Because it's nearly 7PM and I'm yawning, I give you...... FREE COFFEE!
Taster's Choice is giving away samples of their instant coffee single-serve packets to convince the world that their coffee is as good as the big brands. cough*Starbucks*cough .
Get your sample HERE!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Getting Started - You're on your way to cheap and easy!
To truly become a master of cheap and easy, you must follow me religiously. Build a shrine, tattoo my face on your chest, take my children in as your own... ok, so you don't have to idolize me. Honestly, the real secret to building a cheap and easy way of life is doing what works for you. With some basic guidelines and a database of ideas, you can build your own system around what is best for your family. Let's get started.
Supplies
There are a few basic things that you must keep in your arsenal of money-saving supplies. The items I'm going to list are things that you will see frequently in this blog. There's a reason for each one, and the reason is the same for all of them - they save me money and time. If you don't have them, get them. You'll thank me later.
1. A Slow Cooker
In my mind, all forms of slow cookers are crock pots. I will frequently refer to my slow cooker as a crock pot, despite the fact that it is not made by Crock Pot. I adore my slow cooker. The picture above is the one I bought last, after a long run with a basic Crock Pot that met its tragic end on my kitchen floor one day. I loved that old crock pot... but I love my new one more.
If you aren't the kind of cook who sits patiently at home all day timing the slow cooker (really, who does that?), then I strongly suggest buying a smart pot with a timer. It will save you money in the long run. One experience with an overcooked hunk of meat that results in takeout will make it worth the extra cash upfront. Mine was about $40, but you can find one with fewer bells and whistles for much less.
How will a slow cooker save you time and money? Let me count the ways.
Go now, and dig that crock pot out of the back of the pantry. Dust it off and promise it more attention. If you don't have one, get one.
2. Freezer bags
I could wax poetic all afternoon about the joys of freezer bags, but I may have gone overboard about the crock pot, so I'll spare you. Freezer bags are essential in planning an organized, inexpensive menu. Get them in a variety of sizes. You'll want gallon bags and quart size bags.
It's not necessary to buy Ziploc brand... get whatever is cheap. If you have some coupons and a good sale, buy name brand, but some store brands are just as good. The bags I bought recently at Aldi are exactly like Ziplocs, and I've had no issue with leakage.
3. Disposable Storage Containers
Bags won't store everything. I made a huge pot of tomato sauce last week, and I wasn't brave enough to try to freeze it in bags, so I opened up a pack of these beauties. In the case of disposable containers, I do suggest going with brand name containers. They're not expensive, and there are often coupons available. I have yet to buy an off brand of these types of containers that had a tight fitting lid. If you've had better luck, please share with the class.
4. Scissors and coupon inserts
I promise, I will delve deeper into the wonderful world of couponing with you later. For now, let me just say that coupons are God's gift to the budgeting family. It's entirely possible to never again buy a brand name anything, but it's not realistic. All of us have that handful of items that we can't live without. I only buy one brand of toilet paper and mayo. My kids have certain snacks they like in their lunches that I buy whenever I find a sale and a coupon. Sometimes, the brand names are cheaper than the generics with coupons.
You can go one of two ways with your coupon organization. Some people have elaborately organized binders, organized by category, brand and item. Some people use the envelope from their last electric bill that has a corner torn off and a makeshift grocery list scribbled on the back. I tend to fall into the latter category, but I'm working on it.
5. A Notebook and a pen with a clip
You're going to want a place designated for lists. I keep my menu list, grocery list, and the list of people I intend to exact revenge on one day in mine. Of course, you can get something much fancier than a spiral notebook, and I'm sure there's a list app somewhere out there, but I'm cheap. I have a huge stack of these in my closet from the fall school supply sales, so this is what I use.
Designate a pen to keep clipped to this notebook. Threaten anyone who breathes on it with immediate death. When a cheap meal idea suddenly pops in your head, you want a pen handy. If you don't write it down immediately, you'll find yourself wandering in the bathroom sorting through your makeup bag, wondering what you were looking for in the first place... or maybe that's just me.
Ok, you're ready! Let's get Cheap and Easy!
Supplies
There are a few basic things that you must keep in your arsenal of money-saving supplies. The items I'm going to list are things that you will see frequently in this blog. There's a reason for each one, and the reason is the same for all of them - they save me money and time. If you don't have them, get them. You'll thank me later.
1. A Slow Cooker
In my mind, all forms of slow cookers are crock pots. I will frequently refer to my slow cooker as a crock pot, despite the fact that it is not made by Crock Pot. I adore my slow cooker. The picture above is the one I bought last, after a long run with a basic Crock Pot that met its tragic end on my kitchen floor one day. I loved that old crock pot... but I love my new one more.
If you aren't the kind of cook who sits patiently at home all day timing the slow cooker (really, who does that?), then I strongly suggest buying a smart pot with a timer. It will save you money in the long run. One experience with an overcooked hunk of meat that results in takeout will make it worth the extra cash upfront. Mine was about $40, but you can find one with fewer bells and whistles for much less.
How will a slow cooker save you time and money? Let me count the ways.
- You will come home in the evenings to a meal that is mostly if not completely ready to put on the table, which means you won't make impulsive takeout purchases.
- You can turn a cheap cut of meat into a tender delicacy by cooking it slowly all day.
- Soups, stews and casseroles are perfect for the slow cooker, and very inexpensive.
- Prep time is next to nothing when you use a slow cooker. Toss it in there frozen, or even the night before. It does the work for you.
Go now, and dig that crock pot out of the back of the pantry. Dust it off and promise it more attention. If you don't have one, get one.
2. Freezer bags
It's not necessary to buy Ziploc brand... get whatever is cheap. If you have some coupons and a good sale, buy name brand, but some store brands are just as good. The bags I bought recently at Aldi are exactly like Ziplocs, and I've had no issue with leakage.
3. Disposable Storage Containers
4. Scissors and coupon inserts
You can go one of two ways with your coupon organization. Some people have elaborately organized binders, organized by category, brand and item. Some people use the envelope from their last electric bill that has a corner torn off and a makeshift grocery list scribbled on the back. I tend to fall into the latter category, but I'm working on it.
5. A Notebook and a pen with a clip
Designate a pen to keep clipped to this notebook. Threaten anyone who breathes on it with immediate death. When a cheap meal idea suddenly pops in your head, you want a pen handy. If you don't write it down immediately, you'll find yourself wandering in the bathroom sorting through your makeup bag, wondering what you were looking for in the first place... or maybe that's just me.
Ok, you're ready! Let's get Cheap and Easy!
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