Tips and Tricks: 3 Great Kid-Friendly Snacks

It's hard coming up with great snacks for kids especially ones that are nutritious engouh for you to feel good about, yummy enough for them to eat and frugal enough to save your wallet!  Here are some of my favorites to help you get started.

Spinach Smoothies

Hear me out before ya judge!! I love smoothies and right now I feel sadly iron-depleted and exhausted. I do love fruit so I love to whip up a smoothie. 

One great tip is to watch your fruit. When it looks like its starting to go bad and you know you can't eat it right away, quick stick it in a container and place it in the freezer. The next time you need a smoothie you have fruit ready to go!

The other thing I love is to make a spinach smoothie! Before you all gag, here's how:

• Blend up some fruit.
• Add a couple of tablespoons of plain yogurt.
• Finally add a handful of fresh spinach and blend well.

Sure it'll look green but I promise you won't taste it!!!!!!

Homemade Granola

Store-bought granola is expensive and full of who-knows-what.  While living in Thailand I couldn't find it anywhere and so I developed an easy recipe using plain old oats.


Ingredients
3 cups of oats
Enough honey to make it stir well
Other ingredients like coconut, flax seed, wheatgerm, raisins, nuts

Directions
Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray and heat oven to 300.
Mix all together and then spread thin on the pan.
Cook for arounjd 15 minutes or until it almost smells burnt! It sounds crazy but then I turn it over on the pan and cook for a further 10 minutes and it's good.
I pour mine back into the oat container and in the morning serve with yogurt and fresh fruit.

100 Calorie Snacks

Marketed to help people lose weight these things are really just a whole lotta air without substance! Don't get me wrong, we all love convenience so why not grab some ziploc bags, a huge bag of chips/your favorite snacks and portion them out. Read the back and see how many make a portion and then add that amount to the bag. Trust me, you'll save mega moolah!

Here are some 100 calorie ingredients:

1 small orange
15 mini carrots
3 TBS raisins
6 reduced fat Triscuits
1 cup celery
1 cup watermelon
13 animal crackers
3/4 oz cheddar cheese
2 Twizzlers
7/8 cup cheerios
2/3 cup mini marshmallows
1 cheese stick and 5 slices ham


Your turn: What healthy snack do you eat around the house?  Where have you hidden spinach?

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: The Cheapest Place For Money Orders

Cheaper than the post office for sure, grocery stores are a great place to pick up money orders if you need them. The ones at the grocery store near me are just $.38. Well worth it if you don't want to send a check.

Read more...

4 Great New Uses For Cheerios

Yummy! An easy recipe that kids love and makes a fun on-the-go breakfast! Thanks Kim for the CHEERIOS BARS.

Ingredients

6 c. Honey Nut Cheerios
1 c. Karo
1 c. peanut butter
1 c. raisins, optional
2/3 c. sugar
1 c. peanuts

In a large dish. Mix Cheerios, peanuts and raisins. Spray 9 x 13 inch pan with Pam or grease with butter. In saucepan heat Karo and sugar to boiling. Turn off. Heat add peanut butter and mix until smooth. Pour over Cheerios mixture. Press into pan and cool. Cut into squares.

Read more...

20 Tips to Hosting a Successful Garage Sale

A friend and I are ardent garage salers. Once the weather turns a little warmer we're out on the trail of a good bargain. I've had a few garage sales myself but I'm more of an expert bargain finder than a seller. However, looking at it from that point of view I came up with a list of ways to have a successful sale that I've learnt over the years and things that attract buyers.

1) The ultimate goal of the sale is to get rid of as much stuff as possible. To do that you're going to need to price low.

2) Take out anything you want to get more money for and consider selling it in your local paper’s classifieds, eBay or Craigslist. What usually happens if you price it too high is you end up with it and end up taking it to Goodwill anyway.

3) Consider re-gifting items with tags on or giving to friends.

4) Take out sentimental items. They'll be too hard to sell and you'll overprice them because subconsciously you don't want to get rid of them!

5) Wash all clothes/Wipe down items.

6) Removes stained clothes and place in a "free" bin. I know if we see one stained item we move on as we figure maybe it all is.

7) Have a "free" basket and allow people/kids to take one item each.

8) Price everything of have an easy pricing system.

9) Price it to go or take it to Goodwill at the end. Remember Point #1.

10) Sell food. Not only will this make you money but it draws crowds and crowds buy. Most places we see hot dogs, chips and pop for $2.

11) Place big attractive items by the curb. That will draw in "drive by" people.

12) Don't have your sale two days running. If people see that in the paper they'll assume it's picked over.

13) If you can, have it as part of a subdivision sale.

14) A few hours before closing (say noon) start to mark items down. We met some ladies who every 30 minutes were getting up and marking stuff down. They had sold nearly all their stuff that way.

15) Presentation is the difference between people driving by and stopping.

16) Use flags and balloons to draw attention.

17) Use already marked stickers that you can buy cheap at the dollar store to price your items for easy pricing.

18) Advertise well. I went to a subdivision sale once which wasn't in the paper. Needless to say they had hardly any visitors.

19) People at garage sales are looking for deals. Be willing to deal if you want to sell things.

20) Finally, remember, this is not new stuff! Price it low or................take it to Goodwill afterwards.

Good Luck!

Would you like to advertise your garage sale to thousands of local Northwest Indiana/Chicagoland folks? Email me!

Read more...

Reader Question: What Diapers Do You Use? 10 Tips to Diaper Savings.

Lauren asked: "Clair, what diapers do you use?"

You know me well enough by now to know I try not to pay full price for anything and that includes diapers. The reason I started Mummy Deals was I found diapers for 20 cents a pack and some friends wanted to know how so I started to teach them through the site and then it became a help for others too.

We've tried Huggies, Pampers, Meijer, Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, CVS, Walgreens and even ALDI diapers and one thing I've come to learn is that the generics are just as good and usually it's dependent on the child.

If you're pregnant for the first time or wondering which is better I highly recommend trying the cheap ones first and seeing which you like or dislike. ALDI diapers are just $5.99 a pack and in a frugal experiment I had to try them. The week I did we had MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and I was teaching a class. I explained that I loved ALDI diapers and you could just about hear a pin drop! Then I asked how many would have tried the diapers before I said that. Couple of hands.

Then I asked how many would try it now I'd recommended them. Lots of hands flew up! Here are my other 10 Tips to Saving on Diapers.

1) Stocking Up Beforehand.
The first thing to consider for first time Mums is stocking up before baby is even born. Remember the days of two incomes and a little disposable incomes?! So yeah it's a good idea to be on the lookout already.

2) Sign Up for Coupons.
Sign up with Pampers, Huggies and LUVS online to start getting coupons.

3) Compare Prices.
With those coupons though remember that generics may be cheaper even without a coupon. When using the coupons make sure there's a sale to maximize the coupon. The ones you get direct from the company tend to have a far off expiration date.

4) Price to Pay Per Diaper.
I like to pay under $.15 per diaper but if I can get them cheaper like $.10 then I'm stocking up.

5) Plan Ahead.
When you stock up try to think that kids go through at least a pack per week so if you buy 4 packs you're only good for a month and seriously who wants to keep shopping for these?!

6) Think.
Watch big box store prices and big boxes in general. Quite often they're not the best deal.

7) Calculate.
If you don't see a sale and just really need some take a calculator with you and divide the price by the number of diapers. Note the lowest priced package and brand.

8) Cheap During Day, Expensive at Night.
Put your baby in cheaper diapers during the day when you're changing them more and then reserve the more expensive ones for at night just in case. That way, you'll ensure no leaks but won't have to keep buying the expensive brands!

Or, cloth diaper during the day and disposable at night.

9) Big vs Little.
Sometimes it's better to buy a big box, sometimes a smaller pack. If you have enough coupons stocked up and the sale price is low enough you can get several packs of diapers for less money than the big box (or a greater number of diapers for the same price.) The prices of diapers does not change as the size gets bigger but the number of diapers you get for that price decreases.

10) Using Overage
Use Overage at CVS/Walgreens or Rite Aid. Sometimes we buy items we don't need. Shocker I know!! LOL! The reason I do it is:

If I know one of the drugstores has a FREE after rebate product PLUS I have a coupon, I know I'm gonna make money.
Example: Colgate is FREE after $2 rebate. I have a $1 off coupon. So I pay $1 but get $2 back. The $1 I save I "put towards" diapers so that really I'm getting $1 off the diapers. Now if I had a couple of products with coupons I'd save even more.
Figure out what you're going to buy so that you can get the most bucks. Although you're purchasing diapers weekly, you're paying less than the sale price for the products and more often than not getting the diapers for free.

Read more...

Tips For Saving $400 Per Year By Doing Your Own Hair Coloring

It's a simple dollars and cents equation really. An average color job at a salon is going to run you around $50-$100, an in-home color will put you closer to $10. Still, is it really necessary? The one area where I won't skimp is highlighting because let's face it I'm just not that way inclined and nor is Hubs. You see I bring Hubby into it because bless him, every month I rope him in to cover the grey, spruce my hair up! It takes us around 45 minutes total and in the end I've spent around $8 and saved around $20-$50! Multiply that by 12 and you can save $240-$600 per year! Here's how:

Firstly I pick a color that's not too cheap and not too expensive. I haven't found one that I love yet but I know that you get what you pay for and if you put a $2 dye on your head you'll get $2 results. My faves are around $7.

Secondly, spend a little time working out what color you really want and then keep the top of the package so you don't forget next time!

Thirdly, there's a good reason why people use old towels and old clothes when doing it at home. I'm just sayin!

Fourth, Choose a color a shade darker than you want, and leave it on half as long or less. Use less than it calls for on your hair. All you need to use is enough to make it spreadable over your head evenly.

A reader has grey hair in patches, which (here's the great part) comes out looking like highlights because the grey parts don't take as much of the color as the rest of my hair. She can make a little bottle of Loving Care last three applications this way.

Read more...

5 Tips For Spring Cleaning The Garage

This post brought to you by Victor Pest. All opinions are 100% mine.

Here in Chicagoland we’ve gone from below zero temperatures and blizzards to spring-like weather all in the matter of a couple of weeks such is our crazy weather but as I sit here today in spring clothes dreaming of warmer days it’s made me realize what else is ahead: Spring cleaning the garage. A job that Hubby dreads and I relish a little in because it means I get to pitch what we don’t need and donate it to the local thrift store.

Uploaded with Skitch!

One thing I can live without is anything that may have crept in during the cold winter months and made it’s home there. With a newborn around I can live without disease carrying rodents which is why I wanted to introduce you to Victor: the specialists in rodent control. Before you get all mad at me, please bear in mind that I do not encourage the thoughtless killing of animals but with a newborn around do not want little critters bringing disease near him.

Victor has been around for over 100 years and carries a full line of products for mouse problems that are highly efficient, safe for kids and pets, and non-toxic! YAY! Some of the things on the Market that take care of the problem are also really dangerous for kids so as a Mum I need something that’s not dangerous to my kids too.

Right now Victor is running a special promotion that is going on for the Victor® Protect Your Space Combo Kit for $99.99 with FREE shipping!! The kit includes the following: 
(1) Victor® Sonic PestChaser® Heavy Duty Sonic, (2) Victor® Sonic Mini PestChaser® Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent, and (2) Victor® Electronic Mouse Trap.

So while you’re thinking about cleaning your garage, remember Victor and their products that will help you get the job done.

Now, here are my 5 tips for garage cleaning:

1) Don’t be afraid to pitch stuff. Use the 1 year rule: If you didn’t use it last year the chances are you won’t this year.

2) Grab the trash can and dump, dump, dump. If your garage is like ours it’s a home for junk and it needs to be pitched.

3) Make a collection of things to donate and drive them there soon before you forget.

4) It’s time to put those screens back in the windows so while you’re cleaning the garage give the screens a good clean too.

5) Get things off the floor. If you’ve got a bike, buy some brackets to attach it to the ceiling. If you need to invest in or build some shelves. There’s no need for a garage to look like the ultimate dumping ground.

Boy do I love a good spring clean! It feels good to get things done and makes me realize summer is coming!

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: Donated Items Make Great Tax Refunds

Waiting until the end of the year is perhaps not the best time to round up all your donated items for a tax refund. Instead here's a couple of tips on why you should start now and get organized!

1) At the beginning of each new year, make a file for that year's taxes and then make thrift store donations all year round.

2) Itemize everything, and put the donation receipts in the file.

3) At the end of the year, it is all there for when you do the taxes.

A reader told me she does as good as or maybe better than on our refund from these items than if they had a garage sale!

Thanks Laurie!

Read more...

Saving Money on Medications

Did you know that you can get FREE antibiotics at Meijer and Giant Eagle grocery store? I didn't either til a few months ago but am so glad I found that one out as it saved me big one time. it made me think though: What other tips and tricks are there for saving on drugs and who knows about it? So here's my little How To Save on Medications list.

First though I want to mention this. I'd already written this post and then when i refilled a prescription. I've had it filled 3 times at 3 different places. EXACTLY the same prescription and all 3 times I've asked for generic. Here are the prices I paid. No lie. My point: Believe it or not it pays to call around.

See here for a step by step guide.

#1: $48
#2: $15
#3: $4!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not going to name #1 or #2 but I will tell you that #3 was Target. Wowsers!!!!! Here are my tips:

1) Check to see if your pharmacy offers a generic version. Generic drugs use the same active ingredients and are approved by the FDA like brand names drugs.

2) Certain pharmacies including Target, WalMart, CVS and Walgreens offer cheap generic drugs. Ask for a list and bring that to your doctor's office. Ask them to prescribe you something comparable from that list if possible.

3) Check around for a Transfer prescription coupon. These come in the mail, as a newspaper insert, or are sometimes available online. I rarely see them out for new prescriptions but if you have an ongoing one, check around. CVS will match the competitor's ad to try and keep your business so you can use Walgreens/Target ones there!

4) Some people play the transfer "game". Starting at one place, then using a coupon to transfer to the next and getting money back and then going back. If you have an ongoing one this is a good way to save money.

5) If you need antibiotics and have a Giant Eagle or Meijer nearby I'd head there first!

Read more...

Buying Meat for Non-Holiday Occasions

This is the time of year to get GREAT deals on turkeys and even if you're not hosting Thanksgiving, I suggest buying a turkey (or two!) and cooking up some meals. You can either freeze them for later or eat now but this is too good a deal to miss!

A word to the wise - most stores require a minimum purchase to get the good deals so think about what you need as apposed to impulse buying because if you do that, it's not really a great deal!! (I've learned the hard way!!) A couple of people have asked why in the world I would do this so I thought a couple of answers were due!

1) Where are you going to store it?

I have a deep freezer down in my basement that I love. Although a little costly up front deep freezers are a necessity for those really trying to slash the grocery bill. They mean that instead of just buying week to week you can shop the sales. Your meals are not planned around whatever is going on sale that week but what you got for cheap in past weeks. Currently my freezer is host to some cheese shreds that were $.10/bag, lots of different meat at around $1.50#, vegetables that I flash froze when they were less than $1# and some sweet potatoes that were $.29#. Using those ingredients and fresh items I buy weekly we’re easily able to cook meals for around $4-$5 each night.

2) What are you going to do with it?

20# of turkey may seem a lot to you but once you think of feeding it at a couple of meals and possibly then freezing some cooked, it really makes sense. We love to host dinners at our house for our friends and recently was the perfect example. We had 2 nights where I need to make dinner for more people than just our family of 3. If I didn’t have cheap meat stored in our freezer I’d be serving spaghetti for sure! Instead I took a turkey out of the freezer that I bought around Thanksgiving (yup, they keep for a long time in a deep freezer). It cost me $10 for 18#.

Don't panic about leftovers, after Thanksgiving I'll have a slew of turkey recipes for you.

Read more...

How to Safely Sign Up for Freebies

Who knew there was a good/bad way to sign up for freebies? I guess before I started this blog I would never have thought that there were so many free things available to me such as samples/coupons and other good deals. So it got me thinking that maybe there are others knew to getting stuff for free who may want to learn what I've learnt!!

Couple of hints when signing up for freebies:

1) Create a new email account so that if you get spam from signing up, it won't affect your personal email.

2) Sign up for a Roboform account. This is a FREE program that once you've entered your info into the system, it will populate it for you in the future. Go here to sign up and then you'll get a button on your browser that next time you can hit and it'll enter all the info.

The other place that's similar to Roboform is Passpack that one of my readers uses and likes. You can sign up here for that.

3) If somewhere asks for your phone number, I usually don't do it. A product that's worth 50 cents and yet you get 2 calls? Forget it!

4) In general just be smart about it. I do vet all the freebies I add to the site just to make sure but double-check and let me know if it looks fishy!

Anyone else got any tricks for freebie signups?

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: 8 Tips for Getting A Good Price For Diapers

I got this email from first time Mommy Krista and wanted to answer the question here so anyone else could find out what I think is a good deal and chime in.

I am a first time mommy, and I'm wondering what you consider a good deal for diapers? I see that they go up in price as the diaper size gets bigger (I'm telling you - this is new to me!). I've tried several different brands and generics and really have no issue w/any of them, so I am open to trying anything. What do you recommend is a good or fair price to pay, per size of diaper? My daughter is fast outgrowing Size 1.

I've followed your blog for awhile, and totally believe in the "stock up" philosophy - just want to know your take on when it's time to buy a pack or 2, and when it's time to STOCK UP!

1) The first thing to consider for first time Mums is stocking up before baby is even born. Remember the days of two incomes and a little disposable incomes?! So yeah it's a good idea to be on the lookout already.

2) Sign up with Pampers, Huggies and LUVS online to start getting coupons.

3) With those coupons though remember that generics may be cheaper even without a coupon. When using the coupons make sure there's a sale to maximize the coupon. The ones you get direct from the company tend to have a far off expiration date.

4) I like to pay under $.15 per diaper but if I can get them cheaper like $.10 then I'm stocking up.

5) When you stock up try to think that kids go through at least a pack per week so if you buy 4 packs you're only good for a month and seriously who wants to keep shopping for these?!

6) Watch big box store prices and big boxes in general. Quite often they're not the best deal.

7) If you don't see a sale and just really need some take a calculator with you and divide the price by the number of diapers. Note the lowest priced package and brand. Maybe if anyone has any comments on this please leave a note below so we don't all have to do the research!

8) Right now I care a great deal for the Amazon deals on diapers HERE. By using Amazon Mom and Subscribe & Save, it's a great deal. Grab your copy of Parents magazine for better savings.

For more on why I buy generic diapers and which ones I've tried, check this out.

Read more...

Clean Out and Claim Your Tax Donation

Before the madness of the holidays begin.....it's time to clean out and get organized to purty your house up. That means it's time to donate!

1. Donate clothes that haven't been worn in a year to the Salvation Army.
2. Books that are now read to the library. You can check them out if you want to re-read them.
   
3. CD's and DVD's can also find a new home at your local library.
4. Kids toys, clothing, gear to local crisis pregnancy center or other shelters.
   
5. Drop off items at the thrift store.

These items are tax deductible but you need to do it before the end of the year. It's much more pleasant to do it now than trying to do it right before the end of the year when it's snowing and you want to be cuddled up on the couch.

For budget ideas on how to spruce up your house for the holidays, check this out.

Read more...

Tips and Tricks - Diapers

You know me well enough by now to know I try not to pay full price for anything and that includes diapers. The reason I started Mummy Deals was I found diapers for 20 cents a pack and some friends wanted to know how so I started to teach them through the site and then it became a help for others too.

We've tried Huggies, Pampers, Meijer, Walmart, Target, Babies R Us, CVS, Walgreens and even ALDI diapers and one thing I've come to learn is that the generics are just as good and usually it's dependent on the child.

If you're pregnant for the first time or wondering which is better I highly recommend trying the cheap ones first and seeing which you like or dislike. ALDI diapers are just $5.99 a pack and in a frugal experiment I had to try them. The week I did we had MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and I was teaching a class. I explained that I loved ALDI diapers and you could just about hear a pin drop! Then I asked how many would have tried the diapers before I said that. Couple of hands.

Then I asked how many would try it now I'd recommended them. Lots of hands flew up!

We're creatures of habit aren't we and sometimes the people paying the most for commercials are the ones we trust. But, I'd encourage you to try the cheaper alternatives. Hey if you don't like them switch to what you know but if you do.....I'll take a pumpkin spiced latter! (LOL! JK)!

Another tip I have for saving money is to put your baby in cheaper diapers during the day when you're changing them more and then reserve the more expensive ones for at night just in case. That way, you'll ensure no leaks but won't have to keep buying the expensive brands!

Got a practical tip? I'd love to hear it so shoot me an email at mummydeals at yahoo dot com!

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: The Yummiest Smoothie Ever

I love smoothies and right now I feel sadly iron-depleted and exhausted. My pregnancy diet isn't great but I do love fruit so I love to whip up a smoothie.

One great tip is to watch your fruit. When it looks like its starting to go bad and you know you can't eat it right away, quick stick it in a container and place it in the freezer. The next time you need a smoothie you have fruit ready to go!

The other thing I love is to make a spinach smoothie! Before you all gag, here's how:

• Blend up some fruit.
• Add a couple of tablespoons of plain yogurt.
• Finally add a handful of fresh spinach and blend well.
  

Sure it'll look green but I promise you won't taste it!!!!!!

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: Frugal Reusable Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are one thing that always seem to cost a lot so when Sharon sent me this tip I knew we could all enjoy it!

• I purchase liquid fabric softener and dilute it in a bottle that I keep on hand (which is a money saver in itself).
• Then take a wash cloth (I fold a corner of it & sew it down to remember which one I use), dampen it with the softener, throw it in the dryer as a reusable dryer sheet.
• Don't use the softener in the washer, just in the dryer.
• When it get's "funky" soak it in hot soapy water & start over!

Colder weather is right around the corner & with it comes static electricity, I haven't bought dryer sheets in years! Thanks Sharon!

Got a money saving tip or trick? Email me at mummydeals at yahoo.com

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: Cheap Teeth Whitening

Instead of buying an expensive whitener, use baking soda daily to whiten your teeth. Just wet your toothbrush and dip it into the baking soda and brush as usual. Yum-o! LOL! I guess you get used to the taste.

After brushing with baking soda, swish some hydrogen peroxide to step up the whitening power. Hydrogen Peroxide is a great whitener. When you buy a whitening product the higher the hydrogen peroxide concentration, the more whitening power.

It's a lot cheaper to buy a 50 cent bottle of peroxide and swish. It will foam though! But please be careful... limit yourself! An overuse of Hydrogen Peroxide can mess up the normal bacterial levels in your mouth and cause "candiasis" kind of like thrush for adults. Makes your tongue look like it's growing hair. Take it from a dental professional! It's not easy to get rid of (may require minor surgery) So just limit the peroxide. :)

Got a practical money-saving tip? Email me at mummydeals @ yahoo

Read more...

10 Steps to a Successful Meal Swap

One key thing when everyone arrived was to get out all the food and get the kids settled. Then start cooking!

Make sure everything is labeled when you're done!

Do you get sick of the same old food night after night and wish you could add some variety to your diet? Then I’ve got a great idea: Host a Meal Swap. A while ago 3 of my friends and I got together for a meal swap.

There were 4 of us and 3 of us are stay at home Moms on a limited budget. The idea is that we brought ingredients to cook 2 healthy meals each at my house. We made enough in one dish for 12 people (3 people in each family) and made 2 dishes each. We walked away with 8 meals each all of which are healthy, can be frozen and were super cheap. The two meals I made cost no more than $5 for a family of 4.

The great thing about these meals is that they can be frozen so that on a busy night you can just pull them out of the freezer and pop them straight in the oven with no prep time. If you have cooking days like this it really does cut down on your food budget and your time so that you don’t have to run in somewhere for a cheap burger, and also helps you serve healthy meals quickly. Here are my tips for a successful meal swap:

1) Have the kids there so there’s no need for a babysitter. Sure it may seem like a madhouse but it saves money and they'll play together.

2) Provide lunch so that all your hard work isn't blown by running out for a bite to eat.

3) Each plan easy meals to make and bring all the necessary ingredients for them as well as utensils and storage containers.

4) Have labels ready to mark what you make.

5) Cut up some of the things beforehand. What really helped was that we had pre-cut onions, already cooked pasta for some of the meals which cut down on pan usage.

6) Although we were each responsible for our own meals, we pitched in to help each other. One person stirred all the pots while another prepped something.

7) This is more of a preparation day so there won’t be too much cooking going on which will cut down on oven use.

8) On the day that they’re cooked they can simply be taken out of the freezer and cooked saving on prep time.

9) We’re each using meals based around meats we found on sales at the local stores. That way we get more variety but it’s still on budget.

10) Finally.........rotate houses then one person's doesn't get messy all the time.

One great resource is a book I reviewed here called Don't Panic....Dinner's in the Freezer. I also love Lite and Easy Assets.

For some of the recipes used, you can go here and here. We ended up with:

• Lasagne Roll Ups
• Turkey tacos
• Chili
• Sloppy Joes
• Chicken and Rice
• Meatloaf
• Taco Casserole
• Stuffed Shells

Read more...

Tips and Tricks: Seasonal Sales

There are different sales at different times of the year. For example I don't buy BBQ sauce in November or winter clothes in August but I buy them when I know they're gonna be discounted. Quite often I'll buy ahead for the next year, especially when it comes to party ware products like napkins that won't go out of style. That way we're always finding them on sale and keep them for the next year ready to go.

Here's a good list of some things that will be discounted throughout the year:

January
Winter clothes
Holiday Clearance.
January White Sale- The traditional sale for linens, towels, bedding, etc.

February
Household items, Furniture and other Textiles
Dinnerware
Electronics

March
Garden Supplies - Competition brings down the prices
Luggage
Spring Clothing and Shoe
Storm Windows are now off season with better price negotiation.
End of season Winter Outdoor recreation equipment

April
Lots of new seasonal clothes drives the prices down.
Clearance on Easter dresses and accessories, as well as men's suits and ties.

May
White Sales on linens, blankets, towels, etc
Spring Cleaning competition on supplies.
Tires - people preparing their cars for vacations.
Home Maintenance items

June
Television sets.
Refrigerators - necessary for summer.
Home improvement products - people in the mood to spruce up the house.

July
Clearance begins for summer clothes, bathing suits, and other light wear
Clearance on air conditioners.
Home improvement products - people in the mood to spruce up the house.
Radios and stereo equipment - summer BBQs
Camping equipment

August
School supplies are crazy prices as stores fight for your business
Furniture, lamps, and other household items
White Sales on linens, blankets, towels, etc
Clearance on outdoor sport equipment
Clearance on seasonal summer items
New car clearance to get ready for the new models.

September
Back to school items
Gardening supplies clearance
Household accessories
Bicycles and Car parts.

October
Supplies for fishing season
School clothes and supplies clearance
New car clearance to get ready for the new models.
Finer household items like crystal and silver - for holidays.

November
Winter items- Coats, Boots, Gloves.
Quilts and Blankets.
Heating Devices and Appliances.

December
Toys
Winter items- Coats, Boots, Gloves.
Festive occasion items on sale - Tablecloths, party ware.
Day after Christmas clearance

Read more...

2 Tips to Becoming a Savvy Shopper

1) Being a Savvy Shopper means that you don't have to buy 10 things if the deal is 10/$10. Sometimes cheese is on sale 10/$10 but even if you bought 2 packs, you would have only paid $1 each.

Sometimes the deal is so great that you want to buy all 10 but sometimes just stick to a few. There are times when a store will say 10/$10 but $1.25 if you buy less than that. Watch out for those times but mostly it's not that.

Really is it worth spending an extra $.25 just to get a couple as apposed to a ton? I think so.

2) Loss leaders are weekly sales that stores lose money on but they are their way of teasing you to come in. For example the 10/$10 cheese sale.

In my training class a few months ago I got this comment - "I go into the store only for the sales but end up spending $100! How can I stop??"

When I see a great sale I try and picture where it is in the store and then just go in for that. Of course if I need other groceries that week I'll go to that store where the best deal is for all my groceries so I don't have to run out again. Make sure that you put the blinkers on and just run in for the deal you wanted so as to avoid the trap.

Read more...