Quick tips of the day.

My quick money saving tip today is to freeze stuff.  When meat or veggies go on sale,  buy extra and freeze them!  I shop on the weekends at a discount market for vegetables and when I see a really good deal like 5 lbs. of green beans for $1.  I get them.  Then blanch them quickly and freeze.  They do great in stews and soups all winter long.  I do the same with broccoli, carrots, and peppers.  Berries do really well like this too, especially if you like them in smoothies.  Since they are frozen you don't have to add ice which usually waters down the smoothie.  Alternatively you can use the berries for pies.  Just remember once you freeze fresh produce it is really only good to serve cooked.  Some hard cheeses do well in the freezer as well.  As for meat there is nothing more convenient than ground beef or a pot roast in the fridge. 
When you know you have a busy day don't stop by for Chinese take out.  Plan a head, defrost the meat the night before, and cook it all day in a slow cooker.  It will be ready when you get home from work and will taste delicious.  Last night I did chicken thighs and drumsticks in a ginger Teriyaki marinade (recipe below) for about 5 hours while my husband and I went to the gym.  He had it for dinner and I saved the rest for lunch.  Make your life easier by making a big pot of food and using it all week for lunches.  This will also save you time when you are getting ready for work and will not allow you the excuse to buy lunch!  I tracked how much money I was spending on eating out for lunch on the days I "just didn't have time" to make my lunch.  I am saving almost $30 a week by bringing my lunch with me.  Plus I am eating healthier.  Give it a try!

Ginger Teriyaki Chicken (in Slow Cooker)

1 Onion
2 Cloves Garlic
2 lbs Chicken (breast or on bone)
Bottled Marinade (Micheal Jordan's - yes THE Micheal Jordan)
Pepper
Salt
Oil

Slice the Onions (they will caramelize in the sauce and are oh so good).  Smash the Garlic (in large pieces to take out later) or grate finely.  Salt and Pepper the chicken.  Just coat the chicken in the marinade with a little extra for the sauce.  You don't want it to burn in the slow cooker, but you don't want too much.  Add a little oil (or water for a little healthier meal) until he chicken is about half submerged in liquid.  Put on the lid, turn it on high for about 3 hours, or low for up to 6.  Set it and forget it (until you smell it at least).  Fall off the bone juicy chicken is the result.  This is good with any marinade, and for this particularly Carrots would be a good addition.

Work from home

This is not so much a money saving tip as it is a money making. Explore the world of Work from home. I currently do Quality Assurance for DemandMedia. Which sounds so much cooler than it actually is. I get paid per word, and I choose the best keywords for a title. So that when you search for something on a search engine, if you type that particular keyword or phrase, the title will pop up. It is so very boring but I have made about 300 dollars in the past 2 months and I really just worked in 20 min incriments and less than an hour a day. I am now trying this data entry work to check this out go to

www.earnparttimejobs.com/index.php?id=3076168

I am still trying this one out but like many of the legitimate work from home jobs there is no fee to join (and there never should be).

Working for home is a great option for stay at home moms that just need a little extra cash, help to pay off some of those bills, for people who need to take a second job but not sure how to fit it in their schedule, or for those who just want a little extra money for the ever swiftly approaching holidays. Another website I have looked at, which has very good reviews and a number of full time work from home opportunities is Homeworkersnet.com There are a number of well known and reputable companies. Just we forewarned that a number of these jobs are call center jobs.

Happy job hunting.

Budgeting Techniques

There are a number of ways people go about budgeting. Some people are blessed with the ability to say no to their own wants, others (like myself) have to find ways to make it impossible to say yes. Here are a few examples of way to budget your money so you only spend what you can afford.

1. Cash only

Just like it sounds, CASH ONLY! No debit or credit cards. Take out the money you have budgeted for the week or month and that is all you get until the next budgeting period. This is extremely effective for those of us who don't think twice about swiping a card to pay for something. For me personally it hits my wallet a lot harder if I can physically see how much of that green paper is being handed over. One of the most effective ways I have known for budgeting is called the envelope system. Take a number of envelopes and write down the different areas you have budgeted for. Now disperse the cash into each envelope. When you go grocery shopping take the "Food envelope" with you. This way, you can only spend what you have on you, no more. When you go out to eat, take the "luxury, or Mad Money" with you. If all you have is cash, then that is all that you can spend.

2. Go back to checks.

In a world where plastic seems to rule, hand writing check may be a viable alternative to those who do not want to carry all of their money for the week in their purse. While most checks today are treated like debit cards, the physical handwriting out of the check is another reminder of how much you are spending. However, if you are a person who has more self control than I do, a debit card can also do the trick. The important thing is to make sure you are staying with in budget every week!

3. Prepaid Cards.

This is something that is a good alternative to cash. They work just like debit cards, even at ATM'S, but you can reload your weekly or monthly budget onto one of these cards. They cost about 5 dollars initially, but you can reload them at anytime. Security features include, your name on the front, pin #, and replaceable if lost or stolen. However, this card is NOT attached to any of your bank accounts so you won't run the risk of overdrafts. This is also a good way to learn how to manage debit or credit cards for persons who have had credit trouble in the past. You get the ease of a card but none of the risks. Check out VISA prepaid cards online to see the options, or go to a Walgreen's, CVS, or Walmart. Most of these stores carry them near the gift card section.

These are my suggestions on ways to budget. It is easy to make a budget on paper, but following through when you are in your favorite shoe shop can be difficult. If you only have cash and it is the difference between having those great stilettos or eating dinner that night, hopefully you will come to a conclusion that is best for your family. A few small sacrifices for a short period of time can mean a lot less stress for years to come!