Hi my name is Kate! I am always on the hunt for the best deals to combine to get everything for next to nothing or even better FREE. In addition to coupons and daily deals I find during the week, I will help you create meals and live on a budget! I hope you enjoy my money saving tips.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Inexpensive outfit in my closet .
I paid nothing for the tank top, $19 for the pants ( on clearance at Express) , and $15 for the cardigan at TJ Maxx. I had the handbag given to me . Mine is a brown coach bag though
Easy peach cobbler
2 bags frozen peaches
1c brown sugar
Qtr c flour
2 tbs cinnamon
Combine all ing. in a bowl . Then add a qtr c of cornstarch . Mix all into peaches.
Set aside.
Topping:
1/2 c almonds
3 qtr c oats
1 c flour
Qtr c brown sugar
Qtr c reg sugar
2 tbs nutmeg
1 stick softend butter
Work together until all blended & crumbly . Put peach mixture into a baking dish , add topping . Bake @ 350 until done .
Simple brunch recipe or dessert idea
Buy pre- cut fruit
Vanilla pudding
Make vanilla pudding & layer or in dessert cups . Refrigerate until set .
Pot roast
5 lb pot roast
Put into a crock pot . Add chopped carrots, onions , 2 c beef broth , and garlic cloves . Then add 1 c red wine, tomato paste , 2 bay leaves and a sprig of thyme . Cook 6-8 hours on high .
Super simple appetizer
Puff pastry rounds
Sliced tomatoes
Sliced thin mozzarella cheese
Layer pastry with tomato and cheese . Bake in oven at 350 for like 10 min. Or until golden . Take them out and garnish with basil or garlic . They're yummy
I'm am making chili this wkd . It's cold and rainy so I figured it would be perfect .
Turkey burger ( from last weeks purchase ) $3.99
Black beans $1.89
Kidney beans $1.89
Stewed tomatoes $1.39
Onion / G.pepper I had from last week .
Chili seasoning
Chili
Cook turkey burger with onion and green pepper . Until brown. Add beans and stewed tomatoes . Sprinkle in chili seasoning . Simmer for up to 8 minutes until mixture is thick . Spoon into bowls . I use cottage cheese in my chili .
Friday, May 30, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Sunday, May 25, 2014
What I did for Free this wkd .
Lately I live for the 2 days off I have a week . I like all the OT I have been getting from work but it drains me . Saturday I caught up on house chores , reading and sleep . I love to read ! It relaxes me too . Sunday I went for a ride about 10 miles away . ( didn't waste any gas ) . Then I went online and started getting ideas from Pinterest for the outfits I'm going to wear this week . ( I've come up with all kinds of different outfits lately right from my closet . I look like a million bucks and only paid $20 to $5 for the whole thing .) I made my meal for the week , watched some DVDs , went through old clothes to sell , and researced some credit issues online . I looked at the calander and made a budget of what needs to be paid .
Monday is Memorial Day , but I volunteered to go to work . To make extra $$$ and no one is usually around to bother me . So I can get extra work done and get time 1/2 . Plus holiday time .
DIY dips your guests will love .
Cucumber dill dip
1 qt plain yogurt
1/2 c chopped fresh dill
Add 1/2 of a chopped cucumber
Add a pinch of coriander
1/2 tsp white wine vinegar
Mix all together . Put in a bowl , serve with veggies.
Mushroom dip
1 pkg of dried wild mushrooms
2 c white wine
Heat up in microwave . Let mushrooms soak up wine.
Then scoop out mushrooms and put into a food processor . Drain 1/4 c of left over wine . Make not to get grits in. Mix .
In a pot combine I can mushroom soup , 1 tsp tarragon, 1 container of cream cheese , 1/2 c sour cream and 1 c shredded mozzarella . Combine all in wine mixture and blend until all combined . Serve with bread or pita chips.
Spinach ricotta dip
Add olive oil to a warm pan and pine nuts. Chop onion and garlic , then add to pan. Cook until brown.
Next in a food processor add a bag of fresh spinach , 1/2 c ricotta and the onion mix . Blend all together .
Put into a bowl . ( can also be used over pasta).
Burger ideas for Memorial Day
Turkey burger / hamburger
Bread crumbs
Mushroom soup
Garlic/ onion
( top with broccoli slaw , red wine vinegar or Italian dressing. And homemade bread)
T burger/ hamburger
Sweet & sour sauce
Pineapple
Bun/ bread
T burger/ hamburger
Lipton onion soup mix
Bun/ bread
I stocked up on meat this week for under $20
What I bought
Turkey burger $3.99
Cube steak 2.37 ( 2 big pieces that I can half to make 4)
Turkey bacon 2.79
Steak cutlets 1.19 ( 4 pieces)
I generally don't eat beef , but lately have been craving it . It pays to stock up around holidays because it's at a low price and you can get more out of it .
Fruit salad for the festivities
Fruit salad
1 pkg lime jello
1/2 c boiling water
1 Tbs lemon juice
Mix & chill until starting to set .
Add 1/4 c finely chopped celery
1-8oz can crushed pineapple w/ juice
1/2 c sour cream , cherries , nuts & mini marshmallows . Put back in fridge to set more.
Easy cheesecake for Memorial Day .
2 pkg of soften cream cheese
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 graham cracker crust
Blend all together . Put into graham cracker crust . Bake at 350 for 30 min or until done . Top with berries
Summer squash casserole . Made with items I had from leftovers & little bit of groceries .
Summer Squash Casserole
6 c sliced zucchini & summer squash
1/2 c onion
1 can mushroom soup
1 c sour cream
1 pkg herb stuffing
1/2 butter
( I add chopped chicken )
Cook squash / zucchini and onion in water for 5 min. Drain well. Add sour cream , soup , and shredded carrot . Combine stuffing & chopped cooked chicken. Mix all ingredients together , put into a casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 25-30 min
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Tuesday Freebies
Family circle from myfreeproductsamples.com
Garnier & toothbrush from sample source.com
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Things to do for free:
Bake something ( I will spend days cooking with family . I've made several batches of donuts, sticky buns, cupcakes, cream puffs, etc. then I dispurse my creation to other family members or give it to my co-workers)
Watch a movie
DIY mani / pedi . I find cute inspiration online .
Organize your closet / home
Read ( I Love to read !! I can spend all day at Barnes & noble just sitting with a pile of books . And I don't have to buy a single one. )
Garden/ weed it
Scrapbook
Look for things around the home you don't need anymore . That you could sell of donate
Play Nintendo / board games
Hike / swim/ kayak ( since I live in VT there are many places to do things outdoors for free)
Have a picnic with stuff you have from the pantry
Visit a neighbor or close friend ( try not to use your vehicle )
Make up a scavenger hunt . ( my Dad used to do this when I grew up, he would draw a map of the items hidden and we would look around the house to find it )
Attend community events . Most community activities are free . And it gives you a chance to participate in your town or meet new neighbors .
Have a yard sale
Refurbish old furniture / find something you can make a project out of later
Internet browsing
Make new outfits from the items in your closet ( look on my older post on how I do it )
Coupon
Wash your vehicle
Listen to music
Set a list of goals / inspiration ( I do this a lot just so I will stay positive )
Homeowners always have something to do . Paint the outside trim / mow the lawn / landscape / pick the flowers you planted / etc.
Catch up on sleep ( I do this on the weekends . My week is usually crazy so i don't get much sleep in. )
Find change around the house and put it into a savings jar
Shampoo the carpets ( only if you have a shampooer at home , rather than renting one )
Sign up for freebies
Hope this helps
The way I stock up and live off of it for months .
In October ever year there is a deal on meat at a local little supermarket . I spend $127 or so on enough meat to run through the winter ( winter in VT last up to 7 months) . I buy enough for myself and my family members . If you can find good deals like I do it pays to pile up.
I buy bulk items : like toliet paper , pasta, body wash, shavers or laundry soap . Buying bulk items saves from going to the store all the time & coupons help save even more $$$. Laundry soap I find is the cheapest along with pasta.
Clearance items . These sections of the store are priced way down and it helps me stock up on almost anything for a few bucks . The best is I find stocking up the medicine cabinet on clearance racks is super inexpensive . I found band aids before for .75c .
As I have said before it always pays to research and find deals to make the dollar go even farther .
What I'm eating this week . I only paid $8.00 for 2 meals .
I bought Turkey burger ( it's cheaper than hamburg & healthier )
Peas
Diced tomatoes
Rice
Everything else I already had .
I'm going to make baked ziti & meatloaf with rice and peas.
Baked Ziti : ziti, half of the turkey burger, diced tomatoes , spaghetti sauce , cottage cheese & shredded cheese. ( spaghetti sauce & shredded cheese not in photo)
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms !!! I have some ideas for brunch .
Corn muffins with strawberry cream cheese filling .
A quiche ( put whatever you like in )
Bacon / sausage
Build your own pancakes / waffles with fixings
Fruit salad
Corn beef hash
Drinks ( coffee/ tea/ juice )
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Save $100 in 10 minutes
I just called my insurance company to ask if I could move my payment. As I was on the phone the lady reviewed my policy. She told me that if I signed up for paperless bills I can receive a discount and save myself $100 a year. Simple as that. Call your insurance company for discounts.
progressive.com
progressive.com
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Monday, May 5, 2014
Saturday, May 3, 2014
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