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New Year Resolutions for the Budget Minded
A happy New Year to everyone. I you all enjoyed the holiday season. Now it’s back to normal and being that it’s a brand new year articles about resolutions are everywhere. Most of them focus on losing weight and exercising but it’s the perfect time to think about money and savings ones too. I’ve made a few, like throwing zero food away. I’m pretty good about it now but there’s still room for improvement. I’ll also be making my own gourmet breads instead of paying almost $5 for a loaf I can make for a few dollars, even less…I’ve almost got the cheese bread down to an art! I’ve attempted this one for the…
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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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Stop Wasting Food
We all do it…buy food, forget to eat it and the garbage bin becomes the recipient of our wasted dollars. Vegetables always seem to be my Achilles’ Heel. Sometimes I’m cleaning out the produce bin and find an item that I can no longer identitfy. So one of my New Year’s resolutions is to make sure that doesn’t happen…or at least less often in 2011. Whatever your Achilles’ Heel, here are some things I’ve found helps keep me on track. Plan Ahead I know this take extra time and most of us don’t have a lot of it right now. However, when you’re putting together your shopping list think about…
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The Saving Money Plan
I can’t remember how I found out about Saving Money Plan www.savingmoneyplan.com but I’m really glad I signed up to receive the daily newsletters because I’ve saved money with coupons I’ve seen in the newsletter, found out about free stuff (you know I love both of those things!) and learned more about how to find and use coupons. I thought it was about time I shared this valuable site with you and decided to go straight to its founder, Claire Williams for all the inside information. Budget Smart Girl (BSG)-For the readers who don’t know about the site can you tell them what Saving Money Plan is all about? Claire…
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Budget Resolutions (or goals)…and sites to get you organized
I usually have my New Year resolutions all worked out by the time Christmas rolls around. This holiday, I didn’t. So this week when I’ve had a spare minute or two I’ve been making notes about what I want to achieve this year. Lots of things are on my list and most are about saving money on just about everything, but my top priority is the food budget. Here are some of my goals, they might be yours too. Make More Ready Made Meals This was on my list last year. I did make some meals now and then but this year I want to be more consistent. Which leads…
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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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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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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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The Budget Smart Girl’s Guide to Gourmet Foods
Budget gourmet might sound like an oxymoron, but even Budget Smart Girls can enjoy gourmet or gourmet like foods now and then. And here’s the good news, because the economy’s in a slump, lots of companies, yes, even those who sell high end foods are slashing prices. I searched the Web and found these sites offering gourmet foods this holiday season. They’re great for either treating yourself or giving as a gift. I’m taking a bet that others will think you’ve spent a lot more than you actually did. The Fresh Market This site has lots to offer, but check out the artisan vanilla granola for $3.99, lemon curd $4.99…
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A Budget Savvy Cook Hosts Thanksgiving
Just the thought of preparing Thanksgiving dinner can send most people into a panic. And this year, I’m guessing lots of people are in a panic wondering how much it’s going to cost. Here are some ways to keep the cost down. Buy A Few Items at a Time I know a few people who plan their holiday meals in September. I’ve never been that organized, but I have found one way to help lower the cost of a holiday meal (and the sticker shock when I get to the checkout) is to spread the cost over several weeks. Sometimes items like stuffing, cranberry sauce start to go on sale…
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