Asking for a prescription sample saves you money!

When I was going through my “write about someday” stack of ideas, I was reminded of a medicine savings strategy I used last spring with my son.

My oldest child suffers from seasonal allergies.  It is particularly difficult in the spring.  Last year, even with allergy medication, his nostrils completely swelled shut.  Ultimately, the doctor suggested switching his over-the-counter allergy medicine AND using a prescription strength nasal spray during those particularly bad moments.

I asked if he had a sample for this medication (we had never tried before) and he gladly gave us one.  So far…we haven’t spent a penny on my son’s prescription strength nasal spray for 1 full year because I asked for a sample!!

So…if your doctor prescribes a new medication, particularly if it is an expensive one, make sure to ask for a sample!! 

Happy Pinching Pennies…

P.S.  If the prescription is to treat a chronic condition, still ask for a sample or a 1-3 month supply to try it out.  I have a friend whose husband is suffering from leukemia and they were given a 3 month supply of a VERY expensive medicine he got used to the condition/medication.  They saved literally thousands of dollars by asking for a sample.

DIY: Thatching your yard on a dime....

How do I know it’s time to start doing some yard work?  I’m not very scientific about it….I was inspired by some workers taking care of a business’ lawn near my children’s school that I pass by every day.  This week, a thatching and mowing crew was out doing their job…and every year this company has BEAUTIFUL grass resembling a green shimmery carpet.  I guess I just took now and was inspired to do a little “thatching” of my own.

I don’t have any special equipment like theirs, so I just started raking the scattered leftover leaves from the fall and bit of dead grass.  It is amazing how much green showed up and how much better my yard looked.  I had only halfway finished the front yard when my husband came home from work and joined me.  As we worked, my husband suggested that we could look into a thatching blade for our lawn mower that would speed this job up AND do a much more thorough job than our rakes.  I didn’t know such a thing existed!!  (The machines the hired crews use look really fancy and expensive.  And every time there is a thatching fund raiser with the Boy Scouts they usually  ask $50-$100…which is more than I would pay.)  Sooo….my husband went to Lowe’s this weekend and found a thatching blade for $25.  

It has tough REPLACEABLE Nylon Lines...so the tool doesn't have to be purchased over and  over again!!  IF you take the lines out, it is just a "normal" lawn mower blade!! 

I suppose it initially seems a little pricy, but a new blade for a lawn mower costs $20…so only $5 more dollars gets you a new blade AND a thatching device!!  Plus, it does other things besides thatch!


In comparison to hiring a company, taking part in a fundraiser, OR raking until you get blisters and thick calluses…this seemed like the perfect alternative!!  Plus, because our lawn mower has a bag attached to it, the clippings were already bagged for us!  No raking afterwards!  Money well spent: saved time AND money.

It is EASY to install.

1.  Remove your existing mower blade and replace it with the *new* thatching/mowing combo blade.
2.  Make sure your bag is properly attached.  Adjust your height to the desired dimensions.

 

3.  Start your engines...and "mow" your grass like normal...perhaps going a bit slower than usual.

4. Look at all that wonderful GREEN I found underneath all that BROWN!!

Happy Pinching Pennies...

A family doctor WILL save you money....

A friend of mine gave me a call a couple of weeks ago asking for a doctor’s recommendation.  Upon moving here 2 years ago, they had set up a primary care doctor for their son, but neglected to do so for themselves.  She needed to set up an appointment for herself and found that because she had not established herself with a doctor she could NOT make an appointment in any kind of swift manner.  The soonest “new patient” appointment was 3 weeks away.  Her choices were severely limited.  She could go to Urgent care, the Emergency room or WAIT for the next available “new patient appointment”.  This reminded me of a money saving goal I had when we moved here 10 years ago.  

After unpacking, one of the 1^st things on my “To Do list” in my *new* hometown was to find a pediatrician AND a Primary care doctor for ourselves.   Sickness is never something that you plan for!!  Being sick is never convenient!  And it usually feels like it needs to be taken care of quickly….  So I highly recommend taking the time to find a doctor for each member of your family BEFORE you’re sick.  You will avoid a lot of frustration, worry AND medical bills.  Anyone who has seen a bill from the Emergency room OR Urgent care knows it is worth the hassle to establish yourself with a doctor when you are healthy and well!

Happy Stretching Pennies…

EASY Homemade noodles WITHOUT any special equipment

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year.  

Is anyone feeling more than a little cold right now?  Our temperatures have dropped to single digits almost every day…which more than uncommon for our area.  It seems most evenings; all I want to do is curl up in a thick cozy blanket.  Anything to warm a body is desirable!!

WHO wouldn’t want some homemade chicken noodle soup during this CRAZY cold spell??  It isn’t as hard as it sounds…I have a recipe in my favorite cookbook “Fabulous Freezer Meals” by Jenny Stanger that can be thrown together FAST…and since it is so quick, it can be easy to add some homemade noodles to it too.   Wait?  Homemade noodles?  That sounds complicated and time consuming!!!  Not true.  Homemade noodles sound a lot scarier to make than they actually are.  If you have the ability to make dough…and have a knife OR pizza cutter…you can make noodles fast.  You do NOT need a “noodle maker” device to enjoy them.  

(A special thank you to a friend who pointed out this neat idea over 2 years ago...)
 

Chicken Noodle Soup 

(recipe from “Fabulous Freezer Meals”- by Jenny Stanger)

4 c. Chicken Stock (or substitute with chicken broth)

6 c. water

2 c. frozen diced vegetables

½ lb. shredded turkey/chicken (for FAST assembly-use canned chicken and 2 forks)

1 ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning

1 tsp. salt

2 packages Country Gravy Mix

Noodles

1.       1. Mix together chicken stock, vegetables, chicken and seasonings.  Bring to a boil for 5-7 minutes.

2.       2. While soup is boiling, make the noodle dough.

3.       3. Add gravy mix and simmer 10 minutes.

4.       4. While soup is simmering, roll out the noodle dough and cut with a knife.

5.       5. Add noodles and boil for 8-10 minutes.

Homemade Noodles

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 pinch salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup milk

1 tablespoon butter

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg, milk, and butter. Remove the paddle attachment and replace with the dough hook. Add the rest of the ingredients.  Knead dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rest 10 minutes.
   
2. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece out to 1/8 or 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired lengths and shapes. (A pizza cutter works really well to cut them into strips.)
3.  

Happy Pinching Pennies!!

Cheaper Skin Hydration treatment for dry winter skin....

I can tell winter is HERE…even if the temperatures don’t always reflect that at the moment.  The DRY winter air is back with a vengeance.  My skin has turned SUPER DRY.  My daily lotion “treatments” after a shower are not enough.

Over the years, I have tried a myriad of lotions…starting with the cheap ones (that don’t work), moving through some more pricey ones.  Ultimately, none of them have provided relief from the dry winter air.

Last year, I stumbled across a homemade body scrub.  This EASY body scrub provides the same results of Mary Kay’s “Satin Hands” products….yet for pennies on the dollar.  It exfoliates your skin and leaves it feeling smooth and hydrated.  Anytime my sad-winter-skin needs a hydration pick-me-up, I just add this body scrub to my shower routine!!

Sweet & Spicy Sugar Scrub (from www.ourbestbites.com)

This picture of the sugar scrub is from www.ourbestbites.com

¼ c. brown sugar

¼ c. white sugar

½ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground cloves

Light olive oil

Directions:

·         Combine everything BUT the oil.

·         Add the oil slowly.  Stir until it is the consistency you want.

·         Store in a container with a lid.  (Keep in fridge while not in use.)

For Use:

1.       Wash body like usual—so you have clean skin when you use the body scrub.

2.       Stir the scrub and take out almost a quarter size amount.  Massage into skin using circular motions for several minutes.

a.       After rinsing, if your skin feels too oily, you can use a bit of soap to wash it off.  I personally leave it.  When I finish with my shower, it doesn’t feel oily anymore.

3.       The scrub will trap the moisture and make your skin so soft and smooth.  After you get out of the shower, slather on some lotion for the finishing touch.  No more dry itchy skin!!! J

Happy Stretching Pennies…

FAST and CHEAP Breakfasts...alternatives to expensive cereal!

Cereal is the sure fire way to BREAK your budget.  It is a BIG expense…though convenient.

The day after the election, I broke down and fed my children cereal for breakfast.  (They wanted to discuss all the results.)  They RARELY get cereal for breakfast.  This of course brought up the discussion of WHY we only eat cereal every so often.

Boxes/Bags of cereal are SO expensive….but if you look at the cost per serving (of what you actually eat) it looks even MORE expensive.  The cost goes through the roof!!  The “serving size” of the boxes in my cupboard say ½ c. to 1 c. of cereal is “breakfast meal” portion.  HA!  Not in my house!!  My children can easily go through one whole box (and possibly more IF I let them) in ONE breakfast.  The average cost of a box is $3-$5 at the grocery store…and $1-$2 on sale---only for three people???  You may not think that sounds too bad….but when you break down my food budget of $200 a month for 5 people, that’s nuts!  Divide that up and I’m spending $40 per person a month!  Typically a month has approximately 30 days with 3 meals a day—that divides out to be about 44¢ a meal per person all month long….and that does NOT include cost of all the snacks and desserts I make!

 SOOOO…what do you do for breakfast as a cheaper alternative to cereal?  

***(How do you keep the convenience without the expense?) ***
(the PURPLE is the link)

1)      Pancakes—I did a post on making your own inexpensive "JUST ADD WATER Pancake Mix".  Did you know you can freeze already made pancakes?  When its time to eat, just throw them in the microwave for 30 seconds and enjoy a FAST breakfast.  (If want them a little more “crisp” throw them in the toaster, after the microwave, for a cycle and then eat them.)

2)      Oatmeal—I did a post on making your own inexpensive: "JUST ADD WATER Oatmeal Packets."

3)      Rice with cinnamon/sugar sprinkled on it—

       Heat leftover rice in the microwave and this makes it a FAST one.  AND…If you already have a shaker prepared, your breakfast is done almost in the blink of an eye!

4)      Scrambled eggs (Did you know you can scramble them in the microwave for a faster breakfast in the morning?)  Here's a SHORT video from www.eggs.org about HOW to do it!  VIDEO of HOW to microwave scrambled eggs

5)      Muffins (Did you know you can freeze premade muffin batter in the muffin cups to have a breakfast cooking while you get ready for your day?  I will do a post on this later!)

6)      Waffles (Did you know you could make a BIG batch and freeze some for later…and thus make your own “Ego waffles”??  Just throw them in the microwave for 30 seconds and then a short cycle in the microwave and PRESTO a fresh “waffle-on-the-go”.)

7)      Puffy Pancakes—I did a post on these YUMMY delights!  Here's the Recipe

8)      Potato Patties

9)      Hash Browns

10)   Breakfast Burritos—Did you know that you can make a big batch of breakfast burritos and FREEZE them individually?  Wrap them in Saran Wrap and store them in the freezer (labeled with the date you prepared them) and take one out and warm it up in the microwave for a minute and you have breakfast-on-the-go!!

11)   Granola—

       Did you know making your own is easier that you think?  After initially mixing it together…you just bake it!  My favorite recipe is Peanut Butter Granola.  (It is from one of favorite websites of mine.  Scroll down to the bottom of this article for the recipe:  PB Granola Recipe).   It makes enough to fill 2 cookie sheets!  When I put it into a reusable container, it is FULL.  It can last through MANY breakfasts!  

12)   Yogurt Parfait—

       When you buy the BIG container of yogurt (which is more cost effective) you can use this to make an individual serving in a nice glass…layering the granola and yogurt for a tasty QUICK breakfast!!  (This one is my daughter’s favorite.  She even has a “special” see through glass JUST for this dish!)

Happy Stretching Pennies…

P.S. I finally added a picture of myself on my profile.... J

Gourmet Mint Hot Cocoa for LESS!

The weather has turned cold, and I return to my LOVE of hot chocolate.  I adore a GOOD cup of tasty hot cocoa…of varying flavors.  To keep my guilty pleasures within my budget, I have bought Stephen’s Gourmet Hot Cocoa to mix in with my “regular” plain hot cocoa mix.   With each glass, I will add just a smidge (a spoonful) of my favorite flavor. 

HOWEVER…Stephen’s Gourmet Hot Cocoa has NOT been on a good sale for over a year now.  I have been OUT of my favorite flavors (mint & raspberry) for a LONG time. 

PLAIN hot chocolate is just not as fulfilling!!  I have tried adding different extracts….I have tried adding Italian cream soda syrup (or coffee) flavorings—such as the Toriani brand and been VERY disappointed. 

This week, on my “weekly hike” with a friend, I was lamenting about my dilemma of disappointing plain old chocolate hot cocoa.  She suggested adding a bit of crushed up candy cane to my next cup.  Tonight was heaven.  After coming home from watering a different friend’s plants while she is gone on vacation (WITH my all my children in tow), in the cold-- for an hour, hot cocoa was just what everyone needed.  I had bought candy canes on clearance last winter and decided this was the time to crack them open.  I was NOT sorry.  My cup of hot cocoa FINALLY had that sweet mint flavor I’ve been missing!!  It was just as good as Stephen’s Hot Cocoa.  I daresay that I will be making my OWN mint hot cocoa from now on.  I have enough candy canes to last a good long time…but when this winter is over, I will stock up AGAIN on candy canes.  (Last year I got them for 6 ¢ a box—both 12 count AND 24 count!!)

Mint Hot Cocoa Recipe:

 

1)  Pull out your plain hot cocoa mix

AND some candy canes!! 

2) Break apart the candy canes and place in a plastic baggie.  Pull out a meat tenderizor OR other hammering type device.

4) Blast those candy canes to bits!! (Store the remainder in an air tight container for your next single serving of GOURMET hot cocoa!!) 

 

5) Add a spoonful of candy cane bits to your cup and stir...for a while.  Give thema chance to BLEND in!!

 

Happy Stretching Pennies!!