After Holiday Sales

The day after a holiday run, don't walk, to your favorite store and buy items for next year at half price or less. The earlier you get there the better the selection will be. I would even be there when the store opens. Prepare for next year's holiday by shopping this year. Don't pay full price for an item that will only be marked down in a week or two. Planning ahead can save you a lot of money. Buy your items after a holiday, come home and put them away and you'll have brand new stuff for next year. This way you won't have to fight the crowds. You can relax knowing that your shopping is already done.

Fun and Free - Walking

Are you bored? Is it nice outside? Then go for a walk! Walking is fun and free. Walk around your neighborhood, walk around a park, or walk along a river or lake. Don't forget to take the family. Put the kids in a stroller or a wagon, put the dog on a leash and you're ready to go. Walking is good for you and it's something everyone can do. It's better than sitting inside on a nice day and it's a great family activity.

Craigslist

If you're looking to buy or sell something locally, check out Craigslist. Selling something on Craigslist is easy and posting an ad is free. I would highly recommend adding a picture of the item you're selling for a quicker sale. Craigslist is also a great place to buy something used without going from store to store. To use Craigslist, find your state and closest major city near you and search away. I've sold baby stuff on Craigslist that my daughter has outgrown. It's a great way to get rid of stuff and make money without having a garage sale.

For more information, go to craigslist.org

Baby Formula Coupons

If you have a baby and use formula you know how expensive it can be. Coupons for formula are rare. The one way you can save money is by signing up online at your favorite formula's website. I use Similac for my baby and by signing up for their membership program I receive coupons for formula in the mail and emails tracking my baby's growth. It's free and well worth it. When you have a baby every little bit helps.

Menu Monday 3/25/2013

Here are a few ideas for dinner this week-

fish tacos
stuffed shells
chicken or eggplant parmesan
ribs
chicken teriyaki
chicken and dumplings
bbq chicken
lasagna
pork marsala
salsa chicken
spaghetti
chicken wings
orange chicken
Mexican chicken and rice bake
Fish and veggies in foil
salsa verde
tacos
chili
chicken tenders
taco pasta casserole
pot pies
sloppy joes
Cajun fish
honey chicken
sweet and sour pork or chicken

Double Coupons

If a grocery store near you offers double coupon days, take advantage of it. Double coupons is when a store takes a coupon and doubles the value. The store I use usually has double coupons in the Sunday paper and they are only good for three days. To use them, match a coupon with a sale and a double coupon and you can get many items for free or near free. Keep an eye out for double coupons days at your store and use them while you can. Just another way coupons can save you money.

Generic Brands

Don't be afraid to try generics. From food to medicine to soap, some generic products are equal or better than their brand name counterparts. Just try it once and if you don't like it you can go back to your favorite brand. If you do like the generic item then you will save money and still get the same result. Some items you can easily buy generic and not notice, other items maybe not, but give it a try and you might be pleasantly surprised at how easy you can switch from brand name to generic.

Freezer Cooking - Burritos

Bean and Cheese Burritos-

2 cans refried beans
1 package soft flour taco tortillas (I had a 20 count bag, used 14 for this)
1 package shredded cheese

1. Take 3 tablespoons beans and spread on one side of tortilla. Top with cheese. Roll up and brown on medium heat in a dry pan (just to seal the edges). Cool, place in plastic storage bags, put in freezer.

2. To heat, I like to thaw them in the refrigerator first and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or you can put them in the microwave. Top with your favorite toppings.

These are cheap and easy to make. We like to have them for lunch with taco sauce.

For more information and pictures on how to fold a burrito, go here - http://penniesandpancakes.blogspot.com

Freezer Cooking

I just started freezer cooking and I love it! What is freezer cooking? It's easy, make any meal in large quantities and freeze it and then use as needed. All you have to do is thaw, heat and eat. In the future I will post some recipes. I just did bean and cheese burritos. They're easy and cheap to make and much healthier than the frozen ones at the store. We loved them and ate them up. I put half in the fridge to eat now and froze the other half. Now we have a quick and healthy meal ready when we need it and we know all the ingredients in it. If you're making a meal, make double and freeze half or make a meal, let it cool, pack it up and put it in the freezer for later. It's that easy.

Menu Monday 3/18/2013

Here are a few ideas for dinner this week-

fish tacos
stuffed shells
chicken or eggplant parmesan
ribs
chicken teriyaki
chicken and dumplings
bbq chicken
lasagna
pork marsala
hot dogs
salsa chicken
spaghetti
chicken wings
orange chicken
baked Mexican chicken and rice
fish and vegetables
salsa verde
Mongolian beef
tacos
buffalo chicken wraps
chili
chicken tenders
fried shrimp
soup, salad and breadsticks
honey chicken
potato, sauerkraut and sausage

Gym Memberships

I think gym memberships are a total waste of money. You'll never use it as much as you think you will and good luck getting out of a contract. What's a better alternative? Two options. One, exercise outside. It's free! If it's nice out get outside and run, walk, skip, hop, whatever you want to do. Run around your neighborhood or go to a school and use their track. Two, buy your own gym equipment. We bought a used treadmill. It's not fancy but it works. Exercising does not have to be expensive. You don't need fancy gyms or clothes. Use what you have around you or just buy the equipment you use and like (used, of course). You'll get healthy and save money.

Cleaning Rags

Tired of buying paper towels every week? Go get some cleaning rags! Go to your favorite store and buy cheap towels or rags in bulk and throw them under the sink. When you need to do some basic cleaning, grab a rag, clean and wash it. After a while they won't look pretty and white anymore but who cares? They're just for cleaning and you can hide them in a kitchen cabinet. I still use paper towels for certain things but having a pile of rags on hand makes me think twice before I grab a paper towel and saves money too.

Carpool

Looking to save gas? Try a carpool! If you know someone that lives near you and is going to the same place at the same time instead of taking two cars take one. My husband and a co-worker carpool and take turns driving. It may not save you much if you're not going far but it will help with gas and less wear and tear on your car. So go to work or school and ask around today. You might even make a new friend or just have someone to talk to on the way to work.

Problem? - DIY or Ask Friends

If you need something fixed try to do it yourself before you call a repairman. Use Google or YouTube for whatever you need to fix to see if you can do it or if you need to call a professional. If you can't figure it out, phone a friend. You never know if a friend, family member, or co-worker has ever had the same problem you do. They might be able to help and save you a ton of money. Try these two options first before you call a repairman or completely replace an item.

Overtime

If you work and your job offers overtime you might want to consider it to pay off debts. My husband has been working overtime to pay for plane tickets. Yes, we could easily put it on a credit card and pay it off but we are trying to stay out of credit card debt. I would prefer my husband home at night but he is determined to have the money before we buy plane tickets. Overtime isn't for the faint of heart. It does take a toll on your body but if your job offers it and you can do it, go for it! Just remember to use the money for something good so all that hard work will be worth it.

Menu Monday 3/11/2013

Here are some ideas for dinner this week-

fish tacos
stuffed shells
chicken or eggplant parmesan
ribs
chicken teriyaki
chicken and dumplings
bbq chicken
lasagna
pork marsala
hot dogs
salsa chicken
spaghetti
sloppy joes
chicken wings
orange chicken
potato, sauerkraut and kielbasa
chicken and rice
fish and veggies
salsa verde
pot pies

Sunday Paper

It's Sunday! Did you buy your local newspaper today? Every Sunday I buy the paper but only if it has coupons. I only buy one copy but some people buy more. It's up to you. I find one copy to be enough for me. Sometimes before I buy the paper I'll quickly flip through it to make sure the coupons are there. If you don't want to run out on a Sunday morning and buy the paper, you can always subscribe and have it delivered right to your door. Either way, it's a good idea to get the Sunday paper and clip those coupons!

Water Filters

Do you drink a lot of water? You should! It's free! If you worry about what's in your water, try a water filter. You can buy a device that attaches to your faucet and replace the filter every couple of months or get a pitcher. I have a Brita faucet filter. The replacement filters are usually cheapest at Walmart but sometimes they go on sale at drug stores. I rarely see coupons for them. I like the faucet filter and we believe it makes our water taste better. For us it's worth the investment. If you drink a lot of water, give it a try and see if you taste any difference.

Space Heater

Looking to cut down on your heating bill? Try a space heater. It probably won't cut your heating bills in half but it will help a little. Keep the space heater in the room you use the most. We keep ours in the living room during the day and in the baby's room at night. It helps keep the room toasty and our heating system doesn't come on as often. Make sure to read and follow the directions before using.

Leftovers

Use your leftovers. Throwing away food is like throwing away money. You can have them for lunch or have a leftover night for dinner. Sometimes my husband mixes different leftover meals to make a new one. Do what you want but just don't throw it away! Leftovers save you money and all you have to do is reheat them. How easy is that? 

Make Your Own Mochas

Do you like mochas but don't have time to go to a coffee shop or want to pay coffee shop prices? Then make your own mochas at home! All you have to do is make some coffee and then add half a packet of hot chocolate mix to your cup. Voila! Instant mocha! Yum!

Redbox Movie Rentals

Do you like to rent movies? Then try Redbox! The movies are cheap and once you rent a movie you can return it anywhere there's a Redbox. I've seen Redbox locations at Walmart, Walgreens, gas stations, etc. The Walmart by me actually has two Redboxs so if one's out of a movie I really want to see, I just go to the other one. It's cheap, easy, and convenient. No commitment or membership card required.

For more information, go to redbox.com

Menu Monday 3/4/2013

Here are some ideas for dinner this week-

chili
sweet and sour pork or chicken
fish tacos
stuffed shells
chicken or eggplant parmesan
ribs
chicken teriyaki
chicken and dumplings
bbq chicken
lasagna
chicken tenders
pork marsala
pizza
hot dogs
salsa chicken
spaghetti
sloppy joes
linguine with clam sauce
chicken wings
chicken cordon bleus

Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards

If you buy Pampers diapers and wipes, you might want to consider signing up for their gifts to grow rewards. Every package has a code on the inside, then go to Pampers website, sign up and enter the codes. I'm saving my points to get my daughter a toy for either her birthday or Christmas. One less gift to buy!

For more information, go to pampers.com

All You Magazine

If you're looking for coupons and ways to save money, start reading All You magazine. You can only buy it at Walmart or subscribe. I buy it every month.

For more information, go to allyou.com