Tip #4-Involve your friends in your savings challenge
Done and done just by simply typing it here. However, I'm going to take this one step further and figure that I spend anywhere from $16-22 for Friday night dinner. I'm going to try to be more cost concious and spend half that.
Savings ($44):
old
$22x4dinners per month=$88
new
11x4 dinners=$44
I think I may have to develop an envelope system for this one b/c I tend to overspend on these dinners. It may be time to pull out some 2-for-1 dinner coupons or the restaurant coupons I bought that allow me to save $25 off a $35 dinner at Johnny Carino's. This sweet deal only cost me $2 when restaurant.com was having their 80% off sale last week.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I will teach you to be rich
Tip #3-Sell something on ebay.
Well I've been meaning to do this anyway so I will actually take some pictures and post on ebay tonight. I have a pair of green Chuck Taylors that the hubby has only worn 3 times so I'm hoping to get $20 for those and I have a beautiful plus size black shirt that never fit me properly so I'm hoping to get $15 for that.
Earnings b/c this isn't really saving:
$35-I will have to update this one when they actually sell.
**IF I get super motivated then I'm finally going to sell the old record player that's in my house taking up space. Maybe I'll get $50 for that??**
Well I've been meaning to do this anyway so I will actually take some pictures and post on ebay tonight. I have a pair of green Chuck Taylors that the hubby has only worn 3 times so I'm hoping to get $20 for those and I have a beautiful plus size black shirt that never fit me properly so I'm hoping to get $15 for that.
Earnings b/c this isn't really saving:
$35-I will have to update this one when they actually sell.
**IF I get super motivated then I'm finally going to sell the old record player that's in my house taking up space. Maybe I'll get $50 for that??**
I will teach you to be rich
Tip #2-Turn your thermostat down 3 degrees
I'm already taking this challenge with Crunchy Chicken so this one is easy. I will tell you that since we've owned our house, every summer we spend well over $200 per month in the summer months for A/C. This year I was very careful to rarely, if ever turn our a/c down below 69 degrees. Most days it was kept at 72 degrees with ceiling fans and floor fans running. This is the first summer that we did not go over that $200 so I know it's working. Right now I'm keeping the thermostat on 68 degrees if we are up and moving around and 65 degrees when we are away from home or sleeping. I think this is going to be easier than in years past b/c I finally hung up some curtains in the living room that block the cold air that comes in through the old windows.
Savings:
I'm guessing that for every 3 degrees you turn it down, you save 3%, so if I'm trying to beat a $200 bill then I will save $18.
I'm already taking this challenge with Crunchy Chicken so this one is easy. I will tell you that since we've owned our house, every summer we spend well over $200 per month in the summer months for A/C. This year I was very careful to rarely, if ever turn our a/c down below 69 degrees. Most days it was kept at 72 degrees with ceiling fans and floor fans running. This is the first summer that we did not go over that $200 so I know it's working. Right now I'm keeping the thermostat on 68 degrees if we are up and moving around and 65 degrees when we are away from home or sleeping. I think this is going to be easier than in years past b/c I finally hung up some curtains in the living room that block the cold air that comes in through the old windows.
Savings:
I'm guessing that for every 3 degrees you turn it down, you save 3%, so if I'm trying to beat a $200 bill then I will save $18.
I will teach you to be rich
Ramit at I will teach you to be rich is having a $1,000 in 30 days challenge. The idea is to save $1000 in 30 days. I'm 4 days behind due to being out of town this week, but I'm still going to participate.
Tip #1-Pack lunches this week
I normally dine out at least 2, sometimes 3 lunches per week and then at least 1-2 breakfasts. This month I'm only going to do 1 of each per week.
Savings ($116):
If I eat at Ruby Tuesday's, I am guaranteed to spend $12. Since this is my dining option of choice, I'm going with that cost.
old
Lunch:
12x3=$36 per week for 4 weeeks or $144 is what I would normally spend
Breakfast:
2.39x1+5x1=$7.39 for 4 weeks or $29.56
Total: $173.56
new
12x1x4=$48
2.39x1x4=$9.56
Total: $57.56
So far so good this week. I will figure out how well I did on Sunday.
Tip #1-Pack lunches this week
I normally dine out at least 2, sometimes 3 lunches per week and then at least 1-2 breakfasts. This month I'm only going to do 1 of each per week.
Savings ($116):
If I eat at Ruby Tuesday's, I am guaranteed to spend $12. Since this is my dining option of choice, I'm going with that cost.
old
Lunch:
12x3=$36 per week for 4 weeeks or $144 is what I would normally spend
Breakfast:
2.39x1+5x1=$7.39 for 4 weeks or $29.56
Total: $173.56
new
12x1x4=$48
2.39x1x4=$9.56
Total: $57.56
So far so good this week. I will figure out how well I did on Sunday.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Lovenuts
Next time you or someone you know goes to Hawaii, can you have them pick this up for me?
I'll do the big butt dance for you.
I'll do the big butt dance for you.
What can you do with leftover chili?
1) Top it with Jiffy cornbread mix and turn it into a chili cornbread casserole
2) Sour Cream Chili Bake with Fritos
3) Top baked potatoes with the chili, cheese, and some sour cream
4) Tacos
5) Nachos
6) Make Tex-Mex pasta. I'm doing this from memory so bear with me.
Tex-Mex Pasta
Ingredients
1 box fusili, prepared as per directions on box
1 jar salsa*
Leftover chili (maybe 1 lb or so)
1 box Stouffer's spinach souflee**
1 8oz box of Neufatchel cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions
Preheat over to 350 degrees
Boil pasta
Combine leftover chili with the jar of salsa and heat through
Microwave spinach until almost cooked and mix with cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl
Heat until cream cheese is melted and you can easily stir to blend
Place a small layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 13x9 casserole dish
Top with half of the noodles
Top with half of spinach mixture
Top with half of meat mixture
Top with half of the cheese
Repeat
Bake for 45 mintues in a 350 degree oven
Enjoy!
*If I'm not using chili I will use a blackbean/corn salsa. If I'm using chili, I will use a medium salsa such as Paul Newman's
**Make sure you are using the Stouffer's spinach souflee and not creamed spinach. It makes a huge difference
My 2 year old devours this.
Visit the recipe swap over at the Grocery Cart Challenge for more ideas.
2) Sour Cream Chili Bake with Fritos
3) Top baked potatoes with the chili, cheese, and some sour cream
4) Tacos
5) Nachos
6) Make Tex-Mex pasta. I'm doing this from memory so bear with me.
Tex-Mex Pasta
Ingredients
1 box fusili, prepared as per directions on box
1 jar salsa*
Leftover chili (maybe 1 lb or so)
1 box Stouffer's spinach souflee**
1 8oz box of Neufatchel cream cheese
2 cups shredded cheese
Directions
Preheat over to 350 degrees
Boil pasta
Combine leftover chili with the jar of salsa and heat through
Microwave spinach until almost cooked and mix with cream cheese in a microwaveable bowl
Heat until cream cheese is melted and you can easily stir to blend
Place a small layer of the meat mixture in the bottom of a 13x9 casserole dish
Top with half of the noodles
Top with half of spinach mixture
Top with half of meat mixture
Top with half of the cheese
Repeat
Bake for 45 mintues in a 350 degree oven
Enjoy!
*If I'm not using chili I will use a blackbean/corn salsa. If I'm using chili, I will use a medium salsa such as Paul Newman's
**Make sure you are using the Stouffer's spinach souflee and not creamed spinach. It makes a huge difference
My 2 year old devours this.
Visit the recipe swap over at the Grocery Cart Challenge for more ideas.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Love
Have I told you how much I love my husband?
When I went to help a friend the other night, it was my turn to do the dishes. I told him that I was sorry that I hadn’t done them and that I would do them when I got home. He did them for me. When I got home I almost cried. I don’t think I have ever loved him more than in that moment.
He is actually going out of his way now at the grocery store to use coupons and save us money instead of buying the first thing he sees so that he can get in and out.
Today he calls me b/c he went to Sam’s and they had pumpkins for $.89 so he bought me one. I’ve been wanting more pumpkin seeds. They taste like popcorn and are totally delicious.
This may all sound silly, but I’m telling you that this is how my man shows me he loves me.
When I went to help a friend the other night, it was my turn to do the dishes. I told him that I was sorry that I hadn’t done them and that I would do them when I got home. He did them for me. When I got home I almost cried. I don’t think I have ever loved him more than in that moment.
He is actually going out of his way now at the grocery store to use coupons and save us money instead of buying the first thing he sees so that he can get in and out.
Today he calls me b/c he went to Sam’s and they had pumpkins for $.89 so he bought me one. I’ve been wanting more pumpkin seeds. They taste like popcorn and are totally delicious.
This may all sound silly, but I’m telling you that this is how my man shows me he loves me.
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