Saving Money Sunday

My money saving tip this week is gardening. I know there are a ton and I mean a ton of websites that tout gardening as money saving for growing your own food to supplement the grocery store and this does save a TON of money and I don't deny that. But there are other benefits to gardening that save money. I am not in any sense of the word an outdoor girl, I tell people I am allergic hahaha. But gardening gets me outside and I don't have to supplement with Vitamin D3 I get it naturally and that saves money. It takes time to start your seeds and get them growing you can make this a fun time with your kids or like me I use this as "My Time". I go off by myself and have a few hours of planting my seeds. Free me time!!!! Getting your beds ready for planting is quite strenuous for an indoor girl like me, I use muscles I don't normally use so this is free exercise and takes a day so it is free entertainment ( This I do incorporate the kids and the hubby to help and get their free stuff too)!!! Planting your plants and taking care of them the whole season is an everyday activity. The kids love helping and getting the leaves or the weeds out. Some of the days they can do their swimming while I work in the garden, since I have little ones who have to be watched while they swim I would normally get bored and think of a thousand things I need to take care of in the house other then just sit and watch them. Now I can keep busy and watch them at the same time. Lastly, I get darn right giddy when I get even 1 bean to pick!!!! That is a free satisfaction that no shopping trip can compare to!!!!! Try it big or try it small I promise that if you turn your whole backyard into a growing wonderland or if you have a few small containers on your patio or porch you will love it !!!! Happy Free gardening stuff, Michelle

Survival Saturday

Today I wanted to finish up the bail out bag or 72 hour kit for my older kids and the adults. Adult ( older child) 1 pair jeans or heavy pants 1 t shirt 1 jacket 2 pair underwear 4 pairs socks bug spray 4 water bottles granola bars, protein bars, snacks first aid kit medicine kit hand warmers hat pocket knife matches solar charger for phones etc (homemade by son) small blanket ( wool army issue bought at supply store) fishing line and hooks We also have one backpack that is just homemade mre's. Also my children have put some extra things for them in each. I have sunscreen and baby sunscreen in mine also and a roll of quarters. I also have a bar of soap and toiletries in mine and a small bottle of homemade laundry soap. I also have steel wool for starting fires. Michelle

Frugal Friday

I loveeee sometimes I think just a bit more then some other people ( in general) saving money. And here it comes the "But" part, sometimes we end up spending money to save money. You have to be really careful with stockpiling, couponing and searching sales. I believe in in all of these things. I could not have some of the things I have without doing these things.
But if you are not careful like I wasn't when first starting out you will spend way more and I mean alot more then you intended and not really save money. I had to learn this the hard way. That leads me to today at Walmart. They had jackets on sale for $2. This is not abnormal for Walmart or other stores to have sales these deep after season. But for many many years I would have bought them, OMG $2 jackets!!!! Now I stop and think and ponder most purchases. Do my boys really need those jackets, How many jackets do they have at home, Do I want any more clothes to wash which will lead to more spending for laundry soap electricity etc. Well my answer today was no way. They have jackets, One for every type of weather. I have 4 boys I would have purchased these jackets for if I did not stop and think. That would have been $8 and tax. I get giddy when I find a coupon while shopping for something I need that someone left behind or is attached to a product I am buying, Giddy over saving $.25 on something I was gonna buy anyway. So I do not want to throw $8 away on something that is not needed.
I love to coupon and sometimes when I see that there are several coupons that will get me free or really cheap items that I would be buying anyway I will purchase 8 copies of that paper. I have to be able to justify that $8, I have to be able to get my money back for the newspapers and still save money or make money. Some weeks I do purchase 8 copies but some weeks I only purchase 1 or none. If you are truly trying to save money or to be frugal which I might add is not a fad, it is most definitely a mind set and a way of life, you have to think about everything you buy.

Michelle

RECIPE OF THE WEEK THURSDAY

Today's recipe is easy cheater chicken tetrazini

1 box macaroni noodles
1 jar Alfredo sauce
shredded or cubed chicken about 2-3 cups precooked ( cooked in a seasoning of choice I prefer fajita or rotisserie chicken spice)
2 cups of plain potato chips or bread crumbs
4 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese

Cook macaroni noodles drain add to baking dish
cook chicken in a bit of oil and add to macaroni noodles
add jar of Alfredo sauce mix well
In potato chip bag or small baggie crunch up chips and Parmesan and top casserole, Or do the same with the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350

I use this for those days of Oh darn I have been so busy I forgot about dinner, dinner!!! Everyone loves it.

Michelle

Good Buy Wednesday

This Wednesday I don't have too much but a few things + a few things I need.

Country Mart ( Coffeyville, Kansas)

Rice a roni 2/1 ( This is a crazy unusual price although I don't have coupons I am going to purchase 18 boxes and that will probably last years)

Nabisco snak snacks 2/3-$2 in coupons = 2/1

Hiland yogurt 2/.89 x10

Philadelphia cooking cremes $1.99-$1.50 coupon x11=11/$5.50

pictsweet steam veggies .99 -.50 x4=4/$2.00

pilgrims pride whole chickens .79lb x10 lbs $7.90


Marvin's grocery (Independence, Kansas)
act 2 popcorn 2/3-$1 coupon x4=8/$8.00

farmland lunch meat 3/5 -$.75 coupon =3/$2.75 x 6=18/16.50

green giant veggies in sauce .99-.40 coupon=.59x10=$5.90

Navel oranges 6/$1x3=18/3

Golden delicious apples .69lbx10lbs=$6.90

tangelos 4/1x4=16/$4

I am still working on my Walgreen's list I will post that separately tomorrow Baby is having a rough night with teething so gotta run soon. Michelle

Tipster Tuesday

Today I wanted to talk about one of my favorite websites, www.stretcher.com. This is a huge huge community for frugalness and stretching a dollar. I have been a member here for a few years. I also recieve the newsletter which I love. The neat part about this website is that they have contests for writing. Quite a few to choose from. I have personally won 2 $25 contests and recieved my checks. I know I could win more if I posted more stories and tips. Another good thing about this website is that you can post any question you have about anything and in just a short amount of time you will get alot of advice and suggestions. Check it out I think you will really like it. Michelle

Manic Monday

Lost my groove.....

The baby is 5 months old and I still have not got my groove back. He is amazingly more demanding then any of the other 6 were by a mile. He prefers to be held and adored and have your complete and total attention!!! Did I say prefer I mean demands hahaha. I really really miss my groove but I love actually love how much attention he wants and that it is my attention he wants and needs. My last one the 3 year old was overly independent, still is. I used to cry because he was not a snuggler. Well I got the snuggler and the I need my mommy one. I just need to find balance and not doing well with it. He won't be a baby for long as I have found out with all the others so I am just going to try and go with it and enjoy it. I will someday again have a clean house, not resort to cereal or oatmeal most mornings, make more elaborate dinner meals, and get out of my jammies before noon hahaha. Have any of you had a clingy or needy baby??? How did that work out for you??? What worked for you to get 10 or 15 minutes alone???

Have a great week all, Michelle