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Archive for January, 2010|Monthly archive page

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The Budget Smart Girl Newsletter-January 2010

In Budget Smart Girl's Newsletter on January 29, 2010 at 4:02 pm

It’s the first newsletter of the year. Yes, I can’t believe January’s almost gone. There’s lots of good stuff to tell you about this month and a special section on Valentine’s Day. And be sure to check out next week’s First Annual BSG Valentine’s Day Gift Guide.

My Attempt at a Cookbook
I’ve always wanted to write a cookbook and this year I thought I’d give it a try. I’ll be posting some of the recipes along with photos throughout the year and hopefully by December I’ll have enough for a cookbook. I haven’t posted any recipes yet but if you want to follow along check out http://budgetsmartgirl.mycookingblog.com I’m trying to cook with products that are in season and if you’re interested in seeing what they are, visit www.eatwellguide.org

Natural Cleaning
I’m always looking for natural products to clean my house. One problem I’ve run into is finding a carpet stain remover that doesn’t make the house smell like a laboratory and make my eyes water. I finally found one. It’s from one of my favorite company Seventh Generation and it’s the Whiteflower and Bergamot Citrus Natural Carpet Spot and Stain Remover. Best of all it wasn’t any more expensive than the regular cleaners. www.seventhgeneration.com

And while on the topic of natural and green cleaning, I came across this site, looks like some good prices
www.reusablebags.com

And be sure to check out this site all about going green and saving energy…money too
http://www.epa.gov/greenhomes

Sites to Save and Make Money Too
My husband bought home a copy of a computer magazine and if there’s something to be read sitting around, I’ll pick it up. These companies were mentioned so I decided to check them out
These two sites are places where you can swap and yes, I believe sell unwanted items. As per usual proceed with caution as I’ve never checked them out or used their services-
www.toolzdo.com
www.kashless.org
And you know one of my pet peeves is the price of ink cartridges, this site www.inkgard.com claims you can print for less using this software. Once again I haven’t tried it for myself, but if anyone has or does, I’d love some feedback to see if it actually works.

Simply Good
I was reading an article about ways to stay warmer this winter and someone recommended fleece sheets with a link to this site www.simplygoodstuff.com Looks like they not only sell sheets but other items too.

The New Buzz Word
Seems recession is the new buzz word and sites dedicated to it are popping up every day. I found this interesting site www.recessionwire.com

While Surfing the Web
Here are two articles of interest I found this month-

If you’re looking for a fast dinner, here’s an article from Rachael Ray about the top new and improved dinners-
www.tinyurl.com/ycyhb2z

And if you’re thinking of selling your home or just want to make some improvements, check out
www.tinyurl.com/yfxxu4s

Inexpensive Ways to Spend a Winter’s Day
It’s mid winter, a time when I start dreaming about sitting on a tropical beach, sipping a margarita while the sun beats down on me. Yes, it’s only a dream, but if the cold and snow, and maybe having to watch your pennies, are giving you a bad case of cabin fever, here are some things to do around the house or town that will won’t break the bank.

Cross Country Skiing
Skiing the slopes at Aspen is probably beyond most of our budgets, many cities and suburbs across the country have areas where you can cross country ski. For example, my local park system not only has groomed trails, but also rents equipment, and some even have lighted trails for nighttime skiing, and all at minimum cost.

Movies and a Pizza
The price of going to the movies and buying a drink and popcorn isn’t as cheap these days but who says you need to bundle up and head out into the cold to see a movie. Rent a movie from the library and grab a pizza. Most pizza chains have weekly coupons with deals that often include free drinks. Plus, if you have a fire all set to go you can even try making toasted marshmallows.

Books
Some people like to do most of their reading during the lazy days of summer, but who doesn’t love to curl up with a warm blanket and a good book. This is the idea time of the year to get to know your local library. Try reading a book in a genre you’ve never tried before, or even reading a couple of non-fiction titles.

Be a Student
Okay, you might not want to go back to school, but lots of community education programs offer a wide selection of courses from now until the end of the school year. And winter’s the ideal time to learn a new skill, maybe something you can put to good use in the summer.

Get Crafty
I have to admit that my basement does house one or two of my unfinished craft projects. You could try knitting, painting, maybe even something you could make and sell at craft fairs in the summer.

With Every Good Intention
And speaking of unfinished things. How many of us have little chores and DIY jobs to do around our house but never seem to find the time to complete? If you don’t do it now, remember spring’s just around the corner and the patio will be calling. So spend a weekend getting all the inside stuff out of the way so you’ll have more time to spend outside this summer.

Cabin Fever
If you really do feel you need to head out, many local attractions remain open, but have lower attendance during the winter. Why not check if any of your local museums, or even zoos offer reduced admission fees. Check your local tourist board or chamber of commerce for discount coupons and passes to local attractions.

Valentine’s Day Ideas…on the cheap
When I put the call out for ideas for inexpensive Valentine Day gifts, I got a couple of responses from people offering low cost ideas. The first one is from Rahman “Chef Rock” Harper who is a celebrity chef, adjunct culinary instructor at Stratford University (www.stratford.edu ) and season three winner from Hell’s Kitchen. Here are some of his tips-

“Going out for a romantic meal is a great experience, but if you want a budget-friendly option, you can easily pull it off at home. And you may even earn brownie points for putting in the extra effort of doing it on your own.”

• Focus more on the time you will be spending with the person, rather than the food you will be serving.
• Find romantic background music to play softly and dance to.
• Think about some fun and romantic things you can do, such as playing games, looking through old pictures, or reading love poetry together.
• Opt for a different setting than where you usually eat, if possible, such as the dining room, patio, etc. Make the table look different than on a normal night, by adding a table cloth, special place setting, cloth napkins, and a candle.
• Make sure that every day distractions are off, such as the television and cell phone. The last thing you need is to have a text message ruin the romantic moment.
• Popular romantic foods include chocolate, coffee, ice cream, and seafood. It’s also a good idea to have a dessert that you can feed to each other, such as strawberries dipped in chocolate.
• Avoid tasting or smelling foods like garlic and raw onions, as the smells can ruin the moment. Or if you must try, be sure to use a breath freshener afterward.
• If you don’t want to have your romantic meal at the table, think creatively about other places, such as having a picnic. Even if it’s too cold outside, an indoor picnic can help create a new and festive mood.
• For those who don’t want to cook, find a good place for take-out food, one which will provide you with a beautiful and tasty dish to serve, much more affordably than dining out.

And here from www.ingdirect.com are 5 Savings Tips to Make Your Love Life and Your Money Last Forever f

Love don’t cost a thing at home. Dishing out big bucks for one day to show the significant other in your life how much you care is silly. Celebrate at home – cook his/her favorite meal, dim the lights, wear his/her favorite outfit, pull out your favorite drink and top it off with a special serenade handwritten by you. Trust us; a little goes a long way.

Reminisce. If you’re afraid of messing up the homemade surf and turf and insist on going out to dinner, try taking your love to the place where you had your first date. It’s a thoughtful gesture and it’s totally romantic. The restaurant probably won’t be too expensive and besides it’s a special way to bring back memories and re-kindle the flame.

Sweet deals. Sometimes local retailers have special V-Day rates, menus and discounts for you and a loved one. So do some research and take advantage of the “buy one get one free” meal deal for you and your sweetie pie.

And Neil Ellington from CESI Debt Solutions has the following ideas-

Neil urges sweethearts to be creative this year and look for ways to celebrate Valentine’s beyond the traditional dinner out, candy and roses. For moms, dads and kids, that could include the most valuable gifts you can give – the gift of time. A visit to a museum, park or historic site, for example. More ideas below to share with your readers to show that sometimes free gifts can be just the thing when they want to give the most.

Why? It seems that everyone is on a budget this year, but even so, the National Retail Federation reports that sweethearts will still spend on average close to $100 this Valentine’s Day, which is about $20 less than last year.

“I don’t call that cutting back. That’s a lot of money, and I imagine many people are putting it on credit cards,” said Neil Ellington of CESI Debt Solutions. “Many people will not have paid off their bills from holiday shopping when they start spending on Valentine’s Day.”

Daytime Dates
Instead of a romantic dinner for two, consider a leisurely Saturday lunch. You can enjoy the ambiance and food at a favorite restaurant for a lower price, and then head out for an afternoon activity you both enjoy.

Love movies? Take advantage of less expensive matinee prices. Enjoy literature? Buy a coffee and browse in a bookstore, or even head to your local library. Love travel? Be a tourist in your own town and check out a museum, park or visit a historic site.

Acts of Love
Sometimes the best gifts don’t come in a box. Is there something you can do for your spouse of loved one to show you care? Take the kids for the day to give your spouse time at home alone. Clean their car. Cook a great meal. Make homemade cookies.

It’s the Thought that Counts
If you can’t let Valentine’s pass without giving your sweetie a gift, challenge yourself to consider things that are under $20. A book of poems or quotations. A photo book of pictures of the two of you. Something from a second-hand store such as a money clip, cuff links or ring dish. A DVD of a classic movie – think Casablanca. Best of all, an original love letter.

“It’s easy to let holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s lure you away from your financial goals and your budget,” said Ellington. “Of course we all want to show our loved ones we care, but that should not require breaking your budget and making poor spending decisions. Giving on a budget requires a little more creativity and thought, and in the end it can make for a more meaningful way to spend Valentine’s Day.”

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

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The Saving Money Plan

In Products and Companies Worth Checking Out on January 28, 2010 at 3:16 pm

I can’t remember how I found out about Saving Money Plan www.savingmoneyplan.com but I’m really glad I signed up to receive the daily newsletters because I’ve saved money with coupons I’ve seen in the newsletter, found out about free stuff (you know I love both of those things!) and learned more about how to find and use coupons. I thought it was about time I shared this valuable site with you and decided to go straight to its founder, Claire Williams for all the inside information.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-For the readers who don’t know about the site can you tell them what Saving Money Plan is all about?
Claire Williams (CW)-Saving Money Plan encourages you to live better with practical money-saving strategies and daily deals.

BSG-When did it launch?
CW-I launched it in 2008 but I wish I had started sooner.

BSG-How did it come about?
CW-I had been reading so many deal blogs online and realized that I not only loved reading them, but I also wanted to write one! The fact that I had always been known among friends and family as being the one who knew how to save a buck was clearly an added plus!

BSG-How do you find all the great deals?
CW-I’m on lots of newsletters, I have great bloggy friends with whom I share deals, and I read – read – read!

BSG- Is this a full time job for you?
CW-It’s a hobby for me – a part-time job you could say.

BSG-You send out an e-mail newsletter every day for anyone who signs up, what can readers expect to find in their e-mail box every day?
CW-Great deals, lots of coupons, and the specific advice you need to actually use the deals to get tons of free items every week – especially from your local drugstores. The thing readers really like about Saving Money Plan is the free coupon class – as it teaches you to get hundreds of dollars in free items every month. A few years ago I never thought you could really do this, but you definitely can and I do!

BSG-Any money saving tips you’d like to share with us?
CW-Learn the drugstore game! It is one of the best ways to save $3,000 of your household budget this year! And it’s fun! I teach a free coupon class to learn it, but many others write blogs about it as well!

BSG-Can you tell us about some good deals you’ve found in the last week or so?
CW-The holidays are a great time to score deals. This past month I picked up over $90 in free items one week from Rite Aid – that was great. It was totally free.

BSG-Any sites you’d recommend we check out for more good deals.
CW-I love Censtable Momma www.centsablemomma.com and Money Saving Methods www.moneysavingmethods.com I would really recommend those two!

BSG-Anything else you’d like to share?
CW-If you want to learn to coupon at Saving Money Plan, try it here: http://savingmoneyplan.com/introduction-10-step-couponing-course/

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The Blog-One of the Top Gift Guides

In The Blog on January 25, 2010 at 6:45 pm

I found out last week that the Budget Smart Girl’s annual holiday gift guide was named one of the best budget and green guides by Blogs.com. As the guide seems to be a popular feature, next week I’ll be featuring a Valentine’s Gift Guide…I’m already getting e-mails with lots of great and bargain priced products and yes, another giveaway for you.

Someone who I’m really looking forward to chatting with at Budget Smart Girl is Danny Kofke. He’s written a book about surviving on a teacher’s salary which is full of tips we all can use to stretch our budgets. Some of you might have seen him last week on Fox TV where he was a guest on the morning show. Just in case you missed it, here’s a link. I’ll be interviewing Danny in March and posting the interview on the site, so if any of you have a question you’d like me to ask him, just e-mail me.

http://video.foxnews.com/v/3971107/thrive-on-a-teachers-salary

The Aerogarden is doing well. I removed the dome covers a few days ago. Here’s a photo of its progress.

This week on Budget Smart Girl, the first newsletter of the year and I’ll tell you about a Web site and newsletter you won’t want to miss.

Have a good week.

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Meal Planning…saving time and money

In Budget Smart Cook on January 22, 2010 at 3:44 pm

I’ve been attempting to put together a list of meals for two weeks at a time and well, let’s just say I keep getting sidetracked. So yesterday I spent an hour online to seek help. I found lots of sites that require you to buy a subscription or sign up for an account, but I knew there had to be some free sites out there too. Here’s what I found-

Meals for a Year
What a coincidence, while I was searching the Web I stumbled across a story from Good Morning America about a mom in Texas who’s planned out a year’s worth of meals. Wow, I thought and I can’t even manage two weeks. I might not achieve what she has but here’s a link to the story because she has some good money saving tips http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/parenting/mom-plans-meals-entire-year.story?id=9618348

Quick Meals
Here’s a site I liked a lot www.mealsmatter.org It has a good selection of quick meals.

Aldi
Remember me saying a trip to Aldi supermarket was on my list of must-do’s this year? I discovered they have a Web site dedicated to meal planning www.aldimeals.com

Mom Knows Best
And here’s another great site www.momsmenu.com, click on ‘meal planning’

Credit Crunch Meals
It’s not just people in the US that are looking to save money now. I stumbled upon this site from the UK all about recipes to make during the credit crunch. They have a two week menu along with recipes. I’m going to try a few out this week. www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/266969/credit-crunch-weekly-meal-planner

Meals for You
This site’s name just about sums it up www.mealsforyou.com

Cooking is A Chore
And this site had lots of good stuff and not all cooking related so it’s definitely worth checking out. www.successfulfamilychores.com, click on ‘meal planning’

Eating Well
I also like this site www.eatrealgood.com/meal-planner.html

Tips for Meal Planning
Here are some tips I’ve found work for me when I do get around to planning meals.

Cookbooks
I always keep cookbooks close by so I can check what recipes we liked and what was quick and easy. Yes, here’s another tip when I try out a recipe I’ll make a note of if we liked it, what I’d change and if it was quick or time consuming.

Supermarket Flyers
One of the goals of meal planning is to save money. I always check my local supermarket flyer to see what’s on sale and plan meals around those items.

Plan for A Quick Change
I always have stand by meal ideas on my list just in case something crops up and I can’t spend too much time cooking. These will be meals like pasta, stir frys etc.

Rely on Leftovers
I always count on having a couple of days (usually Sundays) where I’ll rely on leftovers for meals. It’s also a good way to clean out the fridge!

Cook Ahead
I’m getting into the habit of cooking ingredients on one day so I can use them thoughout the week. For example, today I’m cooking beans in the slow cooker. I’ll freeze them and use them in soups, chili etc. I’m also roasting garlic that I’ll use for garlic bread and soups.

Plates
And here’s something I bought many years ago…can’t remember exactly where. But anytime I have leftovers, like mashed potatoes, vegetables, fish etc. I put them on these plates and then use my food saver machine. It’s a great way to make ready-made meals from items you’ve already cooked. I also made up meals for my mom when she was taking chemotherapy and didn’t feel like cooking. She’d put them in the freezer and then microwave them. If you can find them, they’re a wise buy.

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Clean Your Home For Less

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on January 21, 2010 at 4:08 pm

I know cleaning products won’t break the bank but I’ve been using everyday products like baking soda and vinegar for years. It not only saves money but I no longer get headaches from all the chemicals used in commercial products. I’m always looking for green cleaning tips that save money so I asked Leslie Reichert, a certified green cleaner and author of The Joy of Green Cleaning to offer some advice.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-What ingredients/products would you recommend everyone have on hand?
Leslie Reichert (LR)-There are four main basics that are:
White vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice and salt. Along with those you can also use castile soap, borax and find an essential oil that you like – just for the scent. I like peppermint this time of year and I change with the seasons.

BSG-I’m guilty of this one, using too many paper towels while I’m cleaning. Any greener…and cheaper alternatives?
LR-I have a favorite new product from Europe called Skoy Cloths. One cloth can take the place of 5 – 15 rolls of paper towels! They work well when damp, and a soooo absorbent. It takes a while to get used to not going to the paper towel holder, but once you break the habit – you’ll be surprised how much you save! http://www.backdoorvac.com/skoy-cloths.html

BSG-Any brands that are eco friendly and low cost?
LR-Since I’ve switched to the Skoy cloth and microfiber cloths (great for cleaning glass and stainless steel) I only buy paper towels by the single roll and they last forever. I look for recycled paper and no bleach in my paper towels. Seventh Generation makes some.

BSG-One product I hate using is oven cleaner, anything less toxic?
LR-Here is a trick from my book. Sprinkle the bottom of the oven with baking soda. Spray it with water and keep it so the baking soda stays very damp. Let it sit over night. When you are ready to clean, spray white vinegar on the top of the baking soda and let it foam up. Then just wipe everything away. You can also make a paste of baking soda and water to wipe on the sides of the oven. You follow the same instructions as above and you end up with a sparkling clean oven!

BSG-I’ve been using a homemade recipe for the dishwasher, but I noticed it’s leaving white marks on the glassware, anything to counteract it?
LR-Try using lemon juice in the rinse. The white marks are probably a mineral build up from the water and the lemon juice will work to break it down since it’s a natural acid.

BSG-What are some of the best budget friendly cleaning recipes?
LR-I make this recipe when I’m speaking to groups since it’s inexpensive and it really works. I call it a Green Clean Scrub -
All it takes is 1/2 cup table salt, 1/2 cup borax, and 1/2 cup baking soda. I add 10 drops of lemongrass essential oils (just for a scent) and you can use this mixture to scrub you sinks, toilets and even your porcelain tubs. It will take the place of your sink scrub, your toilet bowl cleaner and the tub scrub.

BSG-Some readers might like to buy things like baking soda and vinegar in bulk or larger sizes, do you know of any companies that offer these super sizes?
LR-I’ve seen large boxes of baking soda in the laundry section of grocery stores. I think it’s is around 5 pounds. The biggest container I’ve seen for vinegar is a gallon, but maybe if you go to a restaurant supply company you would find larger sizes. I like my vinegar in the gallon so I can leave it underneath my sink and it’s easy to manage.

BSG-What about green washing powder? Would you recommend people make their own?
LR-I’m not sure if you mean laundry soap or dishwashing powder. The green scrub I made above is the basis for my dishwashing soap for my automatic dishwasher. All I do is put that mixture in and add lemon juice on the top of it- it starts to foam and I close and start the washer. It works great! As for a laundry soap, I have a recipe in my book called “great-grandma’s Laundry soap”. You can see this recipe on my book site. (and the picture is my great grandma holding my grandma!)http://www.thejoyofgreencleaning.com/preview-the-book.html

BSG-How about stainless steel or chrome, lots of the products that work the best are really toxic. Any greener products to get a shine on fixtures?
LR-Oh my favorite is an E-cloth. This is a high grade microfiber cloth that only uses water. It will leave your stainless sparkling with NO CHEMICALS! It is truly amazing. I give this cloth to my son (11) and he can clean everything in my kitchen and never makes a mess. You have got to try it!
http://www.backdoorvac.com/ecloth-kitchen-pack.html

BSG-Any other hints or tips you can offer?
LR-My recommendation to going green with your cleaning is to take it slow and try things. Since you are using simple products there isn’t much you can get wrong*. I boost my dish detergent with sea salt when I’m doing a really dirty bunch of dishes. And I like to keep a spray bottle of half vinegar and half water in the bathroom for quick clean ups. And I recommend using an essential oil that you really enjoy. Find a scent that you LOVE and all of a sudden cleaning with be like aroma therapy – and maybe even become FUN!*Just make sure you don’t use borax on aluminum

Budget Smart Girl Tip-I’ve been using essential oils with my green cleaning products and some can be pricey. One company I’ve found for budget prices (and fast delivery too) is www.vitacost.com

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The Blog-Are Prices Going Up?

In The Blog on January 18, 2010 at 7:01 pm

Have you noticed food prices have crept up since the holidays? I was just checking out the local supermarket flyer and noticed what used to be buy 2 for $4 is 2 now $5 or 6. Glad I stocked up during the holidays.

One of things on my to do list this year is to check out Aldi supermarkets. I know I’ve been saying this for over a year, but one of these days I’m really going to shop there.

If you’re wondering how the Aerogarden is going… a few days ago I noticed the first shoots starting to appear. The basil seems to be growing the fastest. I’m already thinking about how I’ll use the first harvest. (I’ll post more photos next week).

On my must do list for this week is putting together menu and shopping lists for the week, even two weeks at a time. In fact, that will be one of the topics on this week’s Budget Smart Girl. I’ve got so many projects going right now, I’m looking for easy dinner (and yes, budget friendly) ideas that will free up some time.

Also, on the site this week, I ‘chat’ with a green cleaning expert about ways to save money on cleaning your home.

Have a good week.

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Getting in Shape on the Cheap

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on January 14, 2010 at 7:58 pm

Isn’t it ironic that most of us make a resolution to get in shape in the dead of winter and too cold to exercise outside? Maybe that’s one of the reasons memberships to health club soars in January. Paying to join a club or buying expensive exercise equipment isn’t the only way to get and stay in shape these days. I did some searching and here are some sites and resources I found.

Your Local Community
Where I live there’s everything from community education classes for Pilates to yoga. There’s also a community center that offers low cost classes and membership that’s half the price of a health club. And not to mention mall walking groups.

Ebay and auction sites
I’m guessing that if there isn’t a ton of them already on sale there now, most auction sites will be overflowing with exercise equipment by the time March rolls around. Why? Most people can’t stick to their resolution and end up selling it or throwing it in their basements. That’s brings up another tip, wait until spring and I’ll bet garage sales have some good buys too.

Going out of Business
Like I always say, it’s bad luck for a business when it closes its doors but always good luck for us. I’ve seen no end of fitness clubs going out of business since the recession started and sometimes they sell equipment. Not always things like treadmills, but small items like weights, mats etc. Cheap enough to make an investment…even if you don’t use them, and small enough to fit under the bed.

On Line Resources
I know it seems strange that your computer can be the best resource for cheap workouts but I found these sites. I haven’t given any a test drive so I can’t vouch for them and as always proceed with caution.
www.free-online-health.com/exercise-mealplans.htm
www.workoutsforyou.com
www.workoutsondemand.com
www.fitnessprogramsonline.com

A Contest
I received this in my e-mail inbox yesterday and thought I’d share it with you. You can win a bike ready for the warm months ahead. www.organicvalley.coop/organic-rising/

Negotiate
Another thing that the recession has brought in our favor is that more businesses are willing to negotiate a price rather then lose a customer. If you have a health club membership and think it’s getting too costly, why not ask them if they can give you a better deal or even drop some services that you’re not using. And if you really feel joining a club is the only way you’re going to stick with your exercise plan, see if they can lower the cost or at least waiver the enrollment fee.

Wii
I rarely rave about something but my husband bought me a Wii for Christmas. I didn’t think something that was so fun could get you in shape but it can. I have the Wii Fitness Plus and love it. Okay, the whole thing isn’t cheap but it’s an investment, you never have to leave home, and you can add to it as your budget allows. It weighs you, gives you your BMI, sets goals for you and yes, even gently scolds you when you’ve missed a day or two! I’ve been impressed with my results. I’ve lost some weight, improved my balance and flexibility and had fun at the same time. And yes, it’s a real workout because yesterday muscles that I didn’t know I had were sore. And just today I read that Nintendo is teaming up with Netflix, so for $9 a month and a broadband connection, you’ll soon be able to watch movies on it. And with cable TV prices set to increase, this might be a good alternative.

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Healthy Snacking for the Budget Minded

In Budget Smart Cook on January 14, 2010 at 4:37 pm

I’ll be the first to admit that chocolate is my Achilles’ Heel and the odd package of gummy bears often lurks in my desk drawer, but overall, I’m pretty good at not loading the grocery card with not so good for you or your wallet treats. To start off the New Year, I asked Tracy Adler to offer some tips on healthy snacking. Tracy is mom of two, former restaurant owner and creator of Yum Yum Dishes. www.yumyumdish.com

They’re sold in packs of four and help train the whole family as to what a normal portion size should be. Tracy kindly sent me some bowls and now I fill them with things like popcorn or trail mix when I need a quick snack while working. Here are Tracy’s tips.

As a lover of all things containing sugar, I know the challenges of healthy eating. Yet over the years, three major eating tips have helped me stay slim – while enjoying the things I love to eat most. These tips are great for maintaining good health, monitoring your weight, and saving yourself a few dollars too.

1. The food rule that can change your life: “The further a food gets from the way nature hands it to you, the less of it you should eat.” Make this your shopping mantra and you can’t help but fill your kitchen with the food your body needs. Ever seen a pretzel tree? Watched someone milk a soy plant? Or harvest a rice-cake? Of course not! Those hard to resist foods that are processed beyond recognition should have a small place in your diet.

2. Moderation: Try not to label foods as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. How we think about food can play an important role in our eating habits.With that in mind, I have always allowed myself to view food as a simple pleasure and have enjoyed all foods in moderation. High calorie, high fat foods (processed or not) are eaten in small quantities, most recently in a Yum Yum Dish – a 4oz ceramic dish that helps remind me when ‘enough is enough’.

3.Tend the fire in your tummy: Too few people give their digestive fire enough – if any – consideration. Although your stomach works 24/7 and performs vital and amazing tasks such as digestion and nutrient extraction… it often receives little assistance or attention from its task-master. I think of my stomach as a little camp fire. If I throw too much wood (food) on it all at once, I know I’ll smother it. Calories that don’t burn up in the fire turn to fat so I make sure my fire is burning strong by doing two things. I constantly work to slow down and be fully aware when I’m eating. And instead of eating 3 times a day, I eat 5 or 6 smaller meals throughout the day.

There are health as well as economic advantages to changing your eating habits.

The cost of eating healthier foods can be offset by reducing the purchase of processed foods. Processed foods that do make their way into your kitchen will last longer if eaten in moderation, over a period of time. Think how long a half gallon of ice cream would last if you were eating a 4oz portion just a few times a week!

With a health care crisis facing America, it is imperative that we become more preventive in our approach to good health. Our choices will affect our quality of life as well as our long-term health care costs. Challenge yourself to develop some new eating habits in 2010. Adopt a few of the tips above or continue to research the food and lifestyle choices that are best for your body type. Good luck! And above all else, enjoy!

Some great ideas and here are a few ideas I’ve used to keep snacking at a minimum and keep it healthy…and low cost.

Don’t Buy The Prepackaged Bags
The prepackaged, 100 calorie treats are everywhere these days, but you can save money by making your own bags or even use something like Tracy’s Yum Yum dishes. Buy a regular size bag of crackers, chips etc, and divide them into smaller portions and put them in storage bags. I’ve done this with things like trail mix and then put the bags in a basket in the pantry which brings me to tip number 2.

Never Be Without A Snack
It’s inevitable you’re going to get hungry and go looking for something to eat. However, if you have something healthy on hand, you’re less likely to reach for the tub of ice cream sitting in the freezer. Plan ahead and think of ideas for snacks when you make your grocery list each week. I keep things like whole wheat crackers, nuts, trail mix, string cheese etc on hand all the time.

Rely on Fruits and Veggies
They really are the best snack for your money. And everyone’s got their favorites. Even children like things like bananas, kiwis, and tropical fruits like mangoes that are on sale this time of the year. Even canned fruits are better than candy and oftentimes cheaper too.
Here’s a dip I often make in the summer to accompany fruit platters but it’s great in the middle of winter when warm weather seems months away. I’ve even tried replacing the sour cream with yogurt and that works great too.

•½ cup cottage cheese, you can opt for a low fat variety
•½ cup sour cream, low or no fat varieties work just as well
•¼ cup toasted coconut, heat the coconut in a skillet for a few minutes until it turns lightly golden brown
Mix all the ingredients together and serve in a dish surrounded by sliced pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, bananas that have been sprinkled with lemon juice. Or serve a platter of these fruits with a scoop of this mixture in the center.

Not food Related
And here’s a tip that’s not food related but helps keep the snacking to a minimum. Most of us eat when we’re bored, so if you’re planning to go on a diet, look for a new hobby. You get so involved in it, learning a new skill that you forget about the odd trip or two to the fridge!

Next article…ways to get in shape for less.

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The Blog-The Aerogarden is Up and Running

In The Blog on January 11, 2010 at 7:07 pm

Over the weekend I finally assembled the Aerogarden and planted the herbs that came with it. Assembly by the way is easy and if I can say that, anyone can put it together! Here are a couple of photos of it.


It almost runs by itself. All you need to do is add water and the nutrient tablets that they supply. The lights stay on for a period of time and then switch themselves off. According to the instructions, there should be some growth after a few days and then you can remove the domes. Can’t wait to see what happens each day!

You know I’ve been singing the praises of the magazine All You for months now. I always pick up a copy while I’m in Walmart. It’s full of great money saving articles, budget friendly recipes and the added plus is you get lots of coupons. They also have a Web site and newsletter you can sign up for. While I was on the site I signed up for a subscription. www.allyou.com

Anyone watch the Food Network. I don’t have as much time to watch it as I once did, but the other Sunday I was making lunch, decided to turn it on and caught a show called Ten Dollar Dinners with Melissa d’Arabian. Some good tips, recipes and definitely worth watching each week. It airs at 12.30 Eastern. www.foodnetwork.com.

It’s only the second week of 2010 and I’m guessing eating healthy, exercising more and even losing weight made it to some of your resolution lists. Have you seen how many TV commercials and infomercials there are for weight lose programs and exercise equipment? This week, the creator of the Yum Yum dishes will offer some tips on how to eat more healthy foods without breaking the bank. And I’ll explore some free resources for losing weight and getting in shape.

Have a good week.

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Never Waste Food Again

In Budget Smart Cook on January 8, 2010 at 6:30 pm

This year I’m determined to stick with my resolution never to waste food again. I’m usually good about using everything but once in awhile the odd piece of fruit or vegetable heads to the garbage bin.
Here are some creative ways I’ve found to use every last piece of food sitting in the fridge or pantry. Hope you can put some to good use.

Combine Ingredients
Sometimes I open the fridge and have half a cup of this, half a cup of that…not enough to make a meal but if you combine some foods you get a side dish or the beginnings of dinner. At Christmas I had a about a cup of Potatoes O’Brien leftover from a meal and somewhere between a quarter and half cup of blue cheese. I immediately thought potato salad. I combined the two, added chives, some leftover bacon bits and mayonnaise to make a quick and easy winter potato salad.
And here’s something I’m combining all the time these days. Salsa and cheese, which if you’ve never tried them together make for the perfect omelet when you’re short on time. I add oven fries and it’s one of the fastest meals on my desperation dinner list.

Left Over Sauces, Chutneys
At Christmas I made homemade cranberry sauce. I seem to be the only person who likes it so I was left with a container of the stuff. I was thinking about freezing it and then I remembered I bought a wedge of brie that was on sale. I’ve seen lots of ways to serve brie and a popular one is to serve it with a chutney or fruit relish. What better holiday appetizer than brie with cranberry sauce. Pairs perfectly.

Herbs
This is often a problem during the summer, too many herbs from the garden. I usually chop them and put them in ice cube trays, but something I’ve been doing recently is adding them to pastry when I make pot pies. Sage is great with turkey and chicken pot pies, dill with tuna pot pies. Chop them up and add them to the mix or even roll the pastry over them a couple of times and they get incorporated into the dough.

Leftover Bread
You can make homemade breadcrumbs but one thing I really like is making bread pudding, which by the way is one of the best bargain deserts. If I have leftover fruit I’ll add that, bananas work really well. And you don’t have to stick with sweet bread puddings, savory ones are money savers too. Roasted vegetables and cheese, cheese and ham… it’s another way to use other leftovers too.

Mashed Potatoes
When I’m around, leftover mashed potatoes are an oddity. When they are sitting in the fridge, I’ll make salmon fishcakes, Bubble and Squeak or add cheese, roll them in breadcrumbs and sauté them. Children love these, especially if you serve with them ketchup.

Other Veggies
Another goal I’ve set this year is to use vegetable peelings and scrapes to create my own stock. I have a bag in the freezer and every time I prepare vegetables this bag gets fed instead of the garbage bin. Every couple of weeks, I’ll make homemade stock and freeze it. Best thing is each time you’ll have a different amount and/or combination of vegetables so the stock always taste different.

Leftover Fruit
I’ve made crumbles, cobblers and if I really don’t know what to do with the fruit, there’s always a smoothie.

Rice and Beans
These often sit in the fridge and most of the time I buy tortillas and make rice and bean burritos. I freeze them and serve them on days when I don’t have time to cook or for a speedy lunch.

Sunday Dinner
This is something I’ve been doing since last summer, using Sundays as a day off from cooking. It’s the perfect time to pull out everything that’s leftover from the week and have a buffet. Eat ‘as is’ or combine what’s left.

Food Saver Machines
I’ve had my food saver machine for many years and now there are so many cheaper versions on the market. You can even pick up one at your local supermarket store. If you just can’t think of what to do with leftovers, invest in one of these money saving gadgets and freeze the food until you can.

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