Thinking "GREEN" when preparing lunch snacks saves YOU money!

My kids love snacks in their lunches…sometimes I think they would prefer that their lunches consist of ONLY “snacks”. 

Prepared snacks are convenient, but expensive.  I send a lot of homemade snacks, but sometimes my kids just want to feel like the other kids around them with “individually wrapped snacks”.  (Is there something intrinsically pleasurable about having a “flashy colored wrapped” snack?    Or is it just the desire to feel like everyone else?)  HOW do I accommodate this desire, keep it healthy AND keep it affordable?

My kids like raisins.   

I bought a bag of small raisin filled boxes on a Halloween clearance about 3 years ago.  These boxes do NOT need to be a single use!!  I have my children bring them home.  When I have enough empty ones, I refill them.  They are just as convenient as the prepackaged mini boxes!  It only takes about 10 minutes to refill them all by myself…and 5 minutes or less IF the kids are helping me refill them.

Here are pictures of how simple it can be!

Step 1: Get Out Your Supplies

Step 2: Fill The Boxes

Step 3: Store Then in an EASY convenient container for on-the-go snacking!

Step 4: Make Sure You Have a Place to Keep the "Empty Boxes"so They Don't Get Lost or Broken!

 Happy Stretching Pennies...

Great Price! Out of Stock?? NO PROBLEM!

I was on a church task with a friend, when we drove by a certain grocery store on our way home.  I asked her if she minded my running into to pick up a fabulous sale item, so I didn’t have to turn around later to go back to pick it up.  (It was the last day of the sale.)  She agreed to stop.  When we got to the sale item’s location—there weren’t any left.  My inner voice said, “Darn.  I put off going to the grocery store too long!   My verbal response surprised my friend, “Oh well.  I guess I’ll just have to ask for a rain check.”

Apparently, she had never heard of such a thing.  A good sale doesn’t need to pass you by just because they ran out!!  Just go to the cashier and ask for a “rain check”.  They will pull out a copy of the ad and write all the pertinent information on their “rain check slip” in order for you to pick up that sale item at a later date when they have it in stock. 

Typically a rain check is good for 30 days after the day it is issued.  Just don’t lose the paper in the abyss of your car, the stack of papers in your kitchen, leave it in your pocket to be laundered, or watch it fly away in the wind.  (My habit: I put the rain check in my purse with my receipts.  When I got home I take it out and attach it to my fridge, on top of my budget sheet, with a magnet.)

There are a few exceptions to the rule.  Rain checks are not offered on :

1. Case Lot Sales

2. When noted in small print.  (This is more unusual, but it does happen.)

Happy Stretching Pennies…

TIME is MONEY: Fast & Inexpensive Fruit Cups!

Now that school is well under way, I hope everyone has settled into a nice routine!  For the most part, we have—though my surprise surgery threw us off for a while.

Do your mornings feel rushed?  Do you find yourself throwing your kid’s lunches together in the morning?  Are you putting the same things in their lunches day-after-day and getting just as bored as they are….or do you find yourself purchasing a variety of “convenience” lunch items at the store (that are vastly more expensive…therefore draining your food budget) ?

Assembling your children’s lunches (or your own) does not need to be such a chore or so expensive if you MASS PRODUCE items!  Think “freezer”!

Premeasured fruit cups at the store are convenient…but oh-so-expensive.  Opening a single can of fruit and dividing into 3 Tupperware containers is less expensive, but occupies more time than the grab-and-go style.  BUT…there is a way to make it MUCH less expensive and just as fast as the grab-and-go style!

 

TIP: This is a great trick is wonderful if you have picky eaters OR have a child who has allergies!

Here’s HOW:

1. Purchase LARGE cans of fruit—(think coffee can).   Sometimes pre-diced fruit is available…thus saving you time!  Places like Costco, Sam’s Club, Cash-n-Carry, and restaurant supply stores carry these large cans of fruit.
   
2. Pull out your muffin tins and fill them up with your favorite combination of fruit…to the top!
   
3. Freeze until FIRM!  (think—one day)

   

   Please excuse my messy freezer & notice the muffin tin on top freezing for the day....

4. Fill the bottom of your kitchen sink with approximately one inch of warm water.
   
5. Take your muffin tin from the freezer and place in your kitchen sink for approximately 1 minute.
   
6. Use a knife and gently remove from the tin.  (If it doesn’t easily move, place muffins tin back in the kitchen sink for another minute and try again.)
   
7. Place each frozen cup in its own sandwich fold top baggie.  (They are in their own individual baggie so they won’t stick to one another! )
   
8. Place all the bagged up cups inside a gallon Ziploc bag, labeled with the date and contents, and place in your freezer!
   
9. For Lunches:  Take a baggie out of the freezer.  Dump the contents into a Tupperware.  Put the lid on and place in your lunchbox.  It will thaw and be ready for consumption at lunch time--just like you took it straight out of the freezer!

   

   Can you tell I got a new camera?  (I took the other pictures last spring!)

 Happy Pinching Pennies...

AFTER back-to-school shopping that saves TONS!

The back-so-school frenzy typically ends at the end of August around here.  People are starting to feel settled into their *new* routines…their kid’s sports teams are going strong (or starting)—so people are not focused on buying clothes anymore.

September is the time for overhauling your (and your kids) wardrobe.  It’s the right time to add pieces or trade out items in your closet!!  This strategy is all based on “supply and demand”.  Right now the “demand” for clothes has nosedived (with the exception of school uniform items) and the “supply” in stores is up.  Stores are wanting to transition to their fall/winter merchandise and are slashing prices to accommodate them.  Timing is everything…at the beginning there are styles and sizes to pick from.  If you wait until the end of the month, it will be picked through.

Yesterday, I was at Burlington Coat Factory looking for a particular item and most of the store’s clothing was at 70% off.  Today, I was at Walmart getting my monthly shopping trip done, and I was able to pick up work shirts ($3 polo style) for my husband, several tankini tops ($5 each) for me, a couple styles of swim suits ($5 each) for my daughter, several tank tops ($1.50 each) for my daughter that she uses for “modesty undershirts” and a couple of awesome logo styled t-shirts ($3 each).

Since I didn’t bring my camera with me, I dug up some pictures on the internet that resembled what
I've seen for the past 2 days...

NOW, truly is the time that demand is DOWN and supply is UP.  Rock bottom prices with a lot of selection IF you get your timing right….purchasing clothes for pennies on the dollar!!

Happy Pinching Pennies…

Back-to-School Sales = A FULLY stocked Office!

Wowza!  This has been a crazy-busy summer.  We haven’t been home much.  It’s hard to believe my kids will be back to school in 2 weeks’ time!  It feels like the summer just began!

NOW is the time to stock up your “office supplies” for the year--while there are all these fabulous back-to-school sales!  

Each office supply store has several *new* loss leader sales every week!  Stock up on all those pencils, pens, paper, folders, erasers, crayons, composition notebooks, markers, rulers, and scissors while they are pennies on the dollar!

This doesn’t have to be hard.  I have a friend who waits for the ads from the stores or she won’t go…which means she only gets one or two of these deals.  I find it easier to stop by when I’m already driving in the area.  (I seem to be in the area at least once a week.)   I run in quickly, pick up an ad and grab only the items on a fabulous sale.  That’s it-- NO extra items.   Since the ads change each week—it’s amazing how many items these sales add up to be by the end of the back-to-school frenzy—without too much extra work from me and very little expense!  If I didn’t get everything I needed by the end of the frenzy, I finish picking up the last odds & ends the week school starts (because that really the back-to-school finale!)
Happy Pinching Pennies…

PS  If you are one of those people who needs to see the ads…your local Office Depot and Staples ads can be found online!

TIME is MONEY: Fast Homemade meals from the freezer!

I had surgery last week.  I was blessed to have friends who brought us dinner 3 days, which made dealing with not feeling well easier…and my family was well taken care of. 

THIS week I am still not up to my normal self…but our life is back to normal “light speed” and isn’t being very accommodating to my recovery.  When I looked over my schedule this week, I thought there is NO way I can expect to cook a homemade meal on three days this week.  (I feel very blessed to have stumbled upon www.freezerdinner.com years ago and subsequently purchased the book, “Fabulous Freezer Meals” by Jenny Stanger…which led to experimenting with homemade meals that my family would like from the freezer.)   So…I went to my freezer and picked out 3 meals that I had previously made and frozen.  

An ACTUAL peek into my freezer...

What I WISH my freezer looked like...

 WHAT are the 3 meals this week that will be whipped up FAST and with very little dirty dishes?

          1)      Pot Stickers

          2)      Qdoba style burritos

          3)      Taco Soup

Below, I have included these family freezer favorites!  (I have plenty more freezer recipes…This is just the tip of the iceberg so-to-speak.)

Freezer Meal #1: Pot Stickers 
 (by Jenny Stanger)

2 pkgs. Wonton wrappers (2 inch circles)

2 c. Cabbage, thinly sliced

1 heaping tsp. garlic, minced

5 links sausage (partially cook and then use a food processor)

1-2 tsp. ginger

1 green OR regular onion, chopped finely

2 tsp. soy sauce

To Prepare:

11.       Dice cabbage into very small pieces. 

a.       (Use the rest in a soup OR a side dish like cabbage and bacon)

22.       In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except the wonton wrappers.

33.       Lightly flour 2 cookie sheets. 

44.       Halfway fill a small bowl with water. 

a.       (To dip your fingers in.)

55.       Wet one side of the wonton wrapper and spoon 1-2 tsp. of filling in the center of the wrapper.

66.       Fold in half, like a taco and pinch edges closed.

a.        If the edges don’t seal, wet them with your fingers and pinch edges until the DO seal.

77.       Place pot stickers on a lightly floured cookie sheet and freeze for 1-2 hours.

88.       Put in a Ziploc baggie and LABEL and place in the freezer. 

a.       Pull out desired # pot stickers and follow cooking directions.

To Cook:

11.       Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a nonstick skillet.

22.       Place frozen wontons in skillet on med-high heat.

33.       Add ¼ c. water and cover with lid to steam the pot stickers.

44.       Cook until liquid is gone—about 7-8 minutes.

55.       When pot stickers turn brown and crispy, flip them over.   (Like a pancake) 

66.       Add ¼ c. water and cook the other side until it is brown and crispy.

Dipping Sauce

3 Tbsp. soy sauce

3 Tbsp. water

3 Tbsp. vinegar

1+ Tbsp. brown sugar

3 cloves garlic, minced

Combine all ingredients and divide into individual small bowls for each person.

Freezer Meal #2: Qdoba Burritos  
(by Jenny Stanger)

(a combination of 2 recipes inside a tortilla)

·Serve with salsa and/or sour cream

Sweet Beans & Rice (by Jenny Stanger)

2 c. black beans

6 c. cooked rice

½ c. sugar

To Prepare:

11.       Cook Rice. 

22.       Gently fold in black beans.

33.       Add sugar and gently fold in.  Serve warm. 

44.       Put leftovers in a quart size ziplock bag.  Label and Freeze for later.

To Serve:

11.       Defrost in microwave .

22.       Serve inside a tortilla with Sweet Shredded pork/beef and salsa.

Sweet Shredded Pork or Beef (by Jenny Stanger)

3-4lb. pork roast or beef roast

2 liters Dr. Pepper/Root Beer/Pepsi

1 can (14 oz.) Pineapple tidbits, undrained

To Prepare:

11.       Place pork roast in a slow cooker.

22.        Pour soda and pineapple juice on top of roast. 

33.       Cook on LOW for 6 hours.

44.       Shred pork/beef in the slow cooker with two forks. 

55.       Place leftover in sandwich size ziplock bags with 1-2 Tbsp. liquid.  Label.  Freeze for later.

To serve: 

11.       Defrost in microwave. 

22.       Pour off extra liquid. 

33.       Serve inside a tortilla with Sweet Beans & Rice and salsa.

Freezer Meal #3: Taco soup 
(by Wendy Ashton)

1 lb. Ground beef

1 pkg. Taco seasoning

Add:

2 c. variety beans  (ex. Garbanzo, black, kidney, pinto)

1c. Mild picante sauce

Corn (frozen)

1 can stewed tomatoes

2 oz. Diced chilies

Olives (optional)

To Prepare:

1.       Throw everything in the crock pot in the morning, except the meat w/seasoning.

2.       Serve with crackers or tortillas.

To Freeze:

1.       I double the recipe…and freeze the second half for another day. 

To Serve: 

1.       Defrost halfway in the microwave.

2.       Throw in the crock pot to finish thawing and then the crock pot will finish cooking it.

Happy Pinching Pennies…

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...