Saturday, May 31, 2014

Dress I bought on EBAY last year for $14. It's from H&M

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 

Outfit idea

I paid $20 for the jeans , belt I bought at a consignment shop for $6, top was free and cardigan I bought on EBAY last fall for $14

Under $30 dollar outfit I wore this week .

I paid $1.97 for the shorts last fall on clearance , the shirt was free last year at Old Navy & the jacket I've had for years. I think that was $30

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

Saturday mail freebies. Us weekly & sample + coupon of Nivea .

Get free rewards from a website I just found called Recyclebank.com

https://www.recyclebank.com/rewards/

Save .50c on Redbox with this code

Freebies this week . Magazines , crest white strip & coupon, McDonalds coupons . Magazines from rewards country , crest white strip from proctor & gamble , and McDonalds coupons just came in the mail as an ad.

Suave products on sale at Family Dollar 90c

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 . 

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 .
 


Saturdays freebies.




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

Dollar tree coupon match ups

http://www.debtfreespending.com/dollar-tree-free-items-deals-coupon-match-ups-525/

Saved $48 on sheets I desperately needed .

Walmart coupon match ups

http://www.myfreeproductsamples.com/coupon/walmart-coupon-match-ups-51/

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Walmart coupon match ups

http://www.myfreeproductsamples.com/coupon/walmart-coupon-match-ups-40/

Rite aid coupon match ups for this week

http://www.myfreeproductsamples.com/coupon/rite-aid-coupon-match-ups-26/

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 

I found a new printable coupon website. Commonkindness coupons

http://www.commonkindness.com/

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 .

Tide is super cheap at Dollar General

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)
Meatloaf : cook turkey burger , 1 envelope Lipton onion soup mix, 3/4 c bread crumbs , 2 eggs , 3/4 c water & 1/3 c ketchup . ( mix all together until combined & bake @ 350 for 30-45 minutes . 

Freebies !!! From myfreeproductsamples.com

I thought this app was a neat idea . Share food & help & meet people . There are many towns now getting around the concept of not throwing away leftovers in efforts to help feed others.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/leftoverswap-find-share-food!/id709466907?mt=8

5 ways to make your FB page mom friendly & get a perk from klout

http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/4562b6c9-0513-4de8-8b5a-6f0c00bc646a.aspx


klout.com

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 )

Put money into your pocket by consigning clothes . I found a website called ThredUp.com. Sign up & fill out form to get a bag to send in .

http://www.thredup.com/bags/info

Free iPhone 5s at Best Buy . Offer & conditions below .

https://www.yahoo.com/news/free-iphone-5s-deal-too-good-pass-151614727.html