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Archive for February, 2010|Monthly archive page

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The First Annual Budget Smart Girl Valentine’s Gift Guide

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide, Uncategorized on February 5, 2010 at 2:49 pm

While I try to keep gifts for Valentine’s Day within a tight budget, I do think it’s still nice to receive something to chase away the mid winter blues. Next week I’ll have some last minute and inexpensive ideas to share with you, but if you’re looking for something special, here are some suggestions-

Lush Does It Again
I can always count on the folks at LUSH to send me gift ideas that not only look good, but they’re prices are great too. www.lushusa.com

Here are a few ideas-
LUSH Love Soap ($3.95). And better than a bouquet of roses, LUSH Be Mine Gift ($24.95) is filled with pampering goodies. It contains three products. Flying Fox Shower Gel soothes skin and sets the mood, Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar massages away the stresses of the day and Honey Trap Lip Balm leaves lips soft.

Tea for Two

I’m a tea fan and can’t start my day until I’ve had my first cup. Here’s a tea just for Valentine’s Day and it’s called Sweet Love! Created by Kusmi Tea, it’s a blend of Black China tea, licorice roots, spices, guarana seeds and pink pepper. It’s packaged in classic tins or individual muslin tea bag and costs $18.40. You can find additional information at http://www.us.kusmitea.com/en/wellness-tea/sweet-love/c6/p77/product_info.html

Gifts and Cards Etc.
Check out www.katespaperie.com. I love the roses and boxes on the landing page of this site, but click on Valentine’s Day and you’ll find gifts, paper, cards. Oh, and while you’re on the site visit their sale and clearance section too, some great bargains to be had!

The Holidays Might Be Over But…

I know it’s not fair, you’ve just started a diet and now there are goodies to tempt you once again. Check out Junior’s world famous cheesecake. Some classic Valentine’s Day favorites include their Heart Cheesecake. Baked in the sweetheart shape, and covered in chocolate ganache and red stripes. Or their homemade moist Red Velvet Cheesecake which is layered with original New York Cheesecake and Junior’s famous cream cheese icing. It is then adorned with even more icing and cake crumbs. Also, a tasty bright red twist to the original cheesecake is the Strawberry Cheesecake, which I’m told remains a loyal fan favorite. All flavors are available through the website at www.juniorscheesecake.com

More Goodies
I know lots of people who have food allergies so this might be something just for them, Vermont Nut Free Chocolates has created a line of delicious, gourmet, nut free chocolates from solid chocolate heart pops, truffles and baskets of goodies with prices starting as low as $1.85! All the chocolates are handmade. http://www.vermontnutfree.com/.

A Book That Says It All
I love giving and receiving books so this one got my attention. It’s HOW I LOVE YOU: A Journal of My Affection by Aimee Chase (Harlequin Nonfiction/January 2010/$13.95) which offers an opportunity for couples to chronicle their love story. This journal comes with six chapters of essays, fill-in-the-blanks, and multiple choice questions, check it out at www.eharlequin.com

eBillme
Thought I’d share this will you, eBillme’s Debt Free Mall (http://Shop.eBillme.com).

This year they want to encourage you to say ‘I Love You’ without credit card debt. eBillme features many reasonably priced gifts on their Valentine’s Day 2010 page – http://shop.ebillme.com/occasions/valentine/.

Here are a few of their suggestions-
Under $20:
For Her – Heart-Shaped Fondue Set for Two ($14.95).
Under $50:
For Him – USB Silver Web Cam ($34.99).

The Daily Grommet
And this one also got my attention- www.DailyGrommet.com . Daily Grommet is an online marketplace and video review site that features a different product from a small product producer every day. Daily Grommet has identified the best-available products and gifts from innovative, “little guy” enterprises, and presents video reviews explaining what’s compelling about each product and the story behind its creation. It’s a great shopping site for anyone who wants to give their Valentine a gift with an interesting story, while also supporting the small businesses behind these products. Here are a few of their suggestions-

1. Pacific Shaving Oil ($17.85)
2. MixMyGranola Have breakfast in bed with a custom 16-ounce blend of granola mixed to your specifications. ($4.99 and up)
3.Jill-able Vase Say it with flowers … delivered in Jill-able vases that are unbreakable, collapsible and reusable. ($8.00)

Candlelight Dinner

And what would Valentine’s Day be without some candles? Check out www.partylite.com and see their Hugs and Kisses Gift Set – Red etched glass holder comes with 12 Pure Vanilla Crème scented tealights for $19.95. Or their Sweet Indulgence Gift Set – Blended with antioxidant-enriched Vitamin E, Body Escentials™ It contains 4 fl. oz. of Strawberry Rhubarb Body Escentials™ Body Wash, a 4 fl. oz of Body Lotion and one Strawberry Rhubarb Mini Barrel (25-35 hours burn time) for $24.95.

Just for a Budget Smart Girl
When I saw this ‘No need to clip coupons or search for discounts’ I knew I had to share it with you. On www.Pricefalls.com, shoppers simply name their price to bid on a variety of baskets and fresh flowers available from brick-and-mortar floral shops across the nation. Roses, daisies, whatever the bouquet of choice, Pricefalls offers consumers a great way to save money. The site also offers fresh bulk flowers for creative romantics who wish to arrange their own. Other Valentine items include name brand perfumes and designer jewelry

Some Freebies
Facebook users can send personalized video greetings to a select friend, group of friends or their entire network by simply recording a video with a webcam and microphone. The application is free and it’s a great way to stay in touch and send a customized message for the holiday. Check out http://apps.facebook.com/vpypebroadcaster/index.php/vgreeting

And Check Out
And if you want to send a video greeting, check out www.animoto.com

And finally…
I received this one in my e-mail yesterday and thought what a great gift it would be because it’s way to save money by packing our own lunch every day. VALENTINE PINK AND RED BENTO SETS: limited edition Laptop Lunches Valentine’s Day bento sets. They’re on sale for only $20.99—while supplies last. http://secure.laptoplunches.com/AMAZING/itemdesc.asp?ic=300020-PNKRED&eq=&Tp=

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The Frugal Foodie

In Budget Smart Cook on February 4, 2010 at 3:37 pm

When I heard about the Frugal Foodie Cookbook I was intrigued. I love the idea that you can be a foodie, eat well, and well, watch your pennies at the same time. One of the authors of The Frugal Foodie Cookbook is Lara Starr. I was eager to find out more about her and her frugal foodie lifestyle. So here’s my interview with her and be sure to check out the book at www.vivaeditions.com and you can read more about Lara’s culinary adventures at http://frugalfoodiecookbook.blogspot.com

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Have you always been budget minded?
Lara Starr (LS)-Yes, I come from a long line of cheapskates. I’ve been working since I was 15 and I’ve always been careful with how I spend. I also like the thrill of the hunt of a bargain!

BSG-You’re a cookbook author, cake decorator. Have you always worked in the food industry?
LS-I’ve worked in marketing and publicity for most of my life, and was a cookbook publicist for several years. Being exposed to great food from great cooks and chefs was thrilling, and I began to learn a lot about food, cooking and eating. I’m very lucky to live in the Bay Area where I have access to amazing restaurants and markets.

BSG-What came first, the frugal foodie blog or cookbook? In fact, how did they come about?
LS-The book came first. I’d co-authored a cookbook 10 years ago, called The Party Girl Cookbook. That book literally came out the same month as my son, Max. I of course got immersed in caring for a baby and working, so a 2nd book took a backseat for a long time, but I stayed in touch with the folks who had published it. When I was laid off a colleague was starting the Viva Editions imprint and asked me to do The Frugal Foodie Cookbook. The time was definitely right – in those 10 years I’d gone from a Party Girl to a Frugal Foodie! I started the Blog to keep the fun going – new ideas and recipes and also the goings-on with the book. I also have a Facebook page for news on the book and links to ideas and recipes.

BSG-What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when they’re trying to save money on food?
LS-I think they get too focused on coupons. There are all of these stories out there about women who got $500 worth of groceries for $10 – but if you look in their cart, it’s probably full of stuff you wouldn’t want to eat – packaged, processed and promotional type items. I think that people also think they’re getting good deals at warehouse clubs, and you can get some amazing deals there – but when you factor in your membership fee and the little extras you put in your cart every time you go, it’s probably not netting you a lot of savings. Also – you can’t get everything there, so you also have to go to the regular grocery store. And in my experience, the more stores your and the more times you’re in stores, the more money you’ll spend.

BSG-What are some of the best bargain buys right now?
LS-I’ve noticed that eggs and butter have been much cheaper than they have been in the past – which is great because I love to bake and my family loves quiches and scrambled eggs.

BSG-You give cooking demonstrations, are people more interested in budget cooking these days?
LS-Definitely – we’ve all been hit by the economic downturn, and people are really into cooking more and more.

BSG-What are some of your favorite tips and hints for saving money on meals?
LS-My best tip is to make a menu every week and shop once a week for everything you need – and only what you need. Once you get in the habit, it’s really easy – and you never have that dreaded Wednesday at 5:30 when you’re on your way home from work “What the heck are we going to have for dinner?” – which makes expensive takeout really appealing. I also base a lot of meals on pasta and rice – they’re inexpensive, tasty, you can make a lot at once, and since I have a son who’s a picky eater, I know he’ll always eat plain rice or noodles.

BSG- Are there any foods that you think are considered budget buys but really aren’t?
LS-Nothing is a good bargain if it doesn’t taste good – and I think we all have some things we shouldn’t compromise on. I buy good bagels because the bargain ones are grody, I also only use real butter for baking. But I’m perfectly happy to drink really cheap wine.

BSG-Do you think meal planning is essential if you want to save money?
LS-See #7 – yes! I think it’s essential.

BSG-Do you have a recipe you’d like to share?
LS-This is one of my favorite frugal recipes – it’s cheap, easy and everyone thinks you’re cool because not a lot of people make Biscotti. Enjoy!

Biscotti
2 eggs
¾ cup sugar
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup almonds, toasted and coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Line a baking sheet with foil and grease well, or use a silpat.
Beat the eggs and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until pale, about 2 minutes.
Beat in the flour and baking soda and continue beating until blended. Mix in the almonds.
With floured hands, form half of the dough into a 12-inch log. Place on the baking sheet and press down to flatten to a width of about 3 inches. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Bake the cookie loaves for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, leaving the oven on. Let the loaves cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove them to a cutting board.
Put the slices back on the cookie sheet, laying them on their sides. Return them to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
Cookies will keep for about a week in an airtight container or for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Makes 24 cookies.

Cashew Lemon Spice Variation
Add the zest of 1 lemon with the eggs and sugar
Replace the almonds with ¾ cup toasted, unsalted cashews
Add 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or pumpkin pie spice with the flour

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Valentine’s Day Giveaway from Walmart

In The Blog on February 3, 2010 at 4:33 pm

I thought I’d post this one on its own and not in the Valentine Day Gift Guide.

The folks at Walmart have kindly donated a pink & red package with pieces from the studio of Sandra Magsamen that all retail for $10 and under.The total gift basket worth of Valentine’s Day goodies values at $34.

This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada and can’t be shopped to PO Boxes.

All you need to do is add a comment about ways you save money when you’re buying gifts, be it birthday, holiday or Valentine’s Day goodies. If you’re a subscriber, you can also e-mail me your tip. The best one will be picked on February 10th.

Good luck everyone.

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The Blog-Free, well almost

In The Blog on February 1, 2010 at 7:17 pm

First of all hello and welcome to all the new visitors to the site and also to everyone who signed up for the newsletter. We’re growing in numbers every week.

Last week was a good one for receiving free, well, almost free items. I’d sent for the Sudoku game that Gorton’s were promoting. Can’t remember how many UPC I had to send (I think it was 3) along with $1.99 to receive this game.

Just the right size for carrying in your purse if you have to wait at the doctor or dentist’s office. These are also good things to collect throughout the year for stocking stuffers.

And when I ordered my Aerogarden there was an offer for a cooking DVD and four chopping mats for $4.99. They must have run out of them because here’s what they sent instead.

The cookbook has some great recipes and I can’t wait to try this marinade maker when the herbs are harvested.

Oh, and speaking of my Aerogarden, I also sent off for a $10 rebate they’re offering until the end of the year. That brings down the price I paid down to $69.99.

And to finish off my week of bargains, I used all $1 coupons at the supermarket and saved $20 off last week’s bill.

This week on Budget Smart Girl. The first annual BSG Valentine’s Gift Guide. And we’ll hear from the Frugal Foodie who has lots of tips and a great recipe to share.

Have a good week.

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