Yes, I am at it again and going to tell you and stress to you how important packing your lunch is while you are saving money and paying down debt. I am not kidding, I easily save 100.00 a month by making my own lunches, and sometimes including breakfast.
I won't lie..... there is some planning involved.
I check out my weekly flyer's also known as loss leaders from my local grocery stores. I also use lots of coupons. I structure my weekly meals, snacks, and lunches around what is on sale and what I have coupons for. For Instance, my breakfast today was a cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread. The reason for this is, my favorite bread was on sale 2 loaves for 3 dollars, and my favorite Tillamook cheese was on sale for 4.99 for a block of cheese the 2 pound loaf. My lunch today is 2 bratwursts, and macaroni salad. Bratwursts were on sale a couple of weeks ago so I picked up a couple of packages and threw them in my freezer. This past week I picked up deli macaroni salad on coupon at Safeway and it needs to be eaten so that it does not go bad. For snacks, I have graham crackers that I spread frosting in the middle of. Graham crackers were on sale last week, the large box and I had a coupon, so I got a big one for 2.59, the frosting I got awhile back on sale and had coupons from the Sunday paper and believe I paid 69 cents a can for.
My breakfast today was very tasty and filling. My lunch is going to be fabulous.
I also snicker to myself when I see my co-workers that have stopped off at McDonalds for their lunch. I know I have saved my money, as well as greasy fat and empty calories, and that puts a smile on my face, on a few dollars in my savings account every month.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Garlic Baked Chicken
This is absolutely delicious~ restaurant quality good. Serve with rice and a green salad and you have a Fabulous & Frugal dinner.... enjoy
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
31 Fabulous Uses For Vinegar
I found this fabulous information over at BargainBabe.com. I figure I have shared uses for Baking Soda, might as well add Vinegar to our safe and effective cleaning regimen. I do use Vinegar to shampoo my carpets and I get fabulous results, and it is cheap and natural.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In a previous post I wrote about natural cleaners that can save you money. One of those inexpensive cleaners was vinegar. I’ve used vinegar everywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom and below I’ve shared a laundry list (literally) of different ways to use vinegar around your home.
I have tried most of these suggestions with positive results. Before trying them yourself, make sure to test the solutions in an inconspicuous place to avoid damage. To learn about secret uses for ammonia, salt, foil and baking soda, check out Bobbi’s post.
1.Kill weeds in your garden by spraying full strength until they starve.
2.Clean pots with white vinegar before re-potting to remove excess lime.
3.Remove skunk odor from a dog by rubbing his fur with full strength vinegar. Don’t forget to rinse.
4.Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting by dousing the area with vinegar.
5.Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites.
6.Use white vinegar to rinse your hair to remove residue and make it shiny.
7.Make clothes smell fresh by adding vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener.
8.Immerse T-shirts in white vinegar to get rid of the yellow armpit stains.
9.Clean your irons and steam irons with vinegar to avoid build up.
10.To remove coffee and tea stains from china, clean with vinegar.
11.Deodorize your kitchen drain and sink by pouring a cup of vinegar in.
12.Cooking smelly food like fish? Vinegar neutralizes odors. Add a couple of tablespoons to a bowl and leave it on the kitchen counter.
13.Clean the microwave by boiling a 1/4 cup of vinegar to loosen splattered food. Afterward use a cloth to wipe the microwave clean.
14.Kill germs in the bathroom by wiping down fixtures with a rag damp with vinegar.
15.Clean soap scum, mildew and grime from the bathtub, tile and curtains by wiping down with vinegar and rinsing with water.
16.Clean your glasses by using a drop of vinegar and a lint-free cloth.
17.Instead of using toner in your beauty routine, use vinegar to clean your face.
18.Deodorized your smelly lunch box by wiping it clean with vinegar.
19.Relieve a sore throat by gargling vinegar.
20.Have itchy feet? Immerse your feet in vinegar to fight athlete’s foot.
21.Toenails turning yellow? Fight nail fungus by saturating your nails with vinegar. Apparently, tea tree oil also helps.
22.Eliminate animal urine stains and odor from carpet by wiping it clean with an old rag and vinegar.
23.Unclog a shower head by immersing in vinegar.
24.Remove decals, bumper stickers, or price tag by wiping down with vinegar. Alcohol also helps.
25.Spray vinegar around doors and window frames, under appliances and along other known ant trails to repeal them.
26.Add to water and food coloring to make dyed eggs even brighter.
27.Rid your toilet bowl of rusty rings with a diluted vinegar solution.
28.Rub on windows with newspaper or cloth to get a clearer view.
29.Kill mold with vinegar instead of bleach.
30.Combine with lemons and baking soda for an all purpose cleaner.
31.Mix with salt to form a paste. Apply to remove discoloration from copper-bottomed pots and pans. Let sit, then scrub with steel-wool.
Have A Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!!!
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In a previous post I wrote about natural cleaners that can save you money. One of those inexpensive cleaners was vinegar. I’ve used vinegar everywhere from the kitchen to the bathroom and below I’ve shared a laundry list (literally) of different ways to use vinegar around your home.
I have tried most of these suggestions with positive results. Before trying them yourself, make sure to test the solutions in an inconspicuous place to avoid damage. To learn about secret uses for ammonia, salt, foil and baking soda, check out Bobbi’s post.
1.Kill weeds in your garden by spraying full strength until they starve.
2.Clean pots with white vinegar before re-potting to remove excess lime.
3.Remove skunk odor from a dog by rubbing his fur with full strength vinegar. Don’t forget to rinse.
4.Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting by dousing the area with vinegar.
5.Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites.
6.Use white vinegar to rinse your hair to remove residue and make it shiny.
7.Make clothes smell fresh by adding vinegar to the rinse cycle instead of fabric softener.
8.Immerse T-shirts in white vinegar to get rid of the yellow armpit stains.
9.Clean your irons and steam irons with vinegar to avoid build up.
10.To remove coffee and tea stains from china, clean with vinegar.
11.Deodorize your kitchen drain and sink by pouring a cup of vinegar in.
12.Cooking smelly food like fish? Vinegar neutralizes odors. Add a couple of tablespoons to a bowl and leave it on the kitchen counter.
13.Clean the microwave by boiling a 1/4 cup of vinegar to loosen splattered food. Afterward use a cloth to wipe the microwave clean.
14.Kill germs in the bathroom by wiping down fixtures with a rag damp with vinegar.
15.Clean soap scum, mildew and grime from the bathtub, tile and curtains by wiping down with vinegar and rinsing with water.
16.Clean your glasses by using a drop of vinegar and a lint-free cloth.
17.Instead of using toner in your beauty routine, use vinegar to clean your face.
18.Deodorized your smelly lunch box by wiping it clean with vinegar.
19.Relieve a sore throat by gargling vinegar.
20.Have itchy feet? Immerse your feet in vinegar to fight athlete’s foot.
21.Toenails turning yellow? Fight nail fungus by saturating your nails with vinegar. Apparently, tea tree oil also helps.
22.Eliminate animal urine stains and odor from carpet by wiping it clean with an old rag and vinegar.
23.Unclog a shower head by immersing in vinegar.
24.Remove decals, bumper stickers, or price tag by wiping down with vinegar. Alcohol also helps.
25.Spray vinegar around doors and window frames, under appliances and along other known ant trails to repeal them.
26.Add to water and food coloring to make dyed eggs even brighter.
27.Rid your toilet bowl of rusty rings with a diluted vinegar solution.
28.Rub on windows with newspaper or cloth to get a clearer view.
29.Kill mold with vinegar instead of bleach.
30.Combine with lemons and baking soda for an all purpose cleaner.
31.Mix with salt to form a paste. Apply to remove discoloration from copper-bottomed pots and pans. Let sit, then scrub with steel-wool.
Have A Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!!!
The Money Class
Last night on OPB (Oregon Public Broadcasting) I caught Suze Orman, it was The Money Class. In this program Suze unveils new and powerful advice to help us get through these tough economic times. The Motto of the show was to "Live Below Your Means but within Your Needs" This is the "New American Dream." The Focus is all about you, and I do mean all about you..... Not about stuff.
Suze explained real estate, owning it and renting it. She talked about not giving your kids an allowance, she has another strategy. The other topics covered in depth are home, family, career and retirement.
Suze also has a new book out called "The Money Class" and during the show you could also purchase kits, and other literature that she put together to help you with wills, living trusts, and anything legal.
Suze's advice will bore some of the more advanced financial pioneers, but if you are just starting out, learning to save and control your spending, or have no financial background, then Suze will teach you basic finance and how to effectively save money. I love how she talks about Credit Card Interest Rates..... It is such an eye opener every time I hear it, and I have been working on paying off my Credit Cards for about 2 years now. Paying Off your Credit Cards requires patience and diligence, and you will not get results over night, unless you have won the lottery.
I highly recommend reading and watching Suze especially if you are just starting out. My only recommendation is that you buy her books used.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!
Suze explained real estate, owning it and renting it. She talked about not giving your kids an allowance, she has another strategy. The other topics covered in depth are home, family, career and retirement.
Suze also has a new book out called "The Money Class" and during the show you could also purchase kits, and other literature that she put together to help you with wills, living trusts, and anything legal.
Suze's advice will bore some of the more advanced financial pioneers, but if you are just starting out, learning to save and control your spending, or have no financial background, then Suze will teach you basic finance and how to effectively save money. I love how she talks about Credit Card Interest Rates..... It is such an eye opener every time I hear it, and I have been working on paying off my Credit Cards for about 2 years now. Paying Off your Credit Cards requires patience and diligence, and you will not get results over night, unless you have won the lottery.
I highly recommend reading and watching Suze especially if you are just starting out. My only recommendation is that you buy her books used.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
25 Uses For Coffee Filters
I found this information over at econobusters.com
Very useful information for saving money, and utilizing what you have on hand.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10 Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18 Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!!
Very useful information for saving money, and utilizing what you have on hand.
1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers.
3. Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish.
4. Filter broken cork from wine. If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.
5. Protect a cast-iron skillet. Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.
6. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.
7. Recycle frying oil. After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.
8. Weigh chopped foods. Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.
9. Hold tacos. Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.
10 Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.
11. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.
12. Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows? Use strips of coffee filters.
13. Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French fries, chicken fingers, etc on them. It soaks out all the grease.
14. Keep in the bathroom. They make great “razor nick fixers.”
15. As a sewing backing. Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.
16. Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.
17. Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.
18 Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.
19. Use them as a spoon rest while cooking and clean up small counter spills.
20. Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or when cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. Saves on having extra bowls to wash.
21. Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.
22. Use them to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.
23. Use them to sprout seeds. Simply dampen the coffee filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a zip-lock plastic bag until they sprout.
24. Use coffee filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Place the flowers between two coffee filters and put the coffee filters in phone book.
25. Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, etc.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal day!!!!
Cooking Weekend
Today is my Monday.... Happy Monday to all of you.....
I spent my weekend driving 5 hours to my parents house. On Sunday I cooked all day, and loaded my Mom and Dads' freezer with pre-cooked easy to prepare recipes. They have marinated chicken, pork roast, Hawaiian Pork, Chicken and Navy bean soup, 3 batches of meatballs, and Salmon patties. My mom has had some health issues lately and is not able to stand for long periods of time (in the kitchen). My dad hates to cook, so this was a win win situation for them.
It is frugal and cost effective to prepare food for the freezer, and eat it as you go. It is much cheaper than eating out or buying pre-packaged food, unless of course the pre-packaged food is on sale and you have coupons. Another advantage of making your own food, is that you can control the salt, and fat content of your recipes.
It is hard work, and it took me pretty much all day cooking, but if you are organized, you can really put some delicious recipes in the freezer.
One of the things I do at home, if I have made extra soup or dinner items, I will put the leftovers into freezer bags (always date and say what the contents of the bag are) and throw them in the freezer instead of having them sit in the refrigerator for a week and throwing them out.
This is an excellent way to stretch your food budget, and avoid throwing food away.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!
I spent my weekend driving 5 hours to my parents house. On Sunday I cooked all day, and loaded my Mom and Dads' freezer with pre-cooked easy to prepare recipes. They have marinated chicken, pork roast, Hawaiian Pork, Chicken and Navy bean soup, 3 batches of meatballs, and Salmon patties. My mom has had some health issues lately and is not able to stand for long periods of time (in the kitchen). My dad hates to cook, so this was a win win situation for them.
It is frugal and cost effective to prepare food for the freezer, and eat it as you go. It is much cheaper than eating out or buying pre-packaged food, unless of course the pre-packaged food is on sale and you have coupons. Another advantage of making your own food, is that you can control the salt, and fat content of your recipes.
It is hard work, and it took me pretty much all day cooking, but if you are organized, you can really put some delicious recipes in the freezer.
One of the things I do at home, if I have made extra soup or dinner items, I will put the leftovers into freezer bags (always date and say what the contents of the bag are) and throw them in the freezer instead of having them sit in the refrigerator for a week and throwing them out.
This is an excellent way to stretch your food budget, and avoid throwing food away.
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Things You Should Buy At The Dollar Store
Ok, here it is. I have compiled a list of items that you SHOULD buy at the dollar store.
1. Cleaning Supplies ~ Why pay more for something you clean with that literally goes down the drain?
2. Personal Supplies or Toiletries ~ Disposable Razors, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Shampoo ~ Unless you can do better with coupons...you should be buying these items at the Dollar Store
3. Batteries~ Some people have told me that the batteries do not last as long as name brand batteries, but can you go wrong for a dollar?
4. Drain Cleaner~ this will be Generic Drano or Liquid Plumber, yes it is bad for your drains but if you are desperate and need some, I have seen it in grocery stores for $6.00 a bottle
5. Mailing Supplies~ packaging tape, envelopes, and bubble wrap....yes you guessed it, all for a buck.
6. Condiments~ BBQ sauce, mustard, soy sauce, Worcestershire....you got the idea, Don't buy this at the grocery store when you can pick it up at the dollar store... just be sure to check the expiration dates.
7. Dog Treats & Dog Toys~ I am sure this will go for kitty toys as well.
8. Cooking Spices ~ yes, cooking spices, pick up your seasonings at the Dollar Store.
9. Fiber Bars~ I just picked up 5 packs of Special K Breakfast Bars... yes 5 bars for a dollar.
Just remember to be smart when you shop and not buy crap (because we all know there is some pretty cheap crap) at the Dollar Store. Think of it more like a "Dollar Stretching Store"
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!
1. Cleaning Supplies ~ Why pay more for something you clean with that literally goes down the drain?
2. Personal Supplies or Toiletries ~ Disposable Razors, Deodorant, Toothpaste, Shampoo ~ Unless you can do better with coupons...you should be buying these items at the Dollar Store
3. Batteries~ Some people have told me that the batteries do not last as long as name brand batteries, but can you go wrong for a dollar?
4. Drain Cleaner~ this will be Generic Drano or Liquid Plumber, yes it is bad for your drains but if you are desperate and need some, I have seen it in grocery stores for $6.00 a bottle
5. Mailing Supplies~ packaging tape, envelopes, and bubble wrap....yes you guessed it, all for a buck.
6. Condiments~ BBQ sauce, mustard, soy sauce, Worcestershire....you got the idea, Don't buy this at the grocery store when you can pick it up at the dollar store... just be sure to check the expiration dates.
7. Dog Treats & Dog Toys~ I am sure this will go for kitty toys as well.
8. Cooking Spices ~ yes, cooking spices, pick up your seasonings at the Dollar Store.
9. Fiber Bars~ I just picked up 5 packs of Special K Breakfast Bars... yes 5 bars for a dollar.
Just remember to be smart when you shop and not buy crap (because we all know there is some pretty cheap crap) at the Dollar Store. Think of it more like a "Dollar Stretching Store"
Have a Fabulous & Frugal Day!!!!!
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