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The Fourth of July on a Budget
It sure feels like summer. Temperatures in the 90s and high humidity which means the Fourth of July isn’t far away. Here are some treats and dishes I’ve found that taste great but still easy on the budget. Drinks Instead of the standard ones like lemonade, try fruit flavored ones. Not mixes, but drinks you can easily put together yourself using real fruit. As strawberries and raspberries are in abundance right now try adding them to lemonade. You can put the lemonade into a blender and add about a cup of chopped strawberries and blend. And how about just adding some fruit, like blueberries, to a soda like 7-Up. If…
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Inexpensive Things To Do This Summer
Staycation is the new buzz word this year. If you’re staying close to home this summer, here are some ideas for having fun while saving money. Visit Craft Fairs I love checking out craft fairs not only because I like to see what people are making and selling but you can also pick up inexpensive gifts for birthdays and holidays. Find one near you at www.craftsfaironline.com If you’re a crafter this site also has some great links too. It’s Raining…it’s too hot If it’s raining or just gets too unbearable outside, head to your nearest cinema. Great news is many theatres have cheap summer deals. Check our AMC Theatres $1…
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Ways to Save Money on Organic Foods
I have to admit I’m a fan of organic foods, but as you know I also like to save money too. Here are some ways I’ve found to strike a happy balance between the two. What’s Important to You? What are some of your family’s favorite foods? What foods do you eat on a regular basis? If one particular food is on the top of the list, then maybe that’s the one you should think about buying in an organic version. Sticking with a food budget often means looking at what’s a priority for you. If eating more organic food is important, then rethink your budget. Maybe switch to a…
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Cooking Quick Tips, Shortcuts, and Tricks
‘If I only had more time or another pair of hands’. Most of us mumble those words at some time or another. When you’re desperate to get dinner on the table, the temptation to head to the nearest restaurant can be overwhelming. But don’t panic, here are cooking shortcuts I use when time isn’t on my side. Boiling Water You know the old saying about watching milk boil, seems water’s no different. When I’m short on time, pasta usually comes to the rescue. However, waiting for a large pot of water to boil sometimes slows things down. I know the guideline is that water for pasta should be as salty…
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A Professional Looking Garden for Pennies
Gardening is one of my hobbies and sometimes I think I spend too much time outside planting, landscaping, you name it. But just the other day I found out all my effort could be a wise investment. A home with a nicely landscaped yard always sells faster and sells for more money. Seems like no matter how much money you put into the yard, you eventually get the majority of it back when it’s time to sell. And yes, some landscaping tasks are costly, but here are some ways to make the yard look like a million dollars for a lot less. Swap Do you have plants in your yard…
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A Basic Guide to Growing Vegetables
What’s hot this year? Growing your own food. I’ll be planting my first vegetable garden this year too. I have a thriving herb garden, but have lots of questions about starting a veggie garden. So here’s some advice from Bayer Advanced Garden Expert (www.bayeradvanced.com), Lance Walheim who also contributed to ‘Vegetables For Dummies’ book. Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-Everyone wants to plant a vegetable garden this year. If you’re a beginner, what vegetables would you recommend? What should you avoid? Lance Walheim (LW)-If you know the cultural basics, they are all about the same but in general I’d say tomatoes, squash, lettuce, beans, peppers and potatoes are easiest just because of…
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Budget Foods and Ideas to Check Out
Everywhere you look these days, food companies are offering suggestions for low cost recipes. Even the local supermarkets have arrows pointing to great deals. I’ll admit some bargain foods taste awful and they can get boring after you’ve served them a couple of times. Here are some foods I got on sale and have to say they tasted anything but bland or inexpensive. The first one is the Chef Boyardee pizza kit. Remember money saving experts say you should look on the bottom and top shelves because that’s where the bargains are. It’s true because this pizza kit was sitting on the top shelf and cost only $3.45. And it…
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How to Never Pay Full Price Again!
Yes, wouldn’t it be great if you never had to pay full price for anything ever again? Well, there’s a way and it’s thanks to sites like the one I’m about to tell you about. Karen Hoxmeier is the mastermind behind a Web site called www.mybargainbuddy.com I recently chatted with her to find out about the site and how Budget Smart Girls can use it to get the best deals on everything from kids clothing to dresses for that special occasion. Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-When I read your bio it seems you’ve always been a Budget Smart Girl. Is that true and is that how the Web site got started?…
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Jazzing Up Dinner
Being on a food budget often means you walk around the supermarket on automatic pilot putting the same old boxes of this and that into your cart instead of taking a chance on something new. And it also means serving the same recipes week after week. When I’m feeling in the food doldrums, here some things I turn to. Cookbooks I love reading cookbooks and they’re often a good source of finding new recipes and ways to cut costs. Take a look at the ones you have sitting around the house, or even take a trip to the library. Check some out and page through them. One I recently found…
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Getting Organized on a Budget Smart Price
Getting organized is always on both my do and New Year’s resolution lists. One thing about being organized is it’s saves you money. I can’t remember how many times I’ve lost something under a pile of papers on my desk, rushed out to buy another one, and then found the original one the next day. Disorganized yes, budget smart, no. I try my best, but sometimes it’s the price of all those fancy organizers that hinder my progress. So I turned to expert help. Laura Leist CPO, CRTS, is a Seattle based professional organizer and also founder and president of Eliminate Chaos www.eliminatechaos.com. Her book Eliminate Chaos: The 10-Step Process…
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