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Food Resolutions for the Budget Savvy
Food resolutions don’t always have to be about dieting. Finding ways to trim your grocery bill in 2009 is definitely something to think about this week. Here are some things I’ve already been doing for the last six months or so. Buy Less Brand Name Foods My groceries now consist of at least 50% of supermarket brands and I’d say I save between 25 cents to a $1 per item. It doesn’t seem like a lot but I’ve been buying supermarket brand name cereals, canned vegetables, peanut butter, milk and eggs, and these small amounts add up when I reach the checkout. And with the money I save, I’m able…
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Homemade Food Gifts
When you need some help stretching your gift giving budget, homemade food gifts can come to the rescue. A few years ago I decided to make four different loaves of sweet bread and use them as gifts for people like the postman, garbage pick-up guys, and a few of the neighbors. I purchased holiday themed plates from the dollar store. I placed two slices of each type of bread on the plates and wrapped everything in the colored cling wrap you can buy during the holidays. A few days after I handed them out, I went to the mailbox and saw an envelope sitting in there. I didn’t recognize the…
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The Blog-The Lost Art of Breadmaking
There’s one way to save money and that’s to make things from scratch. Cakes, pies, and yes, bread. One of my favorite splurges at the supermarket used to be their bread topped with cheese and sundried tomatoes, but since they raised the price by almost $2, I got to thinking I could make the same thing for half the price. I decided to pull out my bread machine and try my hand at making homemade bread. I’ve liked the results and just as I expected, making your own gourmet bread can shave some money off your budget. Friday was a busy day for me because my romance novel is released…
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Budget Smart Leftovers
There are two ‘givens’ about Black Friday, shopping frenzy and leftovers. Some people love to eat turkey and stuffing three days later, some people head to the nearest restaurant just to get away from them. One thing I love about leftovers is the challenge of figuring out what to do with them. And being creative enough that people won’t realize it’s the same food they’ve been seeing two days in a row. I’ve come up with these recipes and hope you’ll give them a try if things turn desperate in your house this weekend. Turkey Divan in Pastry (Serves 4) If you want to serve something that everyone will love,…
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Fall Soups
One thing that recharges my energy after an afternoon of raking and bagging leaves is a bowl of soup. Fall’s the perfect time to make soup, not only for eating now, but enjoying in the dead of winter. And best of all, soup’s an economical meal. And if you pair it with a side salad and bread, you’ve got yourself a complete lunch or supper. Here are my tips for making the most out of fall soups. Buy In Season One way to make your food dollar stretch even further is to use ingredients that are in abundance now. Things like squash, parsnips, potatoes, and yes, even apples. They make…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Products to Help Keep You and Your Home Warm This Winter
These days opening your electricity or gas bill can leave you in state of total shock. Just last week, our local utility company placed a newsletter in with our bill telling us that the prices will be increasing this winter. And as yesterday morning was the first chilly one of the season, it got me thinking about inexpensive ways to keep warm this winter. So for all you Budget Smart Girls who like to stay toasty warm, here are some products I’ve found to help stretch your energy dollar. The best thing is that they’re all reasonably priced and will give you a good return for your investment. Windows Did…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Changing Your Shopping Style
I’m a writer and therefore I eavesdrop while I’m out and about. One thing I hear all the time is a conversation that goes something like this- Cashier ‘Did you find everything you were looking for today?’ Shopper ‘I did and more. In fact, I only came into the store for one thing and I’m leaving with an armful/cart load’. Does it sound familiar? It’s easily done, but it can create a budget crisis. Shopping for groceries without a list, and impulse buying at the department store are probably the top two reasons most of us spend more than we actually earn. Are there ways around this dilemma? Psychology 101…
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Ways To Make Money While You Shop
Does it seem like putting food on the table is taking, and please excuse the pun here, more of a bite out of your budget? The other day while I was shopping, I realized that within the last month or so, many of the items I buy on a regular basis have jumped up in price, some by almost a dollar. However, there are ways you can turn some of your purchases into free money and free gifts. If you already use coupons, you probably know there’s also something called a refund that can help stretch your budget. Some Work Involved I’ve found that it does take more time and…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Ways to Save Money this Fall
I’m always just a little sad to see summer coming to an end. But if you start thinking like a true Budget Smart Girl, there are plenty of things to love about the beginning of fall. Autumn can mean plenty of ways to save money. Here’s how- Grab the Last of the Summer Bounty I’m still seeing the produce department at my local supermarket brimming with items like corn, beans, tomatoes, herbs. Plan ahead and turn them into salsa, sun dried tomatoes, and yes, even soups. Grab the Fall Produce September means the beginning of apple season and once again think ahead to meals for the colder days that are…
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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide To Easy Ways to Cut Your Budget
These days it seems like it’s not just us Budget Smart Girls who want to save some money. When the going gets tough here are some ways I’ve found to cut your budget. What Can You Eliminate?Sit down and look at your bills, bank and credit card statements. Do you have any expenses that aren’t really necessary? Things like the weekly pedicure, the two meals you had at the fancy restaurant, the daily latte at the coffee shop? Circle anything that isn’t essential in your life. Added Services Most things that fit into the non-essential category include added services, things like cable TV, text messaging on your cell phone. Do…