift guide, lots of good stuff this year. And as requested by many, more ideas for budget friendly parties.

Have a good week.

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The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter-November/December 2009

In Budget Smart Girl's Newsletter on December 4, 2009 at 7:03 pm

I know we’re all busy this time of the year so I’ve combined the November and December newsletters into one. Next year’s newsletters will appear at the beginning of the month and not the end, so look for the next one during the week of January 4th. Thanks for being a reader and as always, send me tips and suggestions for topics to cover next year. Thanks for being here and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season.

More Gift Ideas
If you’ve been following the gift guide you know I had a tough time narrowing down this year’s picks. However, I didn’t want to leave out products from some long time friends of Budget Smart Girl.
www.lushusa.com. Stocking stuffers and gifts. They have the Cinders Bath Bomb for $3.95, Snow Fairy Solid Perfume for $7.95. And a wonderful selection of holiday gift packs with soaps and shower gels starting at just $9.95.

And check out www.ecolips.com. Lots of different flavors of lip gloss and ways to carry them with you.

And remember Mixology the mineral make-up on Etsy? Rachael has her own Web site now as well as her Etsy store. www.mixologymakeup.com. She tells me one of the best selling products is the Twilight inspired makeup.

Another Friend of Budget Smart Girl
Okay, I apologize, I should have mentioned this one before Thanksgiving. However, if turkey is on your menu for Christmas Day dining, you can still put this to use.
The Spice Hunter’s Turkey Brine is an artful blend of dried fruit, herbs and savory spices selected by spice expert and food scientist Daniela Massey, they’ve even created a one-stop shop for all home cook’s and an online resource. Visit www.spicehunter.com for a “How to Brine” instructional video, podcast, additional recipes and Brining FAQ.

End of a Decade New Year’s Party
I didn’t realize we were already at the end of a decade until I was sent this from another BSG friend, Balloon Time www.balloontime.com If you’ve spent all your holiday money but still want to celebrate the New Year in style, check out this idea from Penny Warner.

Invitations

Make your invitations read like mini tabloid newspapers. Include some of the most bizarre headlines of the decade – election upsets, celebrity divorces, and so on. Search the Internet for inspiration. Then, write out your party details, photocopy your mock-up and insert in envelopes filled with glittery confetti.

Costumes

Ask guests to come dressed as someone famous from the last decade. Offer suggestions, such as movie stars, athletes, TV reality show celebrities, politicians, rock stars and other newsmakers. Or, have them dress as if they’re from their favorite decade—the 50s, 70s, 90s, and so on.

Decorations

A black and silver color scheme makes a flashy and festive background to your New Year’s Eve party. Fill black and silver balloons with helium using a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit, and then float them on the ceiling and tie some of them to the chairs and furniture. For a special touch, make an archway using balloons to frame the front door.

Download pictures of people and events that made news over the decade, print and cut them out and glue them to black construction paper. Tape them to the walls, and then use them later as a game.

Set out objects popular during the decade, such as iPods, cell phones, low-rise jeans, linking charm bracelets and so on. Play songs that were popular during the decade, by artists such as Gwen Stefani, Green Day, Pussycat Dolls, and Blink 182.

Games & Activities

Play a game of “Guess Who’s Who” based on the guests’ costumes.

Inflate 10 balloons with helium using a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit. On the outside of each balloon, write a major event, one from each year of the past decade. Have each guest select a balloon, and then ask them to arrange them in the correct chronological order.

Play “Name That Tune” using songs from the past decade. Have players not only name the artist and title, but the year the song was popular.

Refreshments

Serve foods popular over the decade, from such diet books like Atkins, South Beach , The Zone, as well as snacks like power drinks, focaccia bread, sushi, wraps, couscous, and other trendy foods. Serve them in lighted glasses for added fun.

Favors

Give the guests a magazine or book that chronicles the last decade. Buy objects that were popular during the past 10 years, wrap them up and have each guest choose one to unwrap and keep. Give them mini champagne bottles filled with bubble solution to help blow in the New Year.

Free Calls
For those who want to call friends or family overseas and out of town this holiday season, but don’t want to use expensive cell phone minutes or pay for calling cards, you can use a new free service. 1-800-FREE411 (the free directory assistance provider) recently announced a new service in which callers in the U.S. can make FREE 5-minute phone calls to almost anywhere in the world. Once 5-minutes is up, they can keep calling back as many times as they like.
This free call service is already being used by thousands of Americans, including many reaching out to loved ones overseas. Additional details regarding 1-800-FREE411′s free call offering is here: http://www.free411.com/promo/international/.

Holiday Party Ideas
Throwing a party doesn’t have to break the bank and one of my favorites is the wine and cheese party. I recently got to sample President’s new brie log. I’m a big fan of their feta cheese and wasn’t disappointed with the brie. Check out their site www.presidentcheese.com for recipes, wine and cheese pairings and just about everything you’ll need to throw a budget friendly bash.

And Speaking Of…
Allison Hooper, founder of the Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery has written a book (which by the way makes a great gift), called In a Cheesemaker’s Kitchen. It’s full of photos, easy to make recipes and advice on how to serve and pair cheese properly. She kindly sent us the following tips on throwing the perfect budget smart party.

A bottle of sparkling wine eliminates the risk that a red or a white wine won’t pair well with the cheese.

When a host is selecting cheeses, pick three to keep it simple. A nice sample of a fresh goat cheese, a cheddar and slice of brie is affordable and elegant.

If you need help selecting specific cheeses, be sure to ask the cheese monger at the grocery store what’s in special and season.
Once you’ve selected the cheese, add specialty bread and crackers on to your cheese board to add texture. Fruits like grapes, figs (when in season) or fresh pears are ideal.

Make some little hors d’oeuvre out of simple cheeses to add on to the offering. Like creamy goat cheese dip with maple syrup, black pepper and toasted almond. Very easy, affordable but with a big “wahoo factor”. Sliced goat cheese between dried apricots is another wahoo hors d’oeuvre that is very easy.

Last but not least add on a simple green salad, then bake some cookies for dessert and you have a full cheese tasting party with no stress – for you or your wallet.

Allison’s book can be purchased at Amazon.com – http://www.amazon.com/Cheesemakers-Kitchen-Celebrating-Artisanal-Cheesemaking/dp/0615262058

Simple Meals for Busy Times
Here are some other items I got to sample recently. The Simply Asia, Seasoning Mixes and Steamers. I mention them now because the holiday season is all about saving time. The Simply Asia Seasoning Mixes are available in four varieties such as Sweet and Sour, Fried Rice and Sesame and cost $1.49, all you do is add chicken or beef. The Simply Asia Steamers include Szechuan Green Beans and Hunan Broccoli and cost $1.99. Both are super easy to use, cook in about 10-15 minutes, taste good and the price is budget friendly too. www.simplyasia.com

RedPlum
If the name RedPlum sounds familiar maybe you’ve seen it on the flyers you find in your mailbox every week offering coupons and deals. I’ll be chatting with some of the folks at RedPlum in the New Year but until then here are some tips on safe holiday shopping when you buy online. And be sure to visit their Web site at www.redplum.com to check out 30 gifts for under $30 plus, lots of coupons and good stuff just made for a Budget Smart Girl.

Tips for Safe Holiday Shopping Online
If you think you’re looking forward to the holiday shopping season, just imagine how excited your friendly neighborhood identity thief is. She can’t wait to grab your personal information and finance her fabulous holiday by charging up your credit cards, or selling your account information to the highest bidder. Most of us know how to keep our wits about us in the shops, but buying safely online is just as important. So we checked in with the folks at IdentityFinder.com for a little guidance. Here, their four best tricks for thwarting high-tech holiday heists:

1. Look for the Padlock
SSL, or secure sockets layer, is a term you might not have heard of, but you probably have seen that little padlock in your Web browser near the address bar or in the bottom right corner. It indicates your information is protected; do not press the submit button if there is no padlock visible.

2. Don’t Order on Live Chat
We love a live chat window; it makes online shopping faster and more convenient when we can fire off questions to a customer service representative in real time, rather than hunting through a site’s FAQs for answers. But these agents are there to answer questions, not accept orders. Never transmit your credit card number or other personal details over chat.

3. Try Onetime Credit Cards
The holidays often find us turning to stores we haven’t shopped at before in order to source that special item on a friend’s wish list. New shopping haunts are splendid, but buying online from an unknown purveyor gives some people the sweats. If you’re one of them, you’re not totally offbase. Data thieves have been known to set up stores as fronts to collect your personal info. If you want to be super-secure try a virtual credit card that expires after one use.

4. Create Complex Passwords
You know your password’s not supposed to be your maiden name or your husband’s birth date. But did you know it should also use upper and lower case characters and numbers, where allowed. Practice proper password protocol by creating one that’s at least seven characters and can’t be found in the dictionary. Hacker programs can guess passwords easily; if you make them a real word, the process is even speedier. It’s true all this will make your secret code harder to remember, but it’s worth it to secure your identity. If you need help remembering use a password management program to secure them.

And Finally…Here are some more holiday shopping tips from the folks at Coinstar.

•Make a Plan: Make a list of expected holiday expenses and create a budget. Remember to factor in funds for gifts, entertainment, decorations, etc. Once you’ve completed your budget, plan your attack.

•Make a Gift List, Set Limits and Stick to it: Determine who is on your list and what you plan to spend on each gift. Remember – don’t give in to impulse purchases!

•Shop Around: Price comparisons are important – you can get price information for most stores on the Internet. In addition, you might find that your favorite retailer is offering free shipping which will save you from the crowded stores!

•Stretch Your Budget: Take advantage of any extra change you have laying around and earn some extra money for holiday shopping in the process! According to Coinstar there’s more than $10 billion in loose change hiding in homes across the U.S., which is roughly $90 per household! Also, it comes to a surprise to most that you can get FREE coin counting at participating Coinstar Centers when you turn your coins into a gift card or eCertificate. Choose from retailers like Amazon.com, Lowe’s, Old Navy, Starbucks, JCPenney, iTunes and others! Consumers can easily use the gift cards to buy gifts this holiday season.

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