budgetsmartgirl

Archive for March, 2010|Monthly archive page

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The Blog-Hobbies Cost Less at the Dollar Store

In The Blog on March 8, 2010 at 8:40 pm

Earlier today I was driving by the new dollar store and thought I’d check it out. I’m glad I did. I discovered they had lots of craft items that I can use for one of my new hobbies. My Mom who passed away last year was an avid floral arranger. She did it as hobby but really should have made a career out of it. I found a box of vases, floral foam and some flowers and thought I might as well do something with them. Now I’m hooked because it’s very relaxing and great for a winter day when you can’t play with real flowers. Good thing I wandered into the dollar store because they have everything from floral moss to grapevine wreaths so my new hobby just got a whole lot cheaper.

And speaking of hobbies, last year I told you about a site called FaveCrafts. This week they launched a radio show. It airs live every Sunday from 7 -8 p.m. Eastern. If you miss it don’t worry because all the episodes are available on the site. Check it out at www.blogtalkradio.com/favecrafts

And Easter is less than a month away and while I was in the dollar store I noticed lots of Easter goodies like baskets and things to fill them.

Seems like everyone I know has a birthday this time of the year. I saw this article listing all birthday freebies http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108990/the-best-birthday-freebies

This week on Budget Smart Girl. Ever thought about starting your own business? It’s always nice to hear about how others did it. This week I’ll chat with an entrepreneur who did just that and she’ll share all her tips with us. Also, it’s Nutrition month. Lots of people think living on a budget means the end of good for you food. So what foods give you the biggest bang for your nutritional buck?

Have a good week.

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Decorating For Less

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 5, 2010 at 2:52 pm

Here’s another great expert to tell you about. Meet Marlene Alexander who has a Web site and newsletter called Dollar Store Style. Here she shares some of her tips with us. Be sure to check out here Web site www.dollarstorestyle.com for more budget friendly home décor ideas.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell us about yourself and how you became interested in budget friendly decorating.
Marlene Alexander (MA)-I’m an empty-nester living in Ontario, Canada with my husband of 35 years, John, a Jack Russell Terrier named Christie an a tortoiseshell cat named Cloe. I became interested in dollar stores around the same time I started reading decorating magazines like Style At Home. It occurred to me that some of the smaller ideas in the glossies could easily be copied with similar items I’d seen in my local dollar store and that’s how the idea for Dollar Store Style www.dollarstorestyle.com began.

BSG-You write a column on Walletpop.com about dollar stores. Any good finds for decorating rooms?
MA-Absolutely! Glass vases, a wide assortment of candles and candleholders, tablecloths (round or square table-toppers), frames, even smaller pieces of artwork. Sometimes, you can get some great dinnerware for a buck a piece, too.

BSG-A big obstacle for most of us is getting and keeping organized. What low cost items would you recommend using for storage?
MA-I can tell you what I’ve found in my dollar store. I have a plastic under-bed unit that closes with a zipper. It’s about 40″ long by 17″ wide and 4 1/2″ deep.
I also found cloth-covered drawer inserts that unfold to a size of 12″ x 9 1/2″ x 4″ deep. There are also woven cloth baskets in a variety of shapes and sizes. The ones I have are 9″ square and 4″ deep. These cost $2 each. And, of course, there are usually a variety of small bamboo or other reed baskets. I use one for storing fingertip towels in the bathroom and another to corral salt and pepper, napkins and spoons on the kitchen table.

BSG-Any current decorating trends which are easy and inexpensive to duplicate?
MA-I have noticed that trends usually end up in the dollar store in one form or another. Smaller accents, of course. For example, when frameless canvas art became popular, I began seeing 8″ square canvas art at the dollar store and some of it is very nice.

BSG-Say you’re bored with a room in your house but don’t have a lot of money for a major redo, what can you use to give it a facelift?
MA-Decorating experts talk about this all the time. They say that the best inexpensive thing you can do to give a room a major lift, is a fresh coat of paint. More simply, you can re-arrange the furniture, change cushions and switch accessories from one room with those from another part of the house. Adding fresh flowers is also recommended.

BSG-Any sites/stores you recommend we check out for decorating bargains?
MA-Vintage Printables www.vintageprintable.com is a site containing a wide assortment of free downloadable images that are great to print and frame.

BSG-Garage sale season is coming up. Any tips for using sale items for jazzing up room?
MA-This isn’t really my area of expertise, but magazines like Style At Home http://www.styleathome.com/how-to/diy-decor/how-to-make-over-a-coffee-table/a/28022 always have ideas for making over old furniture or other accessories to bring them up-to-date. This link will take you to an article about making an old coffee table into a bench.

BSG-Here’s something I’m currently dealing with and I’m sure many other readers are to. Kitchen cabinets that are structurally perfect but the doors are looking worn. Anything we can do to give them a makeover?
MA-I think paint and new hardware would do the job. The tricky part is the how-to and for that you need an expert like Debbie Travis.

BSG-What are some of your favorite tips for low cost decorating?
MA-You can recover existing cushions with dollar store cushion covers, provided you find some that compliment your decor. I have also used a colorful headscarf as a dining room table cover. Another thing I do is to re-purpose things from the dollar store. For example, I use a hanging wicker basket in the bathroom to store extra toilet paper, my kitchen window has a valance made from three tea towels and I make small rectangular cushions by sewing two tapestry placemats together.

BSG-Tell us about the newsletter you send out and what readers will find in it.MA-The monthly newsletter includes an original article detailing a craft or decorating idea using things from the dollar store. My readers are the first to see these articles before they become available on the website. I sometimes include things that I have personally discovered don’t work for one reason or another, tips on what to buy for upcoming seasons, a new section called “Quick Fix” where I suggest solutions for fixing common household problems, simply and quickly and “Reader Suggestions/Questions.” Lots more information, as well.

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Mom Saver-in Chief-Lisa Reynolds

In Budget Smart Cook on March 3, 2010 at 6:39 pm

Now you know all about RedPlum, here to share her money saving secrets is their Mom Saver-in-Chief Lisa Reynolds, who is also the host of Diva Toolbox Radio” ‘Viva La Value’.

Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Tell us about yourself and your radio show. How did it get started and where can we listen to it?

Lisa Reynolds(LR)-I’m a busy working mom of two young boys who loves gathering with friends and family over good meals and fun activities, taking chess lessons with my sons, and actively participating in my church community. I also love to cook, and try to keep my meals to less than five ingredients or less than 30 minutes. I live with my husband, Robert, and two sons, Robert, 8, and Ryan, 5, in Northville, Michigan.
We launched our online radio show, Viva la Value, in October 2009 and have been gaining momentum ever since. My show helps people achieve a value lifestyle through real savings, tips, coupons and coupon codes. You can listen to Viva la Value on and get more information the show at www.redplum.com/vivalavalue.

BSG-You suggest buying everything on sale and using coupons. Any favorite techniques or places to check for coupons?

LR-Always share savings with a friend. People are passionate about scoring great deals, and women always like to brag about their finds. Word-of-mouth is a great way to find deals. Another easy technique is to look for online coupon codes. Coupon codes at redplum.com save consumers dollars or percentages off on everything from clothing to restaurants to books and movies. This savings coupled with additional online offers and even free shipping offers, makes online shopping not only convenient and a time saver, but a cost saver, too.

You can also start an office coupon swap, or with your neighbors. Have your co-workers or neighbors bring in coupons that they may not be able to use and share them. Especially staple items like aspirin, cold medicine, etc. – everyone can always use these items. You may not be able to use a coupon for diapers but your co-worker or neighbor with a newborn may need it and you can share it with them.

BSG-You say you inherited your bargain hunting gene from your mom –who is a great cook – and from your grandma who lived through the Great Depression. Any tips they shared with you?

LR-Never buy anything that’s not on sale and don’t go to the store without your coupons! Seriously though, there are many tips I’ve learned through the years that really don’t require a lot of time and effort. For example, stock up on sale items. When you see an item on special, or a savings is featured with your loyalty card and you have a coupon –stock up. Sixty-six percent of coupon shoppers say they are often able to combine coupons with other in-store specials, sales or frequent shopper discounts.

BSG-You like to keep meals simple using five ingredients or less. Any tips you want to share about meal planning?

LR-I advise people to plan meals using their store’s circular. Many savvy moms create meal plans based on what their local stores advertise that week. Using coupons for items that are already on sale that week saves you even more.

BSG-What mistakes do most people make when they’re trying to save time and/or money on meals?

LR-I think the biggest mistake people make is not looking for deals out at all, and making the assumption that it takes too much time. In fact, the average family can save at least $1,000 per year by spending just 20 minutes a week seeking value from a variety of sources. So, you just have to be willing to look and spend a little time doing research and planning your shopping trips.

BSG-Any recipes you’d like to share with us?

LR-My kids and I have been making kabobs a lot lately — fruit kabobs and chicken & vegetable kabobs. They’re easy and fun to make, taste great and the kids love to help. I also love do-it-yourself pizzas because they’re kid-friendly and you can make them as healthy as you want because you’re adding your own ingredients. You can purchase store-made pizza dough or easily create your own.

BSG-Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

LR-We have more tips for getting the most for your money at our savings and lifestyle website: www.redplum.com.

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RedPlum and how it can save you money

In Budget Smart Girl's Guide on March 3, 2010 at 6:28 pm

Every Wednesday waiting in the mailbox are flyers that have the name RedPlum on them. You might have seen them too and like me you might have wondered just who they are. Here’s the lowdown-

RedPlum –
RedPlum brings consumers relevant offers and deals on the brands they want most to best stretch their budgets. RedPlum delivers deals on a weekly basis to over 100 million shoppers in the mailbox, in the newspaper, in-store and online.

Redplum.com Coupons – At redplum.com, you will find one of the largest collections of printable coupons, coupon codes and savings tips along with the best deals and the sweetest coupons plus trends, tips and inside information on what to wear, buy and do right now.

RedPlum Network –
This past year, the RedPlum Network has become the fastest growing online coupon network, delivering hundreds of thousands of national and local deals to consumers from coast to coast each month. With nearly 1,000 affiliate sites across 220 designated market areas where you can find redplum.com coupons, the network reaches 45 million online consumers. It is focused on reaching and activating value-conscious consumers interested in recognizable brands. In addition to deal-oriented sites, the network extends to lifestyle, local, newspaper and retail sites to reach consumers on sites that are relevant to their lifestyle and shopping needs.

Learn more at www.redplum.com.

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A Salmon Chowder Recipe

In The Blog on March 1, 2010 at 7:31 pm

Last week I was putting together my grocery list, opened up the refrigerator and noticed a leftover salmon steak from dinner, some green beans, also from the same dinner and odds and ends of vegetables like pototoes, carrots and celery. I also remembered I now had some fresh herbs growing the Aerogarden so making a salmon chowder seemed like a great idea. I thought I’d share my recipe with you, along with a photo. It turned out great and it just goes to show how leftovers and a few pantry items can become another meal…or at least a great lunch.
Salmon Chowder(Serves 4-6)
1 tablespoon oil
½ cup chopped onion
½ cup chopped celery
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups diced peeled potatoes
1 cup sliced carrots
1 teaspoon of fresh dill or ½ tsp. Dried dill
1 can (14 ½ oz.) chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup corn
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
Leftover ingredients-
Salmon—I used a leftover salmon steak from a previous dinner. It was probably about 1 cup of salmon, a 7 ½ oz. can of salmon could probably be used to0, maybe two if you wanted more salmon in the chowder.
Green Beans—I used about ½ cup chopped cooked green beans.

Heat the oil in a large saucepan, sauté the onion until softened, add the garlic, carrots, celery and potatoes and stir together, sprinkle in the dill and add the chicken or vegetable broth. Lower the heat and simmer for about 10-15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the corn, green beans and then gradually stir in evaporated milk. Gently stir in salmon and heat through.
Serve with bread or crackers.

And this week on Budget Smart Girl, another great guest who will share her money saving tips with us. And it’s almost spring, so let’s think about ways we can give our homes a new look on a budget.
And don’t forget March is Frozen Food Month, look for coupons and in store promotions on all types of frozen foods and stock up while you can.
Have a good week.

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