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The Budget Smart Cook Loves Pantry Standbys
The Internet has been abuzz with tips for trimming your food budget. An idea that seems to show up regularly is using up all the items that are sitting in your pantry. It’s a great tip but as we Budget Smart Girls know, stocking the pantry in the first place plays a major role in saving money. Here are some items to keep on hand for those impromptu meals. Pasta I keep a couple of different types of pasta on hand at all times. It might be spaghetti, penne, even a box of lasagna. One of the quickest meals to put together is any type of pasta dish. And I…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Garage Sales
It’s garage sale season again. You might be the buyer or even the one holding the sale. Either way, here are some tips for successful bargain hunting or selling. For the Buyer Scout the Papers Most people place ads in their local newspapers the week before their actual sale date. This gives you plenty of time to look through the listings and see what’s being offered and if it’s even worth the drive to the neighborhood. If anything does catch your eye, make a note and plan your route starting with the most promising sale first. Don’t Impulse Buy I’ve done this myself and it’s tempting…buying items you don’t really…
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The Budget Smart Cook Loves Brown Bag Lunches
What’s an easy way to save money on food? Take a brown bag lunch at work or school every day. A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from Joanne Lichten, Sunbelt Snacks’ registered dietitian and author of Dr. Jo’s How to Stay Healthy and Fit on the Road. Here’s what she had to say- “We all know how easy it is to hit the local diner or even fast food spot for lunch…but then we did the math. A $6 lunch multiplied by a 5 days a week costs us $1,440 a year. That’s a house payment for many of us or a couple of car payments.” The simple…
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Budget Meals with Pizzazz
Last week I told you about ways a Budget Smart Cook can add certain ingredients to jazz up foods. This week I thought I’d focus on actual recipes and foods that most people rely on when they’re watching their pennies. Spaghetti When someone says budget meal, spaghetti or any type of pasta, always is the first thing that jumps into my head. I also like pasta because it’s fast and easy to put together. And while you might immediately think spaghetti and a red pasta sauce, you can vary things now and then. For a change of pace, pick a white sauce. One of my favorites is the Ragu low…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to More Dirt Cheap Gardening
While it doesn’t feel like gardening weather where I live, hopefully, in a few weeks or so everyone will be heading outside to tackle this year’s outdoor projects. Here are some more tips for getting a beautiful garden without breaking the bank. Start with Seeds One great way to get beautiful blooms at bargain prices is to start them from seed. One trick I was told to successful seed growing is bottom heat. And a good spot is the top of your refrigerator. Make sure you keep them watered too, especially when you first plant them. Sometimes I’ve forgotten to water them for a day or two and the seeds…
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The Budget Smart Cook Gets Sneaky
I’ll be the first to admit some budget foods aren’t the most appealing items on the supermarket shelf. There are only so many ways you can serve ground beef or tuna. But don’t give up on the low cost foods just yet. One way you can stretch your food dollar and perk up your taste buds is to maximize flavors. Here are some sneaky ways a Budget Smart Cook can add flavor to foods, and turn bland into gourmet. Herbs and Spices One cheap and easy way to add flavor to everything from, meat to veggies is to use herbs and spices. Fresh herbs will soon be hitting the produce…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Gardening
Looks like spring has finally sprung and our thoughts turn to the yard and garden. The cost of getting and keeping a beautiful yard can be pricey, so this and next week’s Budget Smart Girl’s Guide is devoted to, excuse the pun here, dirt cheap gardening. A Garden on the Cheap This week I’d like to welcome a guest expert. Lance Walheim, gardening expert and writer at www.bayeradvanced.com. Walheim offers the following eight tips on how to have a great garden for $50 or less. 1. Consider a standout area of your yard to make the flower garden. Placement is key. It’s easy to end up with flowerbeds in tucked…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Earth Day-Go Green Save Green
There are lots of ways to go green this Earth Day…or any day for that matter. And the best thing about going green is you save green too. Whether you want to do something for the environment or your bank account, here are some sites and ideas to get you started. Sierra Club The Sierra Club has a informative site www.sierraclub.org/wecandoit/ offering links to ways you can green your life and your wallet too. Check out the Get Brighter section, featuring Daily Green Tips and Smart Energy Solutions. Earth Day Site And this site www.earthday.net doesn’t offer tips etc, but it’s an interesting look at what you can do to…
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Why Should Budget Smart Cooks Love Their Veggies?
Well, actually everyone should love eating vegetables, but for those of us who watch the pennies, veggies offer great value. They pack lots of nutrition and can even help you stretch your food dollar. Here are some other reasons to love veggies. You Can Always Find Them at the Store Okay, some vegetables aren’t available year round, but stop by any produce department and you’ll always find items to make a low cost meal. Things like broccoli, mushrooms, peapods, peppers…all the basics for a stir-fry. And if you’re using beef, chicken or shrimp in that stir- fry, use less of these items and simply double up on the vegetables. I’m…
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What Do Those Food Labels Really Mean?
When you shop for groceries do you ever take the time to read the label before you put an item into your cart? With food prices going sky high it’s more important than ever to get the best return for your food dollar. Food labels aren’t always the easiest things to figure out, but be sure to check out the following- Just The Facts The Nutrition Facts section on a product is easy to spot. It’s usually enclosed in a box and tells you what a serving size is, plus, things like the number of calories, sodium, cholesterol, etc. You’ll also find information about vitamin and mineral content. So how…