Some last tips to get us saving those gas costs where we can.
*Keep your car in good working condition, this includes tire pressure, oil and air filters, and even the engine. Getting a tune up might also help, check your owner's manual for recommended service dates.
* When driving on the highway use your cruise control if you have it. This will also help you avoid those nasty traffic tickets that would eat up all of your hard earned gas savings!
* If you’re still using premium gas instead of regular unleaded check your owner’s manual to make sure this is necessary. Most vehicles are made to operate just fine on regular!
* Shop online whenever you can to avoid extra trips all together! Don't buy anything unless you really need it though, every dollar you save can help pay for the rising costs of gas, food and housing.
* I've always recommend local sight seeing (traveling by car) as a frugal family fun outing--it's one of our favorite things to do--but with the price of gas now being double what it used to be, you may just need to choose areas that are closer to home. Considering the even higher costs of hotels and airfares, it's still a frugal way to have fun! You might also consider just spending time together as a family, having a gamenight instead!
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Still checking....
I also came across the following sites to check on your gas prices!
GasBuddy.com
GasPriceWatch.com
and autos.msn.com, though my computer always warns me of a blocked intrusion whenever I visit the site.
Today's tips: (collected from various sources, and some probably repeated, but they are worth repeating!)
* Combine daily errands into one weekly trip, including getting gas if necessary. If you usually have to make quick trips to the store for bread or milk, buy enough to get you through the week.
* If you run out of milk often consider switching to powdered milk, or at least keep some on hand so you don't have to make an extra trip to the store. (And you'll also save money on milk! (I also recommend using powdered milk for cooking as much as you can - saves money and works pretty much the same way!))
* Stretch weekly trips to the grocery store to every 10 days or more, you'll not only save money on gas, but you'll also save on groceries!
* Keep a running list of items you need on the fridge (groceries and non-groceries) so you don't forget anything when you do finally make your trip to the store!
* If you're on a fixed income spend less on groceries than you normally do so you can better afford to pay for the gas you do need.
* Carpool with a friend or neighbor whenever possible.
* Walk or ride a bike instead of driving your car to school, work, or nearby destinations, if you're able to.
* If you do have to drive your car to school or work, pick up groceries or other items you need on the way home--instead of making a special trip later at night or on the weekends.
* Try to get the best price on gasoline, but don't drive all the way across town to do it!
* If your tank is more than half full but you see gas for a really good price go ahead and top your tank off, but, ONLY if you can't save more money by doing something else with the extra time it's going to take... like clipping a few grocery coupons. Better yet, do both!
* Try to buy your gas during the week if you can, our local stations have always tended to raise their prices on the weekends, and especially on holiday weekends. So wait to fill up until they come back down a bit, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesdays.
GasBuddy.com
GasPriceWatch.com
and autos.msn.com, though my computer always warns me of a blocked intrusion whenever I visit the site.
Today's tips: (collected from various sources, and some probably repeated, but they are worth repeating!)
* Combine daily errands into one weekly trip, including getting gas if necessary. If you usually have to make quick trips to the store for bread or milk, buy enough to get you through the week.
* If you run out of milk often consider switching to powdered milk, or at least keep some on hand so you don't have to make an extra trip to the store. (And you'll also save money on milk! (I also recommend using powdered milk for cooking as much as you can - saves money and works pretty much the same way!))
* Stretch weekly trips to the grocery store to every 10 days or more, you'll not only save money on gas, but you'll also save on groceries!
* Keep a running list of items you need on the fridge (groceries and non-groceries) so you don't forget anything when you do finally make your trip to the store!
* If you're on a fixed income spend less on groceries than you normally do so you can better afford to pay for the gas you do need.
* Carpool with a friend or neighbor whenever possible.
* Walk or ride a bike instead of driving your car to school, work, or nearby destinations, if you're able to.
* If you do have to drive your car to school or work, pick up groceries or other items you need on the way home--instead of making a special trip later at night or on the weekends.
* Try to get the best price on gasoline, but don't drive all the way across town to do it!
* If your tank is more than half full but you see gas for a really good price go ahead and top your tank off, but, ONLY if you can't save more money by doing something else with the extra time it's going to take... like clipping a few grocery coupons. Better yet, do both!
* Try to buy your gas during the week if you can, our local stations have always tended to raise their prices on the weekends, and especially on holiday weekends. So wait to fill up until they come back down a bit, maybe on Tuesday or Wednesdays.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
Shop Around!
Shop Around Online
Shop your area gas prices easily at www.gaspricewatch.com or www.gasbuddy.com. Gas prices vary by area based on competition, but it doesn't make sense to drive around to find the lowest price. Prices can vary by up to 10 percent to 20 percent by competitive area. I did this and found a gas station fairly close to me (that I drive nearby often) and it was .04 cheaper than right around my house. Filling up saved me only .84 but if I did that everyday week for a month, I save $3.36 which is pretty darn close to getting a gallon and a half of gas! Plus, think of other ways you can spend that $3.36 - we drop all of our savings from coupons, to gas station savings into one of those HUGE water bottles. We use the money for various things - last year we took a camping trip with some of it! If we keep saving we might actually be able to take a whole vacation. Now, think about this - I was talking about saving all sorts of change from various places, but just to save $3.36 a month for a year, comes out to $43.68 - a FULL tank of gas! Or many other things can be bought with that $40!
So start saving now!
Shop your area gas prices easily at www.gaspricewatch.com or www.gasbuddy.com. Gas prices vary by area based on competition, but it doesn't make sense to drive around to find the lowest price. Prices can vary by up to 10 percent to 20 percent by competitive area. I did this and found a gas station fairly close to me (that I drive nearby often) and it was .04 cheaper than right around my house. Filling up saved me only .84 but if I did that everyday week for a month, I save $3.36 which is pretty darn close to getting a gallon and a half of gas! Plus, think of other ways you can spend that $3.36 - we drop all of our savings from coupons, to gas station savings into one of those HUGE water bottles. We use the money for various things - last year we took a camping trip with some of it! If we keep saving we might actually be able to take a whole vacation. Now, think about this - I was talking about saving all sorts of change from various places, but just to save $3.36 a month for a year, comes out to $43.68 - a FULL tank of gas! Or many other things can be bought with that $40!
So start saving now!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!
Well, today is my birthday and because it is, I am taking the day off. WHAT?!?! LOL Just kidding, but I am going to give you a few websites to visit instead. These are great places to look not only for FRUGAL tips, but these deal specifically with frugal birthday ideas :)
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04jul26g.cfm
http://www.rexanne.com/bday-parties.html
Although I don't typically reference "about.com" because I hate all the ads and the floating stuff, this site has some links to a few sites I found VERY helpful!!
http://homeparents.about.com/od/crafts/
Enjoy everyone! See you tomorrow!
~Nicole~
http://www.stretcher.com/stories/04/04jul26g.cfm
http://www.rexanne.com/bday-parties.html
Although I don't typically reference "about.com" because I hate all the ads and the floating stuff, this site has some links to a few sites I found VERY helpful!!
http://homeparents.about.com/od/crafts/
Enjoy everyone! See you tomorrow!
~Nicole~
Thursday, August 25, 2005
What to give? The gifts keep giving....
Birthday party gifts can be outrageously expensive. Especially when you don't know the child well, and you want to purchase something "popular" because you are sure it will be a hit.
But when your children are invited to so many birthday parties a year (we have double, and imagine households with 3 and 4 children!), buying a gift, paper to wrap it in, ribbon and a bow, plus a card every time can get expensive.
The other problem is, short notice. We've gotten numerous invitations that were only 2-3 days before the party! First, I want to lecture those parents, and remind them that giving one notice is the kindest thing you can do, and can also make YOUR party run smoother. However, what do you do when you are the recipient of that last minute invitation. And your child of course, wants to go. Last minute shopping trip, what to get? Stressful, isn't it?
Well, I took my own "christmas shopping" advice, and reserved a shelf in our hall closet to start stocking up on gifts. The thing I found, was when I needed a last minute gift, I always had one. I waited until after Christmas and purchased several things at 50-75% off. I got Barbie dolls for less than $5. Art Sets for $2 a piece. Hot Wheels Sets for $6 a piece and the list goes on and on. The other thing I did, was watch for Wal-greens and other discount places to have specials on certain toys. Our local Wal-greens runs specials several times a year where you can buy 3 toys for $10. They are pretty cool toys and perfect for birthday party gifts. I would stock up each time. So watch for sales, coupons, discounts, BOGO sales, etc. These can wind up saving you TONS of money in the long run and you'll always have something for someone. Also, watch garage sales, and flea markets. Often brand new items are still sealed and would make perfect gifts! Sometimes even baby clothes with the tags still on (because the little one outgrew it too fast, etc). So make sure to keep your mind open to the endless possibilities to be frugal!
Another thing I've learned over the years, is that children LOVE to unwrap a gift. Yeah, the gift bag with the pretty tissue paper sticking out, is exactly that - pretty. But it's not fun to just yank tissue paper out! It's all in the tearing, and discovery of what's inside! So how do you save on wrapping paper? It doesn't have to break the bank. Look for alternative methods. Garage sales, are a great place to start. Look for anything that can be used to wrap gifts--wrapping paper (obviously), wallpaper, drawer liner, even scraps of fabric. Look for yarn and pieces of lace or other trim to use instead of ribbon. In other words, just use your imagination! You can even wrap the gift in TISSUE paper and the tearing fun is still in place. PLUS those gift bags can really add up! I know that some like to wrap the gifts in newspaper comics, but this is really not that great of a practice - the black print gets all over the child's hands, which in turns often get's all over the cute outfit they are wearing, and spreads to other places as well. So avoid the newspaper method. I know it's frugal, but it's also a pain for the parent of the gift recipient.
But when your children are invited to so many birthday parties a year (we have double, and imagine households with 3 and 4 children!), buying a gift, paper to wrap it in, ribbon and a bow, plus a card every time can get expensive.
The other problem is, short notice. We've gotten numerous invitations that were only 2-3 days before the party! First, I want to lecture those parents, and remind them that giving one notice is the kindest thing you can do, and can also make YOUR party run smoother. However, what do you do when you are the recipient of that last minute invitation. And your child of course, wants to go. Last minute shopping trip, what to get? Stressful, isn't it?
Well, I took my own "christmas shopping" advice, and reserved a shelf in our hall closet to start stocking up on gifts. The thing I found, was when I needed a last minute gift, I always had one. I waited until after Christmas and purchased several things at 50-75% off. I got Barbie dolls for less than $5. Art Sets for $2 a piece. Hot Wheels Sets for $6 a piece and the list goes on and on. The other thing I did, was watch for Wal-greens and other discount places to have specials on certain toys. Our local Wal-greens runs specials several times a year where you can buy 3 toys for $10. They are pretty cool toys and perfect for birthday party gifts. I would stock up each time. So watch for sales, coupons, discounts, BOGO sales, etc. These can wind up saving you TONS of money in the long run and you'll always have something for someone. Also, watch garage sales, and flea markets. Often brand new items are still sealed and would make perfect gifts! Sometimes even baby clothes with the tags still on (because the little one outgrew it too fast, etc). So make sure to keep your mind open to the endless possibilities to be frugal!
Another thing I've learned over the years, is that children LOVE to unwrap a gift. Yeah, the gift bag with the pretty tissue paper sticking out, is exactly that - pretty. But it's not fun to just yank tissue paper out! It's all in the tearing, and discovery of what's inside! So how do you save on wrapping paper? It doesn't have to break the bank. Look for alternative methods. Garage sales, are a great place to start. Look for anything that can be used to wrap gifts--wrapping paper (obviously), wallpaper, drawer liner, even scraps of fabric. Look for yarn and pieces of lace or other trim to use instead of ribbon. In other words, just use your imagination! You can even wrap the gift in TISSUE paper and the tearing fun is still in place. PLUS those gift bags can really add up! I know that some like to wrap the gifts in newspaper comics, but this is really not that great of a practice - the black print gets all over the child's hands, which in turns often get's all over the cute outfit they are wearing, and spreads to other places as well. So avoid the newspaper method. I know it's frugal, but it's also a pain for the parent of the gift recipient.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Cut the Cost - Keep it Simple Birthday!
There are several ways you can cut costs when planning a party. Decorations can cost a fortune, which is why many decide to host their parties elsewhere, but I'd like to give you some ideas on frugal decorations
Tableclothes:
Tableclothes can help make clean up a breeze, however if you want to re-use it (to cut costs from continually buying more!) then purchase a party tablecloth that can be laundered and used at other parties. You can just buy one from Wal-mart - I would choose a solid color that is not gender specific, so if you have boy and girl parties, they can be used for either. Yellow, green, or red work perfectly! (I found one at Bed, Bath & Beyond for about $10.99 and I had a coupon, so I saved some money that way too!)
TABLEWARE:
I know how important it is for children to have "fancy" birthday tableware. If you want plates, cups and napkins that match your theme, purchase them in a party set for the best economical value. There are several websites out there that sell this way (PartyInABox), (BirthdayInABox), and http://www.partyshopmom.com offers lots of theme parties in a box. Colleen Coldwell is a frugal mom herself.
PARTY FAVORS:
We almost ALWAYS have a craft at our parties. We try to follow the "theme" but sometimes just being able to make something to take home, is the children's favorite activity! Try buying crafting supplies for a make-and-take party favor - its a great way to combine an activity and the favor in one and can often save on the budget too! You can really cheap craft supplies from MJ's OR even our local $$ store has stuff! If you don't wish to do a craft, be sure you at least check out the various $$ stores for cute party favors! Kids love magnets, markers, pencils, and more and all these things can be purchased.
INVITATIONS:
They are so much fun to make and you can really save money by making them instead of buying them. You can purchase paper at a copy supply store in whatever colors you want (even multipacks) and create your own invitations. Get the kids involved, and use your theme as a guide.
CAKE:
MAKE IT YOURSELF. I cannot stress this enough. Or at least purchase a plain cake from the grocers or whever and decorate it yourself. I've heard that themed cake pans can be rented for about $5 at party stores, but I purchase them on sale for about the same price. MJ's has a great selection, but I've found some cool ones at Wal-mart too!
BALLOONS:
What child doesn't love balloons? My 11 year old still likes them and I don't think any of his birthday parties would have ever been complete without them. Balloons can serve double duty as not only the decorations but a take home gift. Now, balloons are relatively inexpensive (and yes you can get them at the $$ store), and I have found that It is often much cheaper to buy your own balloons and then take them to the local grocery store to have them filled for you. If you decide to do a TON of balloons (which is always a lot of fun!) check into the price of renting a helium tank to save money.
Tableclothes:
Tableclothes can help make clean up a breeze, however if you want to re-use it (to cut costs from continually buying more!) then purchase a party tablecloth that can be laundered and used at other parties. You can just buy one from Wal-mart - I would choose a solid color that is not gender specific, so if you have boy and girl parties, they can be used for either. Yellow, green, or red work perfectly! (I found one at Bed, Bath & Beyond for about $10.99 and I had a coupon, so I saved some money that way too!)
TABLEWARE:
I know how important it is for children to have "fancy" birthday tableware. If you want plates, cups and napkins that match your theme, purchase them in a party set for the best economical value. There are several websites out there that sell this way (PartyInABox), (BirthdayInABox), and http://www.partyshopmom.com offers lots of theme parties in a box. Colleen Coldwell is a frugal mom herself.
PARTY FAVORS:
We almost ALWAYS have a craft at our parties. We try to follow the "theme" but sometimes just being able to make something to take home, is the children's favorite activity! Try buying crafting supplies for a make-and-take party favor - its a great way to combine an activity and the favor in one and can often save on the budget too! You can really cheap craft supplies from MJ's OR even our local $$ store has stuff! If you don't wish to do a craft, be sure you at least check out the various $$ stores for cute party favors! Kids love magnets, markers, pencils, and more and all these things can be purchased.
INVITATIONS:
They are so much fun to make and you can really save money by making them instead of buying them. You can purchase paper at a copy supply store in whatever colors you want (even multipacks) and create your own invitations. Get the kids involved, and use your theme as a guide.
CAKE:
MAKE IT YOURSELF. I cannot stress this enough. Or at least purchase a plain cake from the grocers or whever and decorate it yourself. I've heard that themed cake pans can be rented for about $5 at party stores, but I purchase them on sale for about the same price. MJ's has a great selection, but I've found some cool ones at Wal-mart too!
BALLOONS:
What child doesn't love balloons? My 11 year old still likes them and I don't think any of his birthday parties would have ever been complete without them. Balloons can serve double duty as not only the decorations but a take home gift. Now, balloons are relatively inexpensive (and yes you can get them at the $$ store), and I have found that It is often much cheaper to buy your own balloons and then take them to the local grocery store to have them filled for you. If you decide to do a TON of balloons (which is always a lot of fun!) check into the price of renting a helium tank to save money.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
What a list!
This was stuck in a file I had on the computer filled to the brim with birthday party ideas. I was writing an e-book, and created a word document to store any ideas I found to include.
No idea where this came from but it's got some awesome ideas!
Giant props are always fun. For some reason, when things are ten times bigger than they should be, people laugh.
For summer fun, fasten beachballs together in groups of three or more (use wire or tape or whatever), and hang wherever.
Want to know how to embarrass someone? No, we don't mean like that. How about a "This Is Your Life" party? Aside from all the obvious stuff you can do for this, blow up lots of their baby pictures to hang all over.
Try a one-color theme. Have the guests show up in the birthday recipient's favorite (or least favorite) color. Decorate with balloons, streamers and paper in that color. Serve food and drinks that match the color scheme.
Does your friend watch way too much TV? How about a Couch Potato party? Guests can show up wearing their pajamas or dressed like slobs (for some, this will be the same outfit). Have televisions scattered throughout the house (borrow some). Serve junk food all night (put in your own comment). Give guests pillowcases or TV Guides to take home.
Have a limit-the-present-price party. Set a strict, low limit on what each guest may spend on a gift ($5.00 is a good number). This is great, inexpensive fun for everyone involved.
Is your friend unavailable on Sunday afternoons? Or do they know the ERA of pitchers on teams that are a thousand miles away? They must be a sports fan. So, make the invitation to the party look like an admission ticket, have everyone dress like a jock or a fan, and serve concession food. By the way, it's "buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack" not Jacks. Sorry. We couldn't control ourselves.
Something we have lots of fun with is making a topic-specific trivia game. Go to a place like AbsoluteTrivia.com "The Totally Trivia Search Engine". Search for information on your topic of choice (depending on the birthday-er's interests). Write down the questions and answers, then play on and off throughout the evening (works best if one or two people control all the asking). If someone guesses correctly, they keep the card. At the end of the night, whoever has the most cards gets a small (or large) prize.
No idea where this came from but it's got some awesome ideas!
Giant props are always fun. For some reason, when things are ten times bigger than they should be, people laugh.
For summer fun, fasten beachballs together in groups of three or more (use wire or tape or whatever), and hang wherever.
Want to know how to embarrass someone? No, we don't mean like that. How about a "This Is Your Life" party? Aside from all the obvious stuff you can do for this, blow up lots of their baby pictures to hang all over.
Try a one-color theme. Have the guests show up in the birthday recipient's favorite (or least favorite) color. Decorate with balloons, streamers and paper in that color. Serve food and drinks that match the color scheme.
Does your friend watch way too much TV? How about a Couch Potato party? Guests can show up wearing their pajamas or dressed like slobs (for some, this will be the same outfit). Have televisions scattered throughout the house (borrow some). Serve junk food all night (put in your own comment). Give guests pillowcases or TV Guides to take home.
Have a limit-the-present-price party. Set a strict, low limit on what each guest may spend on a gift ($5.00 is a good number). This is great, inexpensive fun for everyone involved.
Is your friend unavailable on Sunday afternoons? Or do they know the ERA of pitchers on teams that are a thousand miles away? They must be a sports fan. So, make the invitation to the party look like an admission ticket, have everyone dress like a jock or a fan, and serve concession food. By the way, it's "buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack" not Jacks. Sorry. We couldn't control ourselves.
Something we have lots of fun with is making a topic-specific trivia game. Go to a place like AbsoluteTrivia.com "The Totally Trivia Search Engine". Search for information on your topic of choice (depending on the birthday-er's interests). Write down the questions and answers, then play on and off throughout the evening (works best if one or two people control all the asking). If someone guesses correctly, they keep the card. At the end of the night, whoever has the most cards gets a small (or large) prize.
Monday, August 22, 2005
Happy Birthday to Me! Well, not today!
This week ends on my birthday (the 28th) so I decided that the theme best fitting for this week, would be low cost birthday party ideas. Now I know how much fun bowling is, and lazer tag (we have a place right by our house), Chuck E Cheese, and Dave & Busters. But there are ways to make a child's birthday special, and keep the cost down!
I figured out several years ago, that having a party at HOME was probably the most cost efficient way. Not everyone can do this. I've only had a home that I can do this in for the past 5 years. Prior to that, I was in apartments, and that can be challenging to say the very least.
One of the first tips I'm going to give you, before I give you a theme idea is simply "ask your friends". Sometimes your friends have talents or hobbies, that can help your parties. For me, my friend makes the most amazing birthday cakes, and all it costs me is the cost of the ingredients, and these cakes are amazing. I'm a scrapbooker, and when my friend through a party for her daughter's girl scout troop, along I came to teach them how to make an album to commemorate their special day. Another friend is talented when it comes to crafts. She has all boys, so it's fun for her because she get's to do "girly" crafts with friends little girls, but she has a whole wealth of crafts that boys find fun.
My neighbor is a huge sports fan. He was easy to involve in games and such. So just look around, and ask your friends if they can help you. They might not be able to actually do the "work" but they might give you ideas and help you along the way.
So today's tip is going to be a list of AWESOME websites I've found to help you with "themed" parties at home!
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/KidsBirthdayParties.htm
http://www.ezpartyideas.com/party_themes.htm
http://www.birthdayinabox.com/ (this site has GREAT ideas, that you can incorporate yourself!)
So there are a few to get you started!
I figured out several years ago, that having a party at HOME was probably the most cost efficient way. Not everyone can do this. I've only had a home that I can do this in for the past 5 years. Prior to that, I was in apartments, and that can be challenging to say the very least.
One of the first tips I'm going to give you, before I give you a theme idea is simply "ask your friends". Sometimes your friends have talents or hobbies, that can help your parties. For me, my friend makes the most amazing birthday cakes, and all it costs me is the cost of the ingredients, and these cakes are amazing. I'm a scrapbooker, and when my friend through a party for her daughter's girl scout troop, along I came to teach them how to make an album to commemorate their special day. Another friend is talented when it comes to crafts. She has all boys, so it's fun for her because she get's to do "girly" crafts with friends little girls, but she has a whole wealth of crafts that boys find fun.
My neighbor is a huge sports fan. He was easy to involve in games and such. So just look around, and ask your friends if they can help you. They might not be able to actually do the "work" but they might give you ideas and help you along the way.
So today's tip is going to be a list of AWESOME websites I've found to help you with "themed" parties at home!
http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/
http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/KidsBirthdayParties.htm
http://www.ezpartyideas.com/party_themes.htm
http://www.birthdayinabox.com/ (this site has GREAT ideas, that you can incorporate yourself!)
So there are a few to get you started!
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Cheeseburger Bake
I saved the best for last...this is one of my kids favorite meals! (oh, and I always season the ground beef up a little with light garlic and pepper).
Quick Cheeseburger Bake
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 can (11 ounces) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, if desired
1/4 cup milk
2 cups Original Bisquick®
3/4 cup water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
Heat oven to 400?. Generously grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in soup, vegetables and milk. Stir Bisquick and water in baking dish until moistened; spread evenly. Spread beef mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Quick Cheeseburger Bake
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 can (11 ounces) condensed Cheddar cheese soup
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables, if desired
1/4 cup milk
2 cups Original Bisquick®
3/4 cup water
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
Heat oven to 400?. Generously grease rectangular baking dish, 13x9x2 inches. Cook ground beef and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain. Stir in soup, vegetables and milk. Stir Bisquick and water in baking dish until moistened; spread evenly. Spread beef mixture over batter. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake 30 minutes. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Quick Pepper Steak
Quick Pepper Steak
1 pound boneless beef sirloin or top round steak, 3/4 inch thick
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium green or red peppers, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 3 cups)
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (10 1/4 ounces) Franco-American® Beef Gravy
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 cups hot cooked rice
Slice beef into thin strips (this is easier if you freeze beef for about an hour or two). In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat half the oil. Add beef in 2 batches and stir-fry until browned. Set beef aside. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil. Add peppers, onion and garlic powder and stir-fry until tender-crisp. Pour off fat. Add gravy and Worcestershire. Heat to a boil. Return beef to pan. Reduce heat to low and heat through. Serve over rice. Makes 4 servings
1 pound boneless beef sirloin or top round steak, 3/4 inch thick
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium green or red peppers, cut into 2-inch-long strips (about 3 cups)
1 medium onion, cut into wedges
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 can (10 1/4 ounces) Franco-American® Beef Gravy
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
4 cups hot cooked rice
Slice beef into thin strips (this is easier if you freeze beef for about an hour or two). In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat half the oil. Add beef in 2 batches and stir-fry until browned. Set beef aside. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining oil. Add peppers, onion and garlic powder and stir-fry until tender-crisp. Pour off fat. Add gravy and Worcestershire. Heat to a boil. Return beef to pan. Reduce heat to low and heat through. Serve over rice. Makes 4 servings
Friday, August 05, 2005
Creamy Ham Casserole
Creamy Ham Casserole
2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets, thawed
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese, divided
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped ham
1-1/2 cups rotini pasta, cooked, drained
1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP LIGHT Dressing
1/2 green or red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup 2% milk
Seasoned croutons (optional)
HEAT oven to 350°F. MIX all ingredients except 1/2 cup of the cheese and the croutons. SPOON into 1-1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
BAKE for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with seasoned croutons, if desired. Makes 6 servings
2 cups fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets, thawed
1-1/2 cups KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheese, divided
1-1/2 cups coarsely chopped ham
1-1/2 cups rotini pasta, cooked, drained
1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP LIGHT Dressing
1/2 green or red pepper, chopped
1/4 cup 2% milk
Seasoned croutons (optional)
HEAT oven to 350°F. MIX all ingredients except 1/2 cup of the cheese and the croutons. SPOON into 1-1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
BAKE for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with seasoned croutons, if desired. Makes 6 servings
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup cooked peas
2 tbsp. chopped pimiento (optional)
2 cans (about 6 oz. each) tuna, drained and flaked
2 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles (I actually use a whole pkg., I also pre-cook them)
2 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp. butter OR margarine, melted
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. MIX soup, milk, peas, pimiento, tuna and noodles in 1 1/2-qt. baking dish. BAKE 20 min. or until hot. Stir. MIX bread crumbs with butter. Sprinkle on top. Bake 5 min. Makes 4 servings (we usually sprinkle some cheese on top too...whatever we have - parmesan, cheddar - just add when the bread crumbs go on)
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk
1 cup cooked peas
2 tbsp. chopped pimiento (optional)
2 cans (about 6 oz. each) tuna, drained and flaked
2 cups hot cooked medium egg noodles (I actually use a whole pkg., I also pre-cook them)
2 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp. butter OR margarine, melted
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. MIX soup, milk, peas, pimiento, tuna and noodles in 1 1/2-qt. baking dish. BAKE 20 min. or until hot. Stir. MIX bread crumbs with butter. Sprinkle on top. Bake 5 min. Makes 4 servings (we usually sprinkle some cheese on top too...whatever we have - parmesan, cheddar - just add when the bread crumbs go on)
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Stove Top Easy Brunch Casserole
This dish is delicious - we eat this sometimes for dinner, although I am more apt to be cooking it on a Saturday night, for a nice Sunday brunch. (ok so we're a bit weird) LOL We love to cook! And this one's so easy!
Stove Top Easy Brunch Casserole
2 cups STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix in the Canister, any flavor
2 cups milk
1/2 lb. bulk sausage, cooked, crumbled
6 eggs
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Spoon into greased 13x9-inch baking pan.
Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Makes 8 servings
Stove Top Easy Brunch Casserole
2 cups STOVE TOP Stuffing Mix in the Canister, any flavor
2 cups milk
1/2 lb. bulk sausage, cooked, crumbled
6 eggs
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Spoon into greased 13x9-inch baking pan.
Bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes or until set. Makes 8 servings
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Beef Bake
Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Beef Bake
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic Soup
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen vegetable combination (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots), thawed
2 cups water
3 tbsp. margarine OR butter
3/4 cup milk
2 cups Idahoan® Original Mashed Potatoes
COOK beef in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. MIX beef, 1/2 can soup, Worcestershire and vegetables in 2-qt. shallow baking dish. MIX water, margarine and remaining soup in saucepan. Heat to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in milk. Slowly stir in potatoes. Spoon potatoes over beef mixture. BAKE at 400°F. 20 min. or until hot. Makes 4 servings
1 lb. ground beef
1 can (10 3/4 oz.) Campbell's® Cream of Mushroom with Roasted Garlic Soup
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 bag (16 oz.) frozen vegetable combination (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots), thawed
2 cups water
3 tbsp. margarine OR butter
3/4 cup milk
2 cups Idahoan® Original Mashed Potatoes
COOK beef in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. MIX beef, 1/2 can soup, Worcestershire and vegetables in 2-qt. shallow baking dish. MIX water, margarine and remaining soup in saucepan. Heat to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in milk. Slowly stir in potatoes. Spoon potatoes over beef mixture. BAKE at 400°F. 20 min. or until hot. Makes 4 servings
Monday, August 01, 2005
Beefy Noodle Casserole
See....no chicken :)
Beefy Noodles Casserole
1/2 pound lean ground beef, crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can HORMEL® chili no beans
1 (10-ounce) can CHI-CHI'S® diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 cup cooked elbow macaroni
1 egg, beaten
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Heat oven to 350°F. In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned; drain. Stir in chili, tomatoes, and mustard. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Toss macaroni with egg and 1/2 cup cheese. Add meat mixture and stir well. Pour into 1-quart casserole. Top with 1/2 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly. Makes 6 servings
Beefy Noodles Casserole
1/2 pound lean ground beef, crumbled
1 onion, chopped
1 (15-ounce) can HORMEL® chili no beans
1 (10-ounce) can CHI-CHI'S® diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 cup cooked elbow macaroni
1 egg, beaten
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Heat oven to 350°F. In large skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned; drain. Stir in chili, tomatoes, and mustard. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Toss macaroni with egg and 1/2 cup cheese. Add meat mixture and stir well. Pour into 1-quart casserole. Top with 1/2 cup cheese. Bake, uncovered, 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly. Makes 6 servings
Friday, July 29, 2005
Chicken Parmesan Potatoes
Chicken-Parmesan Potatoes
1 package (4.9 ounces) Betty Crocker® au gratin potatoes
3 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey (1 pound)
2 1/4 cups hot water
2/3 cup milk
1 package (9 ounces) Green Giant® frozen cut green beans
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat Potatoes, Sauce Mix and remaining ingredients except cheese to boiling in 10-inch skillet over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender. Stir in cheese. Let stand 5 minutes. Makes 5 servings
1 package (4.9 ounces) Betty Crocker® au gratin potatoes
3 cups cut-up cooked chicken or turkey (1 pound)
2 1/4 cups hot water
2/3 cup milk
1 package (9 ounces) Green Giant® frozen cut green beans
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Heat Potatoes, Sauce Mix and remaining ingredients except cheese to boiling in 10-inch skillet over high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender. Stir in cheese. Let stand 5 minutes. Makes 5 servings
Sunday, July 24, 2005
Blue Light Special!
Last tip for CLOTHES! Shop clearance racks! Shop the discount racks! Sometimes there are some clothes that will work for the season you're in! Last week I found some cute "spring" stuff on the rack, that is still really perfect for right now. Especially in the evenings! So always check clearance racks! Sometimes there's a gem!
Now, for next weeks topic - I'm going to do a week of ONE DISH RECIPES! Simply because I love them, and I think you will too!
See you tomorrow!
Now, for next weeks topic - I'm going to do a week of ONE DISH RECIPES! Simply because I love them, and I think you will too!
See you tomorrow!
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Credit Demons....not so bad!
Ok, I read about this lady, who applies for all the store credit cards when they are having % off sales. Then she only uses the credit card on special days and weekends when there are specials for the store credit card holders. Now, I have a credit card to a store I *LOVE* - Kohls. I only use it occasionally, and much like her, I usually use it when they are having special sales. This works well. I am not about to tell you to run out and apply for every credit card out there, unless you have the ability to keep from maxing them out. It's a nice concept, but not many people have the will-power to avoid using them that often. If you do use them, try to pay them off as QUICKLY as possible, because your savings aren't that great if you have all that interest!
Really look into that though BEFORE you do it!
I'm adding another tip because I'm so unsure of that one. Now, we all need play clothes for our kids. Something they can run around in and get dirty and we won't care nearly as much. Well, Target, Kmart and Wal-mart ALWAYS have a section towards the outside that has shirts and shorts or pants (depending on the season) for around $3.99. For me, the price is right! I also do NOT pay those $10-$20 prices for PJ's - my kids love to sleep in T-shirts and in the cold months, we switch to sweat pants and a sweat shirt. This is two-fold, because they double as CLOTHES as well. So they can wear them out too. Last week I purchased a set for my daughter that totaled $7.99 - not bad for a pair of pj's that she can wear out too! I do however, splurge at Christmas. Often times I will get them "designer" PJ's (for as cheap as I can find them) with the character or "theme" they like. They get these on Christmas eve. I try to buy those multi sets that wal-mart and target have - the one's that can be worn in the winter AND summer so they can get longer wear out of them! And one last "bad mom" tip LOL (shhh...my daughter isn't that mad about it - she really doesn't care). I often give her my son's hand me downs. She doesn't mind wearing dinosaurs and spiders to bed once in awhile. :) Saves money too!!
Really look into that though BEFORE you do it!
I'm adding another tip because I'm so unsure of that one. Now, we all need play clothes for our kids. Something they can run around in and get dirty and we won't care nearly as much. Well, Target, Kmart and Wal-mart ALWAYS have a section towards the outside that has shirts and shorts or pants (depending on the season) for around $3.99. For me, the price is right! I also do NOT pay those $10-$20 prices for PJ's - my kids love to sleep in T-shirts and in the cold months, we switch to sweat pants and a sweat shirt. This is two-fold, because they double as CLOTHES as well. So they can wear them out too. Last week I purchased a set for my daughter that totaled $7.99 - not bad for a pair of pj's that she can wear out too! I do however, splurge at Christmas. Often times I will get them "designer" PJ's (for as cheap as I can find them) with the character or "theme" they like. They get these on Christmas eve. I try to buy those multi sets that wal-mart and target have - the one's that can be worn in the winter AND summer so they can get longer wear out of them! And one last "bad mom" tip LOL (shhh...my daughter isn't that mad about it - she really doesn't care). I often give her my son's hand me downs. She doesn't mind wearing dinosaurs and spiders to bed once in awhile. :) Saves money too!!
Friday, July 22, 2005
Collected tips!
Carry the store credit card. You have to pay it off after every shopping trip, or you are going to end up paying significantly more than you saved in interest. Most stores have great retention marketing, and will send you coupons for future visits, special promos for card holders only and some even give you rewards when you spend so much.
Browse the front of the store. Keep your eye on pieces that you like and wait for them to go on sale if you can.
Shop the sale/clearance rack. It's all about the look. No one knows whether you paid full price, so why do it?
Shop in advance for the next season. When I first started to do this, it made my husband very nervous. However, even if you do save it back and they outgrow it you can resell it on E-Bay. Coats, swimwear, and name brand clothing basics such as Ralph Lauren are fairly easy to purchase. While most of us are not "in the mood" to buy those items because you are ready to move in to the next season, you will be glad you did!
I have a couple of outlets that I shop at on a regular basis. There is a Nordstrom and Hanna Andersson that are near where I live. These are great spots to pick up staple pieces that are significantly less than in regular department stores.
When you have a child that develops his/her own taste and begins to follow trends closely, teach them that dressing stylishly is about a look and not having name brands. Give them a limit and fill in their wardrobe with other items that have a similar look.
Browse the front of the store. Keep your eye on pieces that you like and wait for them to go on sale if you can.
Shop the sale/clearance rack. It's all about the look. No one knows whether you paid full price, so why do it?
Shop in advance for the next season. When I first started to do this, it made my husband very nervous. However, even if you do save it back and they outgrow it you can resell it on E-Bay. Coats, swimwear, and name brand clothing basics such as Ralph Lauren are fairly easy to purchase. While most of us are not "in the mood" to buy those items because you are ready to move in to the next season, you will be glad you did!
I have a couple of outlets that I shop at on a regular basis. There is a Nordstrom and Hanna Andersson that are near where I live. These are great spots to pick up staple pieces that are significantly less than in regular department stores.
When you have a child that develops his/her own taste and begins to follow trends closely, teach them that dressing stylishly is about a look and not having name brands. Give them a limit and fill in their wardrobe with other items that have a similar look.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Combine to save!
Save More by Combining Coupons With Sales
You can save even more money, and still get the clothes you like early in the season, if you use coupons on sale items.
If you have your eye on an outfit at a favorite store when it's full price, try waiting. Many new-season styles are available long before Mother Nature has decided it is the new season, so by the time their first sale begins, you will still have plenty of time to wear your new clothes.
If you have signed up for the store's e-mail newsletter, you'll be the first to know when their sales begin. Hit the sale while the selection is good. The store may even include a coupon in their sale announcement e-mail. You also can check a coupon code site to find more coupons for the store.
By combining the sales price with a coupon or a coupon code, you may save as much as 40 percent to 60 percent well before the season really begins.
You can save even more money, and still get the clothes you like early in the season, if you use coupons on sale items.
If you have your eye on an outfit at a favorite store when it's full price, try waiting. Many new-season styles are available long before Mother Nature has decided it is the new season, so by the time their first sale begins, you will still have plenty of time to wear your new clothes.
If you have signed up for the store's e-mail newsletter, you'll be the first to know when their sales begin. Hit the sale while the selection is good. The store may even include a coupon in their sale announcement e-mail. You also can check a coupon code site to find more coupons for the store.
By combining the sales price with a coupon or a coupon code, you may save as much as 40 percent to 60 percent well before the season really begins.
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