Major changes in my life!

Well I have done a lot of thinking and praying over some family issues. I was very torn about what to do but I believe that God has given me the answers. I find that the best decision is not easy to do. It was very hard for me to do this and I am sure there will be days that I will be asking myself what was I thinking.

As many of you know I am out of work. I have my unemployment and I also work part time. I have decided to stop looking for work and to apply to school. I want to go back to school for 1 - 2 years and get my teaching certficate. I already have a BA in Communications. So I can become licensed to teach here. That is part of the change.

I will really need to live frugally while I am in school. As I will only be working part time and living off financial aid and my taxes. I will be tightening the belt even more.

There is more news coming but not ready to put it out there yet.

Fast Baked Potatoes

This little pouch makes the best baked potatoes in the microwave. My stepmom has one and when I had a potato at her house. I wanted my own. My stepmom has not started making these yet. She does a lot of crafts but has not done this one.

I did a search on Ebay to find one. I looked under baked potatoe. There are a lot of people selling them. Some of the prices were just nuts not to mention the shipping. I bought mine for $4.00 and $2.00 shipping. I thought that was pretty reasonable. Today for lunch I finally made a potato today. I love this thing. It is a great way to make them in the summer and not add any heat to the house. I am sure I will be using this any time I need to make quick potatoes.

You wash potatoe, put in bag, I think I cooked it for 6min. And it was great!

It is SUMMER! Hot and Humid

Look who was in the backyard tonight, when I went to make dinner. Looks like he is having a great dinner. I tried to get some pictures of him eating but did not want to scare him.

Wisconsin summers can be HOT and HUMID...where you don't want even a light on to generate heat. My air conditioner has been running almost all day. There is no way I am turning it off..well I do at night cause I have the fans. But when the dew point hits 60 or above it goes on. I would rather keep my heat at 60 then to sweat while I am sitting still.

Dinner tonight was one of my favorites......corn made on the grill. YUMMERS! I made 5 ears ate 2 and will finish the rest off this week. Since a girl can not live on corn alone...well I might be able to, but I made chicken salad too. I love chicken salad. So at least I am using up the leftover chicken.


















I did managed to get to the grocery store today. It was werid shopping for one but the price was right. I only spent $18.95 and only need to get milk. I do still have some left. So I should not have to go back for at least another week or 2. I got some staples that I needed.

I even did some laundry today. Used the dryer for the towels. There is no way they would have dried with the humid weather. So I figure better get them dry than to have moldy towels.

Crockpot Chicken

Ruth asked how do I make a whole chicken in a crockpot:

This is so easy and the chicken is moist and just falls off the bones. I love it this way.

1. Spray Crockpot with cooking spray
2. Put 5 to 6 foil balls in crockpot -- medium sized
3. rinse off chicken - pat dry
4. season breast side of chicken - I use Rotisseree seasoning by McCormick
5. place in crockpot breast side down on foil balls
6. reason the rest of chicken
7. cook on low till done. Yesterday mine cooked from about 11 am till 4:15 pm.

Nothing else too it. I love this chicken and usually the only way I make it. I know it passed the test if Jose ate it. He is one of the pickest eaters I know.

49 days of living alone....

These 49 days are giving me a sneek peak at what it will be when my son leaves home for good, unless I fing Mr. Right.

This past week:
Barely any cooking
No laundry has been done yet
House is cleaner
No Grocery shopping.
Less lights and electric being used.

All very surreal. Can't even imagine my child leaving home. That is going to be a sad day, but I know it is time for him to start being home less and less. I just hope he is not in to big of a hurry. But if he is anything like I was....he will be..but he will also be back a few times.

This coming weeks Main Meat!

Chicken is going to be what I am eating this week. I made a whole chicken in my crockpot for the week. I love chicken....and I like it better cold than warm. I have a whole tupperware container full of chicken. My son's best friend came over on his lunch break and ate some of the chicken. When I saw what was left ...thank goodness that boy came over. I still have a ton left over.

I don't plan on going to the grocery store this week at all. I will use lettuce from the garden on my sandwiches. I can make tortillas for Chicken Quesadillas and eat some with just veggies.I am sure I can figure out some other things. Plus I have the trusty back up plan cereal.

This week is going to be a tight week but I know I will make it. Also there is no shopping this week. I know I know I say it and I mean it. Unless I get it free with CVS bucks than I can do it.

Free food for one year

Look what I got for filling out a short survey. FREE FOOD! Free Pasta and Sauce. One pasta and one sauce for a month for a YEAR! Good thing I love pasta...now the kid does not. But there are a few things I can make that he will eat. I will end up donating some of the pasta. The sauce will get used up between pizza, lasangna and spaghetti pie. Now someone tell me why kid does not like spaghetti but loves spaghetti pie?

I am a cheap date - Sort of

Okay so maybe saying I am a cheap date is not really true. Since I did not go out on a date last night. But it was cheap. I went out with a friend to listen to this band at one of the church festivals. Beer $3.00 a cup. Not to pricey since going to a ball game here a bottle of beer will cost I am guessing $6.00. Since the last time I went it was $5 or $5.00.

The band was okay. I really like them but the music they were playing for this crowd was just not what I wanted to hear. The people well they never change. It is an on going joke with my friend and I. So I bought a beer....spent $3.00. Said to myself no more beer for two reasons....1. Don't want to spend the money and 2. Don't need the calories. Although I had planned out I could have a few of them. So we listened..walked around..people watched. Then my friend realized the guy gave her extra beer tickets. Free Beer!

So we both spent $3.00 and had 2 beers. Which was plenty. We ended up going to eat too at my favorite mexican place. My friend paid for it since we had not gone out in a long time. I told her I will grab the check next time. I love this little place and I always go late at night. The owner asked me if I enjoy closing the place. Last time I was there..I was serving drinks by the time I left. LOL

So it is possible to go out and have a good time and not spend a ton of cash. We could have skipped the Mexican but my friend did not want to go home. So I agreed to go.

Personally if I am going out with guy. I don't need him to spend a trillion dollars. I would rather be in a setting where I can get to know you. You can be rich and if I don't like you, then I don't. The money or fancy cars is not going to change that. I think so many people get caught up on what someone has and how they can benefit from it that they do not see the true person. I will leave my tangent on dating alone and go on with the day.

Frugal Fun in the Neighborhood

Tomorrow night a friend and I are going to a church festival. Now this could get costly fast. The festival itself is free but the beer and the food are not! Plus the one we are going to requires you to get banded to buy beer. I personally love when people card me. I don't get to many cops coming up to me at festivals carding me anymore.

So my plan is since I know it may be a hot night out..to bring with me a bottle of water. Then go listen to one of my favorite local bands. It is in the city I went to high school in. Praying I see no one.. I really don't care to run into them. You know the fake smiles - hugs - how are you - call me crap. Not my cup of tea. Only 2 people I would want to see.

Back the the topic. I can listen to music I like for free and don't need to spend a lot of money on booze - I really don't like being outside in the heat and drinking. It makes me sick and I end up feeling gross. No need to eat the crappy food. After all my 15 pounds by labor day won't come off doing that.

There are a ton of festivals here in my city. I try and catch the bands names and websites so I can look them up. This way if they are at a free festival I can go listen, have a drink or two and dance the night away. Okay maybe not the dancing part. I have no issues of going alone either. Hey I am a friendly enough person...who knows who I will meet.

I would rather wait a week and blow the money and calories at Summerfest.

Garden Pictures.

The lettuce grew! I was shocked I did not think it was going to make it. I have been cutting the leaves the last few days and using them on my sandwiches. I really do like fresh lettuce. I am not a huge iceberg fan at all so this was a real treat. I will be growing double next year...a few weeks apart so I have it all summer long.



The tomatoes are growing well also. I am looking forward to them getting ripe. I love tomatoes with salt. Okay so I am not suppose to have salt but a little should not be to bad.

Beans are doing well also. There should be beans starting in the next few weeks. Flowers are now starting to bloom. So I am making sure to water extra these next few days as we are suppose to have Texas weather. HOT AND HUMID! Gotta Love it.

Since I had the lettuce. I did not have to buy any. One trick I read that I will be using is going to the salad bar and using the container for the lettuce I need. We never seem to use it all up. This way I can just get what I need and it will be cheaper too.

Comments from B&B

Sorry I have not been blogging. Family Drama is all I can say. I can to come to terms with a few things that although I am not happy about -- they really do not concern me and should no longer be a part of my life. I have and continue to pray that God will guide me to the right place.

Here are some comments that B&B posted:

Keep on keepin' on! I wanted to ask, but this may be too personal (if so, I understand). I know you are working just p.t. right now and unemployed from your f.t. job, right? I was wondering how you are able to make it (cause if you are just living on the p.t. job money & from what you sell, you need to write a book!) B&B

9:47 AM

I actually can and do collect unemployment. That basically pays all my bills with some money left over. I use the part time money and things I sell for groceries. I don't own a car and can walk to my part time job. With my son gone. I have not bought much food at all. I got milk, bread and eggs this week only. I have some food stockpiled and want to get through that stuff. Also I decided to really take this time to start losing weight so I am eating much less.

Anonymous said...
Okay, one more question if okay, lol. What's your typical menu for the week? Can you tell I need all the advice I can get? Do you think $25/week is doable for 2 & what would you do to accomplish that? (Okay, I guess I asked 3 questions.) B&B

That is something I have never been really good at. Making a menu. It does help and I do a menu in my head. Some of the things I did cook were whole chickens (you get more meals out them) pasta, breakfast foods. Those are what come off the top of my head.

Some good websites to check out for frugal cooking:
Hillbilly Housewife
Mom Advice - This is a great site really circles around the Aldi Supermarket.

Frugal update

I decided today to give up the deep freezer. For one I just can't keep it stocked anymore so I am running it on less than 1/2 full and wasting money. Second if I do decide we need one then I will be getting a energy efficent one. This one is old and wastes a lot of power. So there is no need for it. I am hoping to have it gone by the end of the week.

Also doing great keeping lights off that I am not using. Being here alone I am keeping as much stuff off as possible. I hope to see a major drop in my electric bill soon. I unplugged all of my son's stuff in his room as he is not here.

I did have to run the air from Saturday to Monday. Although when I was not going to be here for hours I did turn it off. I also turned it off at night and kept the windows closed and the fan on. I know that AC sucks the money right out of my wallet.

I made 37.00 dollars this week. I bought the glucose meter that was on sale with a $20.00 off coupon. So I got it for free. I sold it for 1/2 of the store price. I also sold some other stuff.

Paid part of the Electric/Gas bill. My goal is to have it all paid off before the new heating season starts. So hope to sell some more stuff so I can add that right on to that bill. I hate how high that bill is and need it paid off ASAP.

I cooked on Monday and still have some leftovers. I bought a gallon of milk for 1.99 and have been eating cereal too. I have 4 boxes of my cereal so I might as well eat it. I will get another gallon of milk on Saturday before the sale ends. I figure I will cook a meal once a week and eat that. Next week will be a whole chicken. There is a lot to do with chicken.

Really I was not going back to CVS this week!

I had planned on not going to CVS this week. I had decided not to do the P&G deal. I figured there would be a better way to use my ECB in the next week. Well then my friend busts out with the $2.00 off Kashi cereal coupons at KASHI. Today I had to go pay the gas/electric bill all $286.00 of it. MAN that sucked! and go pick up my meds at the Doctor. So since I was going past CVS I might as well get the free cereal. I look at it as free meals. I then found a coupon for B1G1 haircolor that is part of the buy $15.00 get $5.00 back for the P&G deal. So there I am again.....at CVS.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Figured with my ECB and coupons...I was almost breaking even...I had to.

So .............

15.98 Hair color
1.99 Kashi
1.99 Kashi
99 cent Tea


Total: 20.95
minus 4 off 20 coupon
minus 1.99 kashi coupon
minus 1.99 kashi coupon
minus 7.99 hair color

4.98 was my balance -- 5.00 ECB used and I paid the tax of 39 cents. and got back my 5.00 ECB.

I still have $10.00 in ECB to use by July 19.

Last major stock up done for awhile

This morning I ran to Walgreens. I got 12 ban deoderants for 1.73. This week they are buy 1 get 1 for 1.99 and I had coupons for .75 off. So I paid for 14 cents for each one. Yes I am the one who cleaned off the shelf on that one. Now I need to wait for the truck to get in, to use the rest of my coupons. I have 11 more coupons to use and will make that part of the July donation to the Mission. I dropped off the Kotex yesterday.

Today I got:
12 ban deoderant
3 bottles of shampoo
bottle of diet coke
2 liter of diet coke
2 packs of smokes

all for 16.16
Savings: 46.31

Yes I am quitting smoking. Wednesday is the day I quit smoking.

I love this stuff!

What is so great about a bottle of John Frieda Frizz Ease Moisture Barrier - Firm Hold Hairspary? It freakin works. I mean it REALLY works. I have curly hair. It can be a pain in the rear trying to control my curls. I am not a fan of curly hair on me anymore. Only because I love the look of my hair straight.

What is the worse thing about curly hair and sometimes even wavy hair. FRIZZ! I saw this at the store and thought MAYBE I will get lucky this time. I decided to do the Walgreens Easy Rebate for buy $20.00 John Frieda products and get $10.00 giftcard.

So I bought the Hair Serum Thermal Protection, and the Moisture Barrier for when I straighten my hair. It is hard to get my hair to stay straight in Wisconsin in the summer. One once of humidity in the air and it starts to wave back up. So I usually don't even bother to straighten it.

I put these products to the test. The serum was for the frizz but more to protect my hair from the flat iron. I did my hair on Thursday and it stayed straighted. Then on Friday I touched it up and used the spray again. I was outside some but not alot still it was straight. But today was the real test. I touched up my hair at 4:30 AM before we took B to the airport. I used the spray again. Now the picture you are looking was taken at 10:19 PM after I was outside all day in the sun.

It was 90 here and humid. The little bit of curl at the bottom was something I did. My hair still looks good and it feels great. I wish I could find a picture of my hair curly. I would say my curls are like: medium sized loose curls.

The main reasons I LOVE this product:

• Does what is says it will do - seal out humidity
  
• Does NOT make my hair sticky or crunchy. I can run my fingers through it an so can someone else. :)
  
• Does Not smell bad
  
• Keeps my hair looking good
  

If you are battling frizz I say try it. It also states it combates frizz rain or shine. I will have to test the rain yet.

Now time to tighten the frugal belt

For the next 49 days I am going to make sure the frugal belt is super tight. I do not plan on buying much in the way of food and to really use up what we have here. I also want to get some major bills paid off and find a job.

One thing I did after I got home from dropping B off at the airport. I went in his room and turned off the power surge. This has his TV etc connected to it. So there is no electricity being used in his room. That bill is going down...way down while he is gone.

Then I picked up an extra day at work. So for now I am working Sunday and Monday. My boss wants me to work more but I am not sure yet if I will be. Partially because I don't want to come home at night alone. When I did work nights last year at least B was looking for me. So if I can get a day shift then I will pick up an extra one. Right now I need to look for a more full time job.

I have a ice cream bucket that is on my bookself for now. So I can save all my change in there. I will move it once he comes home as he likes to use my change.

Cleaning. No my house is not a pigsty. Well I know a teenagers room that is. But other than that it is more cleaning out..throwing out...selling and giving out.

There is something else I am doing...I will save that for later. I first want to get a good start on it before I go there.

So those are my plans for the summer.

The Child is packed and the Momma is tired

In 4 hours I have to be up and getting ready to get my son to the airport. Back in Feb. I was so excited to have this time to myself and now I am missing my baby already.

He is going to spend the next 49 days with his Grandparents, Cousins, Aunts, Uncles and oh yeah his Dad. This is the first time in 16 years that my Ex has seen his son on Father's Day and his birthday. I wonder if my son will remember either of those days. I am not reminding him, not to be mean but because his Grandparents are Jehoviah Witneses. And out of respect of their religion I do not acknowlege any holidays to them.

I have lots to do in the next 49 days. But my child will be on my mind. Now I am going to be a good momma and not call him all the time. Heck I can email him daily LOL! but I won't. I know he wants some type of independence too.

I will be back to frugally blogging on Sunday.

More Answers to CVS

Frugal Disney Mom,
That does help somewhat - although I feel like I have more questions now, sorry!

Partly what I'm not understanding is the rolling-over thing. Do you roll-over the ECB's to next week's stuff, or even later though? How do you keep track of it all? Perhaps you could share more details (if you don't mind to, of course). Also, I have no idea what the "kiosk" is and where it's located.

Can you tell I am green at this?

Thanks, B&B

First off B&B (that is how I sign cards sometimes and my son and I are both B's and our last name is a B too.) I was going to start calling you B&B too. Also, ask away I am thankful someone reads this blog and I enjoy your questions.

Now on to the answer:

I have 12.99 in ECB. One is for $10.00 and one is for $2.99. Now my goal is to use these to make more ECB and spend less out of pocket. You can use them right away or wait for a better sale. They do expire a month from when you get them. So the ones I have expire on July 12.

Here is what I could do:
This is what is on sale starting Sunday Hot Coupons

There is a P&G (Procter and Gamble) deal coming out..buy $20 and get $10.00 back in ECB.

2 Bottle of TIDE at $8.00 each
4 boxes of Puffs at $1.00 each

This takes you right to $20.00.

There is the thought that you also have coupons for those items.

For Example you have:
2 coupons for 50 cents each off of Tide
Also you have a coupon for $4.00 off of 20 at CVS (this is a CVS coupon)

Now now you give to the cashier:
The $4.00 of $20.00 coupon -- ALWAYS GIVE THESE FIRST!

It looks like this:

$20.00
- $4.00
-$1.00
- $10.00 ECB (you give these when you are ready to start paying)
- $2.99 ECB


Total now is: $2.01 out of pocket. Now you will get back in ECB $10.00.

I hope that helped. And now you made me want to do this deal on Sunday. Although I have stopped stocking up on Laundry soap.

In the end you are getting 2 bottles (100oz Tide) 5 boxes of Puffs for $2.01 out of pocket.

Then you roll that next $10.00 over into a new week.

You also asked about the KIOSK: It is a little machine somewhere usually in the front of the store. Looks like the price checkers at Target. This checks prices but also if you scan your CVS card it can spit out coupons..NOT ECB but special CVS coupons. If you don't see one ask the cashier where it is.

For Example I have recieved:
$5.00 off $20
Free greeting card when you buy 1
Buy 1 CVS product up to $3.99 get 1 free (does not have to be same product)
$3.00 off 2 of the Garneir skin products (came in handy this week)

I always keep the coupons even if I won't use them that day. They may come in handy.

WFMW - ID cards for Kids

My son gets on a plane in 2 days. Now according to the airlines he does not need an ID because he is a minor (15 years old). Well my son is a big kid. He is over 6 feet and a good 220 pounds.

We went to the DMV today and got him a State ID. Now he has his own ID card and can show anyone that asks for ID. Since it is State Issued everyone and everyplace has to accept it. This makes me worry less that TSA will stop him and ask for an ID and he won't be detanted as he has one.

When we flew to Florida 2 years ago, we had no issues getting out of Milwaukee. But coming home the Orlando Security asked for ID from him. He did have his school one and I am glad he took it with him.

So for $9.00 I have peace of mind --well some what. I will have total peace of mind when he is home in 49 days.

This works for us! Check out more WFMW!

Answer to a comment

Broke & Busted asked if I hang on to my ECB from CVS or spend them right away. I put them in my wallet and wait to use them for another sale where I can roll them over.

The goal to really make the ECB program work in your favor is to roll those over into other ECB through the weekly ads.

Also make sure when you FIRST walk in the store that you scan your card at the little KIOSK..you may get some coupons you can use on that visit.

Now this week I have used most of them. With my son going out of town, there were things he needed. I know you are wondering what could that child need that his mother did not stockpile.

Hairstuff! His hair is very different than mind so he gets Ethnic products for his hair. I also let him get a cheap DVD for the plane ride. Those few things plus my hair stuff was almost 28.00.

I hope this helped.

Frugal Donation Time

As I have said here last month. Every month I want to donate a bag of items to the local resuce mission. They help men,women and children in my community. This was something that my Dad did too. He would hire the men for odd jobs around his house. This month I hit the jackpot and it did not cost me much money at all. In fact all of this cost me $1.60.

If you have not done the kotex deal at Walgreens this week. HURRY! it ends on Saturday. I am sure you I have mentioned this a few time.

This is the deal.

Buy 2 of the 5 for $10.00 Kotex.
If you have coupons use them. I had coupons for 2.00 off
You will get a coupon for 10.00 on your next purchase.
Then you roll it over and get 2 more boxes and use the 10.00 coupon it then costs you 56 cents. I did this numerous times. Then the last 10.00 coupon I used on stuff we needed. Here is my run from yesterday.

Here is how I used the last $10.00 coupon:
Took the 10.00 coupon and got:

1 Ban deoderant
2 packs of clearance razors
Bick Soleil Razors
Bottle of Water - For B's friend
orange soda
2 boxes of cereal

All for : 1.11

The Freebie List in the SideBar

This month I have been keeping track of all the free items I get. This list is growing although I am sure there are people out getting a lot more things free. I did not even count anything I bought that was Buy One Get One. I guess I should have. It is interesting though of what I have gotten free. Some of the things I use others I donate.

I will say it did come in handy while I have been packing B for his trip. I am using a lot of the smaller size things for him to take. If he runs out then he can have his Dad buy some new stuff. I love that I don't have to send full size items.

Not sure what I am keeping track on next month. I think maybe my no spend days. See how many I can get in the month of July. Of course that will be in the middle of my 49 days of nothing new. So I should have a lot of those.

Now is the time to try out CVS!

I know I keep talking about it but after my run today. Even the Cashier said I made out. Now if you don't have a CVS card, you can get one in the store. This week there are a few great deals to get you started on ECB (Easy Care Bucks)

Start with:
Reach toothbrush - $2.99 - get $2.99 in ECB
Garnier Nutritioniste Skincare - $4.99 each buy 2 get $10.00 in ECB
Vaseline Lotion - $2.99 - get back $2.00 in ECB
Gas X - $2.79 - Get back $3.00 in ECB
Alavert - 6.99 - Get back $5.00

Now the following coupons are out there also:
Reach - 75 cents off
Garnier - 1.00 off
Vaseline - 1.00
Gas X 1.00
Alavert 4.00 off - print this from Alavert

Basically you will put out without any additional coupons: $25.74
You will get back in ECB: $22.99 and you use these to get more ECB in the following weeks ads.

Here is what my shopping was today:



First Run:
oreo b1g1 4.19
Venus razor - get back 2.00 ECB
Satin Shave Shaving cream - free with coupon
CVS Paper Plates - paid 3.79
2 Garnier Skincare - get back 10.00 in ECB
2 Ban - Get back 3.00 ECB
CVS baby wipes- FREE (Had coupon buy 1 CVS product get 1 free)
Vasoline Lotion - Get back 2 ECB
Palmolive dishsoap B1G1
Gas X - Get back 3.00 ECB
20 oz Diet Pepsi
allavert - get 5.00 back


Here are the coupons I had:
4 off 20
allavert - 6.00 off
Venus Razor - 2.00 off
Shaving Cream - should have been 2.99 off She took off 7.29 (FOR RAZORS)
Garner - 1.00 off 1
Ban - 1.50 off 2
Vasoline - 1.00 off
Palmolive - 2 25 cent off coupon
Gas X - 1.00 off
Diet Pepsi - 50 cents off
75 cents off toothbrush - Not listed bought the wrong one..and returned it.

So my starting total was: $60.50

Total after coupons: 23.40

Plus I got back 25.00 in ECB

I used my second card. I have one card for me and one card for my son.

Then I turned around and returned wrong toothbrush. Found a CVS coupon in my purse for.... $3.00 off 2 Garnis Skincare. So I bought 2 more and the toothbrush. I did have a second toothbrush coupon, but felt that was dishonest when I returned the first toothbrush.

If you buy the Garnier...watch the price. It rings at 5.99 but suppose to be 4.99. The ECB is buy 2 get 10.00 does not have a price amount you have to buy.


Total: 10.53

Got 12.99 in ECB

So there it is in a nut shell. Don't tell but I am starting to like CVS much better than Walgreens.

Little things that keep me frugal!

I was thinking today what are some of the little things that keep me frugal. I am not talking about saving for an item or to go somewhere but just the little things that remind me what I am doing.

Here is a list of some of those things:

1. No matter what time I run the dishwater. I have to do the dishes. I keep in mind that I paid for the soap. If I waste it then I have to use more.

2. When I wash a load of clothes. I have to hang them up. If I put them in the dryer than I am giving away a 1.00 at least to my landlord.

3. Using the online banking system my bank offers. I can keep a close eye on what I have left in my account. Overdrafts are way to expensive and add up quick.

4. When I make dinner. I know I paid for this food. So I either have to put it in the fridge or freeze it. If I know it is something my son or I will eat again soon in the fridge otherwise in the freezer.

5. When I am on the computer if a show is on I want to see then the TV can be on. But just to have it on wastes electricity. So I am working on only having it on when I am actually watching/listening to it. Also using the sleep button at night.

6. The other day when I cleaned the bathroom. I notice about 4 almost empty shampoo bottles. I put them all into one bottle. I don't care if there are different kinds of shampoo in one bottle.

I know there are more but that is all I came up with this time.

Tonights Dinner - In a frugal way

This week is kind of crazy. Trying to get my son packed and all the loose ends tied up before I send him almost 1000 miles from home. So I have not made a menu, but I am making sure I cook each night.

So tonight was homemade pizza. I have the crust started..and AGH no olive oil. How does anyone use the last of the oil and not tell ME! Okay I have three choices here:

1. Run to Walgreens and buy oil

2. Throw out the pizza crust and find something else for dinner.

3. Find something that is like oil and use that.

So what choice do I make? As you can see it was not number 2, hence the picture of the pizza. I choose number 3 and since the recipe called for oil, I melted the same amount of butter and used that. I figured it was a hit or miss.

Crust is done and baking and I have all the toppings out...and guess what I have NO SAUCE! Well I have about 2 tablespoons that I saved from my last pizza. Okay this whole dinner is making me think way to much. GRRRRRRRRRR....again I have to figure out what to do. This time I take the can of tomato sauce, add some basil and oregano and those 2 TBP of pizza sauce I have from the last time.

Got the pizza done and you know it was good. I also took fresh basil and chopped it up and put it on as a topping. I liked the crust much better with the butter in it. The sauce was good too.

So instead of spending money. Which I spent NO money at all today. And the pizza was good too!

49 days of Nothing!

When my son leaves on Saturday. I am challenging myself of not buying anything but groceries unless I can find it used. Really don't need anything so it should be okay.

Some rules I am setting in:
1. No AC unless it is 90 degrees or the Dewpoint is above 58. At that point it is just uncomfortable.

2. Continue to hang clothes - I will be doing a lot less wash.

3. Cook meals at home but freeze leftovers - DO NOT WASTE FOOD

4. Lights off as much as possible.

5. pay off 2 major bills.

6. No more stockpiling unless it is 100% free (food is not included in this)

Now I don't know if he is coming back. It might be time for his father to be a dad. Since I am having a hard time handling him right now.

I will do weekly updates on how not spending is going. I want to cut everything down as much as I can. I also will be finding a job during this time too.

Walgreens today!

To start I bought 2 boxes of Kotex. They have a deal..buy $10.00 get $10.00 back. Now I did not use my employee discount since it would have been less then 10 at Subtotal. Then I used a $2.00 off coupon. So I spent $8.56 and got back $10.00 in a coupon for my next trip. Which was.....

2 12 packs of Scotts - also had 2 - $2.00 off coupons (Walgreens ad coupon too)
newspaper
Venus razor - also had $3.00 off coupon (Walgreens ad coupon too)
Shaving cream on sale - had .55 coupon (No Walgreens coupon needed for sale price)
Starbucks Frappichino - hey this is hard work
Tracfone - On Sale - No Walgreens coupon needed

Remember I had the 10.00 from the Kotex deal too.

So after I used my coupons and Walgreens Coupons plus my Discount.

My Total without above coupons and discounts. $58.40

After: 20.32

So my savings was: $38.08

One week and a ton of stuff to get done.

My son leaves in one week. He is going to see his Grandma and Grandpa for 49 days. Oh yeah sperm donor will be there too. I just found out on Friday he was still going. For the past few weeks sperm donor was saying no he can't come. This is AFTER I paid for a $271.00 ticket. Which was non refundable and non transferable. So now the scramble is on. I have to get him packed and use up what food that is perishable before he leaves. For instance I won't be buying milk while he is gone. If I cook something that needed milk. Well powder milk will do. I will not be cooking 6 to 7 days a week. I will be eating smaller meals and not 3 times a day.

Today:
Started the travel bag of bath items. Used some samples. I figure if DS(dear son) runs out then Sperm Donor can get him new stuff.

Put in the air conditioner. Although the rule is unless it is 90 degrees or the Dew Point is in the 60s. Won't be turned on. But easier for my son to pick it up than me. So we did that this morning.

Food Savered some cheese and sausage for pizza. I am sure I will make at least one while he is gone. But from the monthly meat deal I got 5 sets of Pizza sausage out of the 3 links I had them take the casings off.

Also got called into work tonight. So I am in now grilling the country ribs that were for dinner and making hash browns and green beans to go with it. I will eat before I go to work, so no money will be spent there. I will bring a soda for my 15 min. break.

I already did my weekly Walgreens run. Which by the way I made out great. I got over $68.00 worth of stuff for $20.32. Basically now no more HBA stocking unless it is 100% free. We have 44 rolls of TP that should last a while.

Tomorrow will be bill day and figure out whatelse he needs for his trip.

I will post my Walgreens savings tomorrow and show you how to do the same thing.

My thoughts on the "Food Stamp Diet"

Many people are blogging about the recent "Food Stamp Challenge" that was taken by Members of Congress. After reading blog after blog this topic has been laying heavy on my mind. I am to the point where I have to make a choice. Get my feelings out or stop thinking about it. Well guess which one won?

Food Stamp Challenge you can read more about the challenge here. The base of it is that members will eat meals worth $3.00 a day. There was even a contract they signed. As I read this one thing was that fast food needed to be included. You can not buy fast food with food stamps.

What is really bugging me is so many people are thinking well I feed my family on that what is the big deal. This is a HUGE Deal.


Walberg has some very interesting facts on food stamps in America. I will let you read that as I want to go on to a more personal experience.

I am in Wisconsin. We have some of the toughest laws on Welfare, Food Stamps and Medical Care.

In 1991 I had a baby and a husband. In 1993 I had a toddler and no husband. Time to make some serious choices. I went on Welfare (before reform) and went to college.

Back in 1993 I could have stayed home with my son and not worked. Collected my check and food stamps and enjoyed life. I chose a different path, but I was one of the lucky ones. See I came from a family that did not believe in welfare, that did not believe in having more children if you could not afford them. A family who believed that education was the ticket out. When I was growing up, my mom (a single parent) worked, paid for my lunches at school (although looking back I did qualify for free or reduced lunch) and she went to college raising me.

Now fast forward...young divorced mom, no child support, not much of an education. I went back to school. I did borrow money from the Goverment to go to school, to pay for daycare, to give us things we needed. Looking back I would have done things different had I known. See that is my point most of the people on food stamps don't realize that they could strech the money they get by cooking from scratch, baking bread, using coupons. I know a lot of people on food stamps shop Aldi's but I also see them at the regular grocery stores. The Goverment does not teach people how to shop wisely, nor do they encourage coupon or sale useage. Basically you are given your card, told the dollar amount and sent on your merry way.

When I went back to college my income was $440 a month. I don't remember my food stamp amount but I can guess it was about $130 or so. So my break down in expenses where:

• Rent $49 (I lived in subsdized housing)
  
• Phone $40
  
• Diapers $50
  
• Gas/Electric $50
  
• Bus to school $50
  
• laundry $40
  
• HBA $30
  

Balance 131.00

Those are things I can think of off hand. I used my school money to pay for books, tutuion and daycare. I did not and still do not own a car. We did not go on vacation or buy fancy clothes.

I was not raised in a frugal household. I did not realize that things like dryer racks would save me money. I had the space to hang my wash,but did not. I knew about coupons, sales but to put a great deal together like I can now. Not even in my head. So I am spent more money than I needed to at times. Container gardening not even a thought. Those few things would have saved me money, made my food stamps go further.

My rent was cheap the need for low income housing is great. But not as much is available. If I would have been paying 3 or 4 hundred dollars. It would have been even harder.

Just recently I was instant messaging someone from one of my frugal groups. I was asking how things were. Her hubby is sick and she is disabled. I asked if she got the garden planted. She said no money for seeds or plants. I asked if she got food stamps. Yes she does. She did not know you can buy seeds and plants to grow food with your food stamps. If the Goverment held an orientation class before handing out food stamps. This is valuable information. Here was a person who had the room for a HUGE garden, that would supply food for her family. Good food - veggies and did not know she could get what she needed.

What about the family with a baby? Sure they may be on WIC to get formula but as the baby eats more the formula amount does not change fast enough. It changes at 6 months and then a year. So if they run out of formula they have to use food stamps to get more. So you are taking 15-21 out of your food stamps to feed one person. No one else can have the formula.

It is not only about people not having enough food stamps to feed their families but the need to teach people how to make the food stamps go so much further.

Frugal Friday tip! Keeping the Garbage Disposal Fresh

When I cut herbs out of the garden. After I use the leaves. I put the stems and any leaves that were damaged in the garbage disposal. keeps in fresh smelling.

My Bargin for the day!

I have been wanting a pizza stone. Earlier this week I got some coupons for 20% off at Bed Bath and Beyond. So I was going to head there and get a pizza stone. I did not want a cheap brand. What I really wanted was a Pampered Chef one. Some other friends of mine also recommended a Pampered Chef one. Well those are $$, but I have heard worth the money. Brand new the stone would be $26.00 plus $6.95 for shipping if I ordered it from the website. Even on Ebay the cheapest is $10.00 and cheapest shipping I could find was $10.00. So now we are looking at New for $32.95 or used for $20.00 off Ebay.

The stone about cost me $11.75 (Stone was $10 and bus ride to pick up was $1.75) What I did was put out an email to the local Sales and Barter group I belong to. That I was looking for a pizza stone. I got about 3 emails...all to expensive or way to far away. I had people asking $15.00 and it would take me an hour to get there. This morning I got an email from a lady about 25 blocks from me. She wanted $10.00 for it. So I went to her house and looked at it and bought it.

When I came home I went to Pampered Chef to print out how to use and care for the stone. I also found they have an outlet...so somethings are marked down.

By taking the time to look around and wait for a good deal. I got what I wanted at a fraction of the price.

Butcher- Deal

I went to the local Butcher today. I really liked the June meatdeal so I wanted to get at least one. I will try and get another one or two before the end of the month.

For $20.07 I got:

1 whole chicken
1 pound of ground beef
2 pounds of country style ribs
3 Italian Sausage links
2 chicken patties
1 pound of hickory smoked bacon.

Even buying it seperate would have been about $20.00.

So I can get a lot of meals out of this. I have already cooked up the Italian Sausage. I had them take the casing off so I will get at least 4 pizzas out of it.

The chicken will be cooked in the crockpot or my rotiserre. There are at least 4 meals there.

Chicken patties...we each had one for lunch.

Bacon - some for dinner tonight. Rest in freezer. Can't you just taste the BLT with my home grown tomatoes.

hamburger- chili or burgers on the grill...something that is for sure. LOL

So the $20.00 spent will go far.

Coupons - Yes they can save you money!

I know some people don't like coupons for various reasons. Most of the time I hear they don't want to cut them out or they never buy brand name. The best one is well I shop at Super Walmart and it is already low price. Me personally I LOVE coupons. I love the game of saving money. To bad my 15 year old just rolls his eyes when I want to tell him my great "deal" yet let him see a Subway coupon and he is all over it. LOL

This is how I keep my coupons together:

• I use a plastic according file
  
• I don't cut them all out at once - to much paper
  
• I mark the front of each coupon circular with the date
  
• All rebate forms and internet coupons go in the first pocket. Along with and loose coupons I have either from not using them or that I get in the mail.
  

Using coupons:

• First I go through the ads - circle anything I am interested in.
  
• Then I go to Coupon Mom to see the coupons she is matching to the sales. This is great for Walgreens and CVS
  
• I then cut those coupons and get coupons for other things I am buying
  
• Using my free envelopes I write the list on the outside and stick coupons in
  
• If there is a good sale and I don't have coupons for an item. I will buy coupons. Coupon Clippers
  

For Example: I just read General Mills is raising prices on cereal. Now I already think cereal is WAY to high. So my store is having a deal buy 6 boxes for $12.00 and get 2 coupons for a free gallon of milk. Now I bought 3 coupons for $1.00 off 2 boxes. Which I will wait and use on double coupon day. So now I am getting 6 boxes of cereal and 2 gallons of milk for $6.00. That is a good deal.

Another Example: CVS has coming up next week Ban Deorderant 2 for $6.00 and get $3.00 back in ECB. I bought 2 coupons for 1.50 off 2. I will get 4 deorderants.

Another tip: I have a printed out calendar that I keep with my coupons. I mark on there what date I sent rebates in. So I can keep my eye out for what should be coming in.

Do you have some coupons using and storing tips to share?

Free Sample Day

Here are a bunch of free samples to sign up for I hope you enjoy! Some things in life really are free!


Snapfish - a free photo mug for new customers and 20 free prints! Here is the one I got.










$5.00 from Pepsi - now there is no link for this. I can tell you I got the rebate form from Walgreens - other stores should have them. Buy 4 2liter bottles get $5.00 back. Hurry if you are going to this must purchase by June 9. Now Walgreens has them on sale 4/$4.00. So you make $1.00 on this deal. Hey Stan you running this down in Plano? I will be doing this deal. My mom and stepmom too! They just don't know it yet!



GAIN - Free Fabric Softner


Playtex - For my Canadian readers only

Walmart samples here


I hope you enjoy these and I will do this again soon!

Cooking Potatoes Tip - For Hashbrowns or Fried Potatoes

I was looking up some recipes. As I want to make hashbrowns. Usually I use raw potatoes and they just don't turn out the way I want them. There is a diner here called George Webbs (My Wisconsin readers will know) they have the best hashbrows. I use to work for them so I have ideas of how to make them.

Anyways....what I read how to prep your potatoes for hashbrowns or fried potatoes:

• peel potatoes
  
• put in pot - cover with water
  
• bring to a boil
  
• turn off and let sit for 5-10 min. depending on size of Poatato
  
• take out of water - use or put in fridge till later
  

This worked perfect for me - what it is doing is partially cooking the potatoes. Making the cooking time less and they don't stick so you don't have to use as much oil. I can't wait to try the hashbrowns. I will make a huge batch and use the food saver to keep them fresh. So just pull and heat at a future date.

Homemade tortillas

We love Mexican food here. I buy a lot of tortillas. I do make them once in awhile. Well Monday night the meal was Chorizo and Eggs. Basically Mexian sausage with eggs in a tortilla. I found my tortilla recipe got all the stuff together. Noticed I did not have any lard. Then I remembered my son took it to his friends house last summer. So now you see how much I use it. One I know it is not good for you, so I don't cook with it much. Since I did not want to spend any money...I needed a plan. So I looked on the internet and found a new recipe to try. Turns out I really liked these. Very easy to make and they rolled out very thin. The others I have made where a little to thick for my liking. So my problem was solved.


Here is the receipe:

Texas Flour Tortillas (adapted from The Border Cookbook by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison)
Ingredients:
Two cups of all-purpose flour (can make them whole wheat by substituting one cup of whole-wheat flour for white flour)
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of vegetable oil
3/4 cups of warm milk

Method:
Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and oil.

Slowly add the warm milk.
Stir until a loose, sticky ball is formed.
Knead for two minutes on a floured surface. Dough should be firm and soft.
Place dough in a bowl and cover with a damp cloth or plastic wrap for 20 minutes.
After the dough has rested, break off eight sections, roll them into balls in your hands, place on a plate (make sure they aren’t touching) and then cover balls with damp cloth or plastic wrap for 10 minutes. (It’s very important to let the dough rest, otherwise it will be like elastic and won’t roll out to a proper thickness and shape.)
After dough has rested, one at a time place a dough ball on a floured surface, pat it out into a four-inch circle, and then roll with a rolling pin from the center until it’s thin and about eight inches in diameter. (If you roll out pie crusts you’ll have no problem with this.) Don’t over work the dough, or it’ll be stiff. Keep rolled-out tortillas covered until ready to cook.
In a dry iron skillet or comal heated on high, cook the tortilla about thirty seconds on each side. It should start to puff a bit when it’s done.
Keep cooked tortillas covered wrapped in a napkin until ready to eat.
Can be reheated in a dry iron skillet, over your gas-burner flame or in the oven wrapped in foil.
While you probably won’t have any leftovers, you can store in the fridge tightly wrapped in foil or plastic for a day or so.
Makes eight tortillas.

Rambling frugal thoughts

This last day and half I have been thinking about frugal living and my blog. I look at how many people have visited. Do they read my blog and say well DUH! she should have known that or find something interesting to take away with them. Honestly my blog is for me, but I want people who read it to find something useful or at least find some enjoyment in what they read. Some people have been frugal for years and others are starting out. Some are like me and have done a hit and miss thing. Part of the reason for this blog is it really helps me stay on track. I can't post an entry about being frugal if I am being unfrugal now can I? So here are some random frugal things that have happened in the last few days.


Bread:
Man we go through a lot of bread. I had a whole loaf of Texas Toast this morning. Texas Toast is the bread that makes those yummy slices of thick french toast. I just paid 2.59 for the loaf. Yes I know $$ but I wanted to make the toast. So I got to thinking there HAS to be a bread store outlet in this city. So I did some searching and found a few. Some were just to far to get to on a bus. Others were not accessable on a bus. But then I found one -- one bus there and one bus back and the bus stop is one block from my house. So off I went. $25.00 here is what I came home with:




Now I have frozen some of the bread and hid some of the snacks. Which will be put in the kitchen on a weekly or biweekly schedule. If I put them out all at once he will eat them. I should not have to get any snacks for at least 4 weeks. I will go and get bread again.

Now I have made homemade bread in my breadmachine but he won't eat it for sandwich bread. I can get him to eat it for other things. I am also still working on getting it to slice thin. However what to do with the ends or when it is not as fresh. Now most people make bread crumbs. I have not done well with this in the past. I could never get them small enough. Hence my new blender has a crumb button. So I have been chopping up the bread and have fresh bread crumbs in my freezer. I will never have to buy them again. This is just another way I can use up every part of the bread - homemade or store bought.

\

Menu planning is another thing I started this week. I know I should always do this but what if I don't know what I want to eat. LOL So I started this week (Monday) and hung it on the fridge so now we know what is for dinner.

This weeks menu:
Mon: Chorizo and eggs with homemade tortillas
Tues: Sloppy Joes with fried Potatoes
Wed: French Toast and Eggs
Thurs: Pork chop, orange rice and veggie
Fri: CORD (CLEAN OUT FRIDGE DAY)
Sat: Chicken in crockpot, potatoes, veggie
Sun: Spaghetti and garlic bread

Menu planning allows me to use up what is in my freezer and know if I need to buy something for dinner. For example: I need OJ for Thursday dinner.

Please Vote! Photo Contest.

Shadow is our pet. Well he lives at my stepmom's house but we all love him dearly. So I entered a photo I took of him in a contest. Please vote for him.

There is a link in the sidebar!

Thanks!

Homemade TV Dinners

I started today after reading about homemade tv dinners at Like Merchant Ships this is something that I have done in the past but not so much lately. So the other weekend I got 10 plastic divider plates at Walmart for 1.98 and was ready to make tv dinners. These are great on a hot night when you don't want to cook or when you know it is going to be a late night. I have used them in the past when I worked nights. I take one out for my son to make his dinner. All he has to do is heat and serve. Homemade dinner without the homemade work. Much better tasting too.

This dinner is buffalo chicken wings and brown beans. I use foodsaver bags that I got on sale a while ago. I should have partially frozen the plate before sealing. The bean juice end up on the chicken, but you know B won't mind. He will eat it. Then I sealed (going very close to the top so I can reuse the bag) - it goes in the freezer. I hope to get 9 more made. Next time I am at Walmart I will pick up 10 plates. These plates would also be useful for send a plate of food home with someone. If I don't get the plate back not a big deal.

This is an easy way to reuse leftovers and food for those days...you know the ones we all have.

Finished Product!

Frugal Gifts - people will love

PHOTOS! Everyone loves photos...it brings back memories.

I took a ton of pictures on Memorial Day....149 to be exact. Not all of these pictures were usable. Some where just me playing with my camera. I did get some great photos that have turned out to be awesome gifts.


The picture of my parents dog..is the center of a birthday gift for my step mom. It turned out great in both color and B&W. I can not tell you how long I have been trying to get a decent picture of this dog. He does not sit still for long.










I also took photos of flowers. Now some of them we planted, others I took while walking through the nursery. No one batted an eye...well maybe the little girl who asked me her Dad why I was taking taking pictures. This one is going to be a gift for my sister. She loves pink and I love the Gerber Daisy.










Remember most people either don't get a chance to take pictures or don't do anything with them when they are done. One Christmas I received as a gift a photo of my son in his Tux at my sister's wedding. I had no idea my cousin took the photo and I just love it. It was the perfect gift.



There are many ways to do this inexpensively:

• find free prints online. Lots of places are giving away free prints. I just did 10 free prints at CVS.com
  
• If you can't find free prints. Use a photo website usually cheaper than in the store. Walgreens offers 19 cents prints for 50 or more but you can do 15 cent prints on the website. Plus when you sign up for the photo websites they start sending you good deals too. I just got one for a free photo mug. Can we all say "FREE GIFT" for someone soon.
  
• shop clearance sales for frames. Kohls Department store carries some great frames and the price is write on clearance.
  

Today I made keychains with the dog picture. Total cost: $3.39 and I have two gifts.

With a little planning you can have some great gifts that the receipant will just cherish.

Why Save Change?

There are a few good reasons to save change:

• Easy to do.
  
• You don't miss it
  
• You can save for something fun or something you need.
  
• Easy to get the family involved - Example: Vacation Fund
  
• It adds up fast
  

Now some people will not save change, because they don't want to roll it. My bank has a coin counter for free. Also coinstar now has GC you can get for cashing in your change, without their fees.

So find a jar and start saying.

Frugal Living Apartment Style......

A few people both in real life and on the net, have brought up the question how can you be frugal when living in an apartment. Living in an Apartment can mean living in a tight space with little storage. There are ways around it...just takes some creative thinking.

I am going to give you a tour of my house and what we do for storage.

Kitchen:
Now I was blessed to have lots of cupboards. I have cupboards above my stove and fridge. Cupboards above and below the sink. Lots of storage space.

These could be my pantry storage:


In the dining area this could also work for storage. If it was something you did not want seen. It could be easily covered with some type of cloth to make it look like a window. I was graciously given the bottom shelf. Otherwise baseball rules in there according to my son.




I have a deep freezer but have no room for it in my kitchen. Since I am in an apartment the basement is not an option. For one I don't pay for electric down there and the freezer does not have a lock. So it is in my bedroom. Sure it takes up room but the savings are huge. It does not bother me to have a freezer in there.

I also have a huge closet as you have seen in other posts for storage. This has been great for storing extra food, HBA and any cooking things I don't have room for in my kitchen.

Other places for storage: Under beds in, bedroom closets. If you had a cool trunk you could use it as a coffeetable and store items in there. It really just takes some thinking and you can come up with a ton of places.

Another excuse I hear all the time: I can't hang wash.
1. Use dryer racks
2. Use the shower rack with clothes on hangers.
3. Some have said they hang them in the closet just spread them out....I have not done that one.

4. use the ironing board. put clothes on hangers and hang from the ironing board.


Read as much as you can about frugality on the internet and books. Remember not everything is going to work for you. Ask questions. Anyone who has a passion for frugality is going to love to talk about it. Somethings I don't do that others do. For example I do not wash baggies. We don't use enough of them for me to justify washing them. I don't do alot of thrift store shopping. I have yet to find anything for my 6 foot 2 inch - 220 pound kid. I do watch sales and he knows I don't pay full price for clothes or shoes.

Living a frugal life is a process. Somethings are so easy yet others make you frustrated. It is about trying new ideas and finding what works for you.

Are you a feminist

You Are 87% Feminist

You are a total feminist. This doesn't mean you're a man hater (in fact, you may be a man). You just think that men and women should be treated equally. It's a simple idea but somehow complicated for the world to put into action.

Are You a Feminist?

Great! I should have known.