Simple Salad

I LOVE salad. I love that it is healthy. And versatile. And tasty. And can be frugal.

We've gotten some great lettuce out of our garden this year and it's made for some great meals. We easily make an entire meal out of salad, and we did that tonight. Cut the lettuce this morning, cleaned it, added some strawberries (that are still for a great price around here), found some mandarin oranges in the cupboard, had some already-cooked chicken in the refrigerator, then added some cashews and dried cranberries for toppings. And then topped it with some dressing I had made last week. A Poppy seed dressing. What a great combo!

We normally make the salad right in the bowl we are going to eat it out of, so an even amount of lettuce and toppings in each of two bowls (we like a good amount of toppings, but measure to your preference):

Salad:
Fresh lettuce
Strawberries
Mandarin oranges
Sliced chicken (cooked of course)
Dried cranberries
Cashews
Poppy Seed dressing

Dressing (adapted from Jamie Cooks It Up and Annie's Eats):
1/2 C Apple cider vinegar
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C splenda
1 Tbs Dried minced onion
1/2 tsp dried mustard
1 tsp Salt
1/2 C Light mayonaise
1/3 C apple juice
6 Tbs vegetable oil
2 tsp Poppy seeds
Combine all ingredients through juice in a food processor and blend well. With feed tube open, gradually add oil while blending, continuing until fully blended in. Add poppy seeds and pulse until just blended. Store in air-tight container in refrigerator until ready to top your salad.
Enjoy!

Quest for the perfect granola!

 I have been on a little bit of a quest lately for the perfect granola. For a long time I had no desire (or maybe I was just afraid to take the time and effort) to make my own granola. Once in a while I would buy it and enjoy it, but it was to expensive to buy on a regular basis, so I would just do without. Out of sight, out of mind.
But recently I have decided it would be good. and fun. and challenging. and cheaper to try out some recipes than to buy. I started searching for ones that looked like they had ingredients I would be able to find and I would be able to enjoy and also for ones that had good reviews and were somewhat healthy. And then I started saving them to my Evernote.
And then I started trying them out. Here are some that I have tried and my reviews (things I look for in a granola recipe: flavor, crunch!, ease of prep, and household approval):

Honey Crunch Granola (I like that this one has flax seed and wheat germ for added nutrition. i used almonds and did not have apple juice at the time. this was not my favorite so far, but was also my first, so I will give it another try)
Apple Granola (very simple and very few ingredients, but not crunchy enough for me. I added peanuts to have a little extra nutrition and flavor)
Honey Cinnamon Granola (enjoyable, but not my favorite. not as crunchy and not as much flavor as I would like...but still a good recipe and I like that it also has wheat germ in it)
Baked Granola (I've made this one twice, first time was very crunchy and with great reviews in my house...second time not so crunchy...must try again soon. I used applesauce instead of the oil and I did not have/use hazelnuts or cherries)
Mix-n-Match Applesauce Granola (I used less sugar, almonds for my nuts and cranberries/raisins for my dried fruit. very crunchy! and the ginger adds a new flavor I had not yet had with granola. A+)
More recipes I'd like to try soon:

Energizing Granola
Pumpkin Spice Granola
Peanut Butter Granola

Other endeavors? finding the best homemade oatmeal. and a bigger try at making granola bars... I've tried a couple of recipes, but these make me even more nervous than the granola for some reason...
Got a great recipe I should try? I'd love to hear about it!

"Pantry" Soup

I don't think I am always the best at figuring out things that I have on-hand and making them into something delicious.
The internet helps.
And my husband is great!
We had some leftover potatoes and leeks from a meal I made for my son, some homemade broth from roasting a whole chicken a while back, and some other simple ingredients that are normally around the house.
The result? A delicious Potato Leek Soup!
Tasty, Frugal, and Simple!

Gradual Shift to Drinking Water

My husband made the comment this morning "So, I guess we've totally stopped drinking crystal light, huh?" "Yeah, pretty much. Water seems to be working fine for me, how about you?" "Yep. Wow, how much are we saving now?"

This has been a gradual process for us. I wrote another WFMW post about simplifying. One thing I mentioned was having less drink mixes in the house. I was just trying to reduce clutter and use space better then. But as I started this process, I also started paying a little more attention to just how much we were spending on drink mixes. Not the name brand kind even, we just liked flavored water, and drank A LOT of it! We would make pitchers of it, and could easily go through 2-3 pitchers a day, if not more! And we would have the smaller packets to mix into water bottles when we were out. And these are even more expensive, comparitively.

So, I stopped buying the stuff. Cold turkey. But we had enough of a stock that it took us a while to make it through. We began to get more conservative on how often we would drink the flavored water. We started mixing in drinking more water on some days, and more flavored on other days...

And then, all of a sudden, we were ok with just drinking water. I don't know how long it has been. At least a couple of weeks. And the conversation just came up. It's healthy, easy, takes up less space in our cabinets and our fridge, and costs MUCH less!

It worked for us to make it a gradual, non-shocking process, and it's working for us to drink more plain water. What works for you? Head on over here to find more great success stories!

WFMW - Homemade Dish Detergent

So, I have only used this twice, but I am really excited about it. And impressed.
I don't remember now where I found this recipe. I looked for a while at different recipes and feedback before deciding on this one. I think it originally called for Super Washing Soda, but I haven't found this anywhere yet, so I used plain old baking soda*.

The ingredients:
Baking Soda*
20 Mule Team Borax
Distilled White Vinegar

The first time I simply added 1 Tbsp of each powder to the dispenser (wasn't sure if I wanted to make a batch before I had tried it out for myself) and about a Tbsp of vinegar for the rinse cycle. I was expecting things to be dirty and cloudy, and was thinking I may have to make a fast run to the store to get the old faithful liquid detergent. But alas, I was pleasantly surprised!

Then I made a batch to have ready in a container so I wouldn't have to go around and find each ingredient to add. The second time I just added 2 Tbsp of my mix and the vinegar to the rinse cycle. This time I had left a few things in with a little more built-on mess to test the power. It is good, it is not super. There was a little residue on the things that had more set-on dirt when they went in.
Lesson: Rinse a little better before adding to the dishwasher.
Why I am OK with this: I find that rinsing a little more than usual doesn't take much longer, and often means that I have cleaned the dish well enough to set out to dry, thus making my time between running cycles even longer. Even less detergent I have to use.

This helps me to be more frugal. And environmental. And "Martha." I feel like a better wife and mother and homemaker!
This is what works for me. For more great ideas on what works for others, head on over HERE.

Homemade Baby Food is Cheaper!

I've been reminded again today why it is that I take a little extra time to make my own baby food for my infant. Not only do I know exactly what he is getting, but it is SO much cheaper!

I bought 2 lbs of carrots at Wal Mart for $1.66.

The whole process took me maybe 30 minutes (I don't count the time while the carrots were cooking and I could be doing other productive things).

I got about 40 oz of food out of this!

That is $.04 an oz! Can't buy pre-made food in the store at that price.

This is why I choose a little extra time in the kitchen. My son is worth it!

Homemade Baby Food

I started looking into making my own baby food a while back, well before my son was ready to start eating food, but I figured I needed to start understanding the process for when the time came.

The time is now!

I just made carrots for the first time for my son! Had some carrots I did not want to have to toss, so I decided to cook them up and give it a try. Put most of it into an ice tray to freeze, but thought I would try some while it was warm and fresh. It was so easy to remove the skin, chop, steam, and puree, adding water for the right consistency. Faster and cheaper than going to the store to buy in a jar!

He ate it all and didn't make any disgusted faces either! We've done cereal and some avocado mixed with cereal, but this is a first for a vegetable on it's own.

I am so excited about the possibilities as well as saving so much money this way!

How to Get Started-Part 4

Wanna save money but not sure what to do to get started? This is the place for you.

If you need to catch up on this series, you can find the previous posts here:
Start Reading
Start Researching
Start Finding Coupons

On to Part 4: Start Small

When I start something I tend to go all in right away. I decided I wanted to give this whole saving money/clipping coupons/blogging thing a try and I jumped in head first to the deep end. It worked out OK for me, at least because I have a husband who was very understanding and gracious during this learning period. But I don't recommend doing it this way.

Don’t try to go out the first week and get every deal that is mentioned. The people who write about all the deals don't even go out and get them all, they are just trying to inform their readers of all the possibilities.

Start with one or two things that you know your family will use and you know (because you have a fairly good idea of normal prices from regular shopping trips) is a good deal. In my area, CVS and Walgreens often have very good deals where I can work "the system" to get things for very cheap to almost free. It's a little tricky at first, but again, this is why you want to start small. Find out more about how drugstore deals work from Deal Seeking Mom here or Surviving the Stores here and here.

Don’t worry if you can’t find a coupon for everything. Eventually, you probably will be able to find a coupon for almost anything you want to buy, but don't overwhelm yourself in the beginning, just find what you can.

Don’t worry if you throw away an expired coupon. I am not the most experienced ever, but I have noticed that I usually throw out expired coupons a day or two before I get the exact same one in a paper or on line. It'll come around again.

Don’t worry if you only save $1 on your first try. That's $1 saved! Every dollar counts, and eventually you may be able to save more in coupons than you spend. This is a good goal, but eventually, not right away.

Don't be afraid to take some time to learn the systems, find all the coupons, find the best deals... and eventually you'll be a pro!

Be Simple, Save Money, Go Green - Part 3

Sorry about missing part 3 yesterday. It was a busy day getting ready for some company, but they are out now and I am catching up.
So I have been discussing some simple ways in which any and all of us can go green without too much of a hassle or too much out of our pocket. Going green doesn't have to mean you spend more green. Let's see how this can work.
To find part 1 go here, and for part 2 go here. Now for three....

8. Recycle Your Paper. Yes, there is the part of this where you buy recycled paper. But what I mean is that you recycle your paper. How many times do we print things (besides our resume) that we use but then toss (maybe even recycle) before thinking about using the back. All you have to do is keep a "scrap" pile next to your regular pile of paper and use it whenever you aren't turning it in for a grade or something. You'll end up buying printer paper less often since you are using both sides.
9. Rechargeable batteries. A simple one here, but sometimes we all need a little reminder. Maybe they are a little more expensive to initially pay for, but you will get a much longer life out of them, and then you are not always throwing away the old ones (good job to those of you who may use regular batteries but at least recycle them).
10. Just Start. Take a step, or a jump, or even a leap, but you have to start somewhere. One of the best places to start is simply recycling. This may not help you save a ton of money in the beginning, but sometimes you can turn things in for change, and change always adds up to more change. Start recycling and soon you'll feel good about this and see the changes around you and you'll want to take a bigger leap!

Just start today!
Good luck!

More simple ways to save money and be green - Part 2

Going green doesn't always mean spending more green. There are many ways you can go green and save money! If you missed part 1, go here.

5. Plan out your errands. If you can plan for the day, or better yet, the week, you can clump your errands together, plan the best route possible (to save time and gas) and you can help the environment in the process by emitting less gas.
6. Take your own bags. Invest a small amount into a few reusable bags and you will be making a great investment for the environment. You can easily take the bags with you when shopping and use them instead of plastic bags. They are often bigger and sturdier, plus you can sometimes get a few cents back for using them. Every penny adds up in the end.
7. Take your own mug. This is the exact same concept as before, except with a mug and a coffee shop. Buy a good mug and take it with you when you get coffee. Most places give a discount for using it, and you don't have to throw away the other cup when you are done, thus, you're going green. Plus it usually keeps your drink hotter (or colder) longer!

Don't worry about trying them all today, but start somewhere and you will be making a big impact on both your wallet and the environment. Watch for part 3 coming your way tomorrow.

Simple ways to save money and be green- Part 1

Think the little things don't matter to your wallet, or the environment? I think your wrong! Here are a few simple things to think about trying today so you can save your money and your environment at the same time!

1. Turn the lights off. When you leave a room, turn out the lights, especially if you are not going back to that room any time soon. And whenever you can, use energy-saving bulbs too.
2. Don't go so fast! Especially right when the light turns green and you want to gun it. All you're doing is wasting gas and getting to the next red light faster.
3. Get some fresh air. This time of year is a great time to open some windows and save on heat or air. If you can't utilize your windows quite yet, at least turn down your heating or AC when you are leaving your house for the day, or especially for vacation.
4. Use rags. This is the time of year for spring cleaning. Cut up some old t-shirts and use them as rags to clean instead of cleaning with paper towels.

Come back on Thursday for part 2 of these great ideas to go green and save money!

Free Friday Night Fun

What a great Friday night I just had! And I know I enjoyed it SO much more because it was free, or very close to it!
I printed two of the Buffalo Wild Wings coupons and my husband and I made separate take out orders for our 6 free wings each. Go get yours now! It worked great, at least at my store.
Then my husband went to Wal Mart to rent a free movie with one of the red box codes. Unfortunately, he got frustrated with the slow people in front of him, and then was so focused on remembering what movies he night want to watch, that he forgot about the code and paid the dollar. Oh well, still a frugal purchase for a nice family Friday night! We watched Slumdog Millionaire, and, I'd have to say, worth the dollar, and worth all the awards it received!
What family fun did you have tonight?

Looking at the unit price of products

I never allot as much time as I really need to do my weekly shopping. I always underestimate how long my trip might take, and usually have to return home early (to feed my infant) only to make another trip out later. I think eventually I will get faster, as I am still learning where things are located in each store, but for now, I am ok with my speed (or lack thereof) because I feel it is helping me to save money in the long run.

I am new to shopping at CVS and Wgs, but over the last month I have noticed something (on my slow shopping trips) that makes me think twice about buying products. It is so great when things go on sale at these stores, plus they offer a store coupon and there happens to be a mfg coupon available too! But then I get to the store and realize that the original price is so high that including all of the above discounts, the product may be the same price as getting it at Wal Mart, and then I look a little closer and realize how much smaller the product is in these stores compared to a grocery store or discount store! Have you ever taken time to notice this and figure out how "good" the deal really is?

It is not just these types of stores I have noticed this in, though. Have you heard about or noticed for yourself how the packages of things that we have always gotten are getting smaller but costing the same amount of money? It is really hard to tell unless you are looking at an older version and newer version side by side, but if you are a more observant person (sometimes I am a little too observant) you may notice the difference when you look at it or when you hold it.

So, why am I such a slow shopper? Well, besides learning where things are, I am constantly trying to figure out in my head how good the deal really is compared to what I am getting. This is one thing I really like about Wal Mart, thst the unit price is next to the actual price of most products so I can take a wuick glance and know that I am getting the best deal for my precious dollars!

So,
1. Know the products you lost often buy and the best price you can get them for (unit price).
2. Be willing to spend a little extra time in the begining to shop around.
3. Be willing to wait for a better deal to come along; coupons usually last for at least a couple of months.
4. Take a calculator with you.
5. Learn to stretch each dollar a little further.

Tuesday's Tip

I am new to couponing and fairly new to blogging, but I feel as though I am picking up on things quickly. One tip I could give from what I have been learning is that just because a store has a product on sale does not mean that it is the best deal you can get on that product. In the same way, just because you have a coupon for a product does not mean that it is worth using the coupon on that product.
As you start trying to live a more frugal life, hopefully you will start shopping around more, learning to find the very best deal. As you do this, you will soon begin to have a pretty good idea of the average price of things at various stores in your area. Once you become familiar with these prices, you will know what stores offer the best price, and you will know whether or not a sale on an item at a store really makes it the very best deal.
For instance, if you find out that Walgreens is having a sale on you favorite shampoo this week, you may decide it is best to stock up while you can. But if you have done some research and you know that this brand of shampoo is always cheaper at Wal-Mart than the sale price at Walgreens, you will know it is not as good a deal as it might seem at first glance. In the same way, if this shampoo goes on sale at Walgreens, and there is a store coupon, and there is a manufacturer's coupon, and you can get the shampoo pracitcally for free, you should be ok with stocking up on something you know you can always use. But again, only if it is an amazing deal and only if you can get it cheaper with all the sales and deals than you could at the other store with a regularly lower price plus the man. coupon.
In the same way, just because you have a coupon does NOT mean that you should definitely use that coupon. When it gets to the end of a month and I have coupons expiring, I don't want to feel like I have to use all the coupons, no matter what, just because I have them. This does not necessarily mean I am saving money, but instead means I am spending money I would not otherwise spend, I am just spending less because I have a coupon. Sometimes you can get s store brand that is just as good, but for a much lower price than a name brand product with a coupon.
Do your research, know your favorite products, know when to use a coupon and when to store a coupon, and know when it is best to just throw the coupon away.
Do you have a tip that you'd like to share with us?

Go Green For Free

Looking to be a little more green in your life? One way is by using reusable shopping bags when you go to stores. Right here you can design a bag, which will not only enter you into a contest to win $1000, but you will also receive a credit on your Kroger card to go into your store and get a free reusable bag to start using today! Great deal! Go green!

More about spending more to save more

This is part 2.
We are trying so hard right now to save money, and yet, it seems we are spending more than usual. It seems like we have to in order to get on track with our spending. I was watching someone in front of me check out at the grocer store yesterday and looked like she was buying just enough for one meal at dinner and a banana. I was wondering if she was coming to the grocery store to buy one meal because it is cheaper than fast food, but could still only purchase enough for one meal at a time.
I know that, most of the time, buying in bulk can help in saving money. It is more initially out of pocket, but in the long run it can help as far as making meals. This is what I try to do to help save money, cook in bulk and put some in the freezer for later, so I know I have quick meals without spending money on fast food or more expensive pre-packaged food at the store. But if I was really hurting for money I wouldn't be able to do this. I wouldn't have the ability to buy in bulk, and therefore to save money. It all seems so backwards. When you really need to start saving money, you have to spend more to get the process going.
What are ways that you start saving money without having to initally put a lot of money into the process? I would love to hear your ideas.

My experience crushed my excitement.

I was so excited.
I had it all together.
I did all my research.
I had my lists,
my coupons,
my notes,
my wallet,
my determination....
But none of these were enough to make my experience tonight a success...
I looked up the stores on The Grocery Game but I wasn't totally sold on just using that, so I also spent much of yesterday and today researching the blogs to the right and the sites below, looking for coupons and ideas and the very best deals around so I could make sure I was well armed.
But to no avail.
At least that's how it seems to me right now after having spent valuable time out trying to begin my new bargain world experience.
I don't know if I waited too long (since it's already Tuesday and most people seem to go out on Sunday right when all the deals start) or I am just new or we live in a smaller area and so the stores are smaller and did not even have the things I intended to buy, or a combination of all of the above. Whatever it was, though, my first experience is not what makes me want to try again. The blogging world is what makes me want to try again. People are so good at it and they have so many ideas, so I think I need to give it at least a month or two to make sure I am getting the hang of it, saving both money and time in the long run...

My New World

SO....
in trying to be a part of this new world, I have discovered how many other people there are who get really excited about good deals. People who take pictures of all that they get at the store to give a visual of how much they got and how little they spent!! But I have to admit that it is these types of things that inspire me to become more involved in this world...
So I spent the better part of my day yesterday learning all that I need to know to live more frugally. I looked up websites, became a follower of a few blogs, cut and organized coupons, compared prices at local stores based on weekly specials, and created my list for this week based on all this info. We'll see how it all goes...do I save money right off? do I spend more because I am buying more since I have the coupons? do I initially spend more but then start getting rebates and gift cards, etc? do I spend so much time getting ready to go shopping and then driving around to the different stores that in the end it isn't worth my time? or does this become a part-time job because I save enough that if I were working it would be a similar amount of money?
So many questions...hopefully I will soon have answers...