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Easy Holiday Appetizers
WordPress whose site this blog appears on tells me this will be my 575th post! Thank you to everyone who’s been reading this since post number one. Here’s to the next 575. Easy Appetizers One thing I love about the holidays is the chance to make some appetizers or finger foods that can be made ahead of time and pulled out of the fridge or freezer when company stops by or you’re in need of a snack. Two things I always rely on are filo pastry and cream cheese. First up is a cream cheese spread that I use on crackers or cucumber slices. Leftovers, if there are any, make the perfect…
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Pampering for the Budgetwise
Some days we all need pampering and every so often I wish I was rich enough to head to a spa at least once a week. For now it’s only a dream but I’ve been searching the Internet for sites where you can learn to make your own spa like products. I’ve also stumbled upon sites where you can pick up supplies at a reasonable price and turn your home or least your bathroom into a spa. Here’s what I found- Two of My Favorite Places First up I have to mention two of my favorite sites for finding great bargains. The first one you’ve heard me mention many times and that’s…
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Six Superfoods…that are also budget friendly
I recently worked on an article for a major health magazine about ways we can pack more nutrition into our diets without going over budget. It was one of my all time favorites to write and I learned so much. While I was researching it I came across a list of more superfoods that nutritionists recommend we eat more of. The best thing is they’re also budget friendly too- Broccoli I know most people turn their noses up at these types of foods but you can sneak them into you diet. One of my favorite ways to serve broccoli is in soup’s like vegetable or even cheese and broccoli. If you…
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More Budget Friendly Foods-Garbanzo Beans
Garbanzo beans, or as they’re otherwise known chickpeas, is another budget friendly food that I use a lot in cooking. You can buy them canned or dried. I always keep a couple of cans in the pantry. I also cook a one pound bag of the dried variety, using the slow cooker for making batches for various recipes. Just like other beans, they’re full of protein, fat free and give offer a good nutritional bang for your buck. Here are some of my favorite ways to use them- Hummus One of my favorite treats is hummus. I used to buy it ready-made at the supermarket but the price jumped up so I went looking…
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Dirt Cheap Gardening
Gardening is one of my hobbies. I think of it as not only being therapeutic but something that adds to the value of your property. Having a nice looking garden doesn’t have to break the bank either. Here are some ways I’ve found to stretch my gardening budget- Free Advice One way to waste money and kill plants is not knowing what you’re doing or what plants are right for your area. If I ever have a gardening question or weed I can’t identify I always stop by my local extension service for advice. It’s free, they also have brochures and sometimes classes you can take too. Divide and Conquer…
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A Cheap Home Makeover
We’re one month into spring, days are longer, and sometimes it’s nice to give your home a makeover. Sometimes I’d love to do some remodeling but the cost is prohibitive. However, I have found some low cost (and sometimes free) ways you can give your house a spring makeover- Clean Out the Clutter Realtors say clutter is one of the reasons many homes don’t sale. If you’re selling your house, or just realize you have too much stuff sitting around the house, now’s the time to tackle it and maybe sell a few things online or even have a sale this summer. Just getting rid of a few odds and…
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Fresh, Frozen or Canned?
One section of the supermarket with steadily rising prices and yes, less than top notch quality is the produce department. So should you ever feel guilty about opting for frozen or even canned veggies? Most health experts say as produce is usually frozen or canned as soon as it’s picked we shouldn’t worry too much because the vitamin and mineral content remains intact. I have to admit I used to feel really guilty if I relied on too many frozen and canned vegetables, but seeing how some of the produce doesn’t look that great I now base my decision on the following- Buying in Season Wouldn’t it be great if all…
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Eggs, a wise choice for the Budget Smart Cook
I don’t have to look at the calendar to know it’s almost Easter. The supermarkets are full of eggs and not just the chocolate kind. Eggs are a bargain any time of the year but as we head into Easter Sunday, they’re one of the best deals out there. Here’s why eggs are always on my list of pantry staples- Nutrition Powerhouses When it comes to perfect nutrition eggs have just about everything. Protein, B vitamins, especially B12 and B2, vitamins A and D, iron, choline and phosphorus, And yes, they’re even low in calories too. But wait a minute, aren’t they bad for me? Not so long ago eggs……
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Places to Sell Unwanted Items
I”m gearing up for a late spring/early summer garage sale. Yes, they’re a good way to get rid of unwanted stuff while making some extra money but there are online options too. Some places you can sell things like clothes and shoes, while other sites are strictly for swapping things like books and CDs. Either way you get money or stuff you really need while clearing out your closets. Here are some sites I found that you might want to check out. I’ve not used all of them and as usual a word of caution, check out the rules, the terms and conditions before you do business on any site.…
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Earth Day-Go Green…Save Green
I have to admit when it was still considered a bit quirky to be ‘green’ I was keen to do my part to help the environment. Things like recycling bottles and magazines, buying recycled paper, composting yard waste, walking and riding my bike instead of driving to the local store. Although my main motive wasn’t to save money, when I think back these are all ways that I probably did manage to keep more money in my purse. Here are some ways you can go green and save green at the same time- Free Exercise Maybe a pricey health club membership is out of your reach right now, but there’s something that’s free and can…
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