In this spiraling economy, everyone is taking their own measures to be prepared for the worst. Whether they are saving more of their income, cutting back on unnecessary expenses or learning how to shop more wisely and coupon, they are all preparing for what could and might happen to their family...the loss of an (or all) income. And maybe you've not even thought about it. What will you do if one of your incomes is lost due to lay off or job loss? What if you lose your only income due to one person being a stay at home parent? It's important to be prepared for tough times ahead. Even though the news casters say that the economy is slowly turning around, I think we have a long ways to go before things are 100% better. So it's best to be prepared for what could still come.
That's where two important parts of frugal living come in...food storage and stockpiling. The way I see it, these two aspects are the same, but completely different at the same time. Stockpiling is stocking up on a good deal, perhaps a free or cheap item after coupon. If you can get Campbell's cream of chicken soup for only a few pennies after sale and coupon, then by all means stock up! Calculate how much you will be needing in the next year and stockpile as close to that amount as you can! Often time stockpiled items are prepackaged items (canned goods, boxed goods, meats, etc.), and in being prepared, it is important to have on hand a food storage of ingredients that can be used to make full meals independent of your stockpile. Items that you shouldn't forget when deciding what to keep in your food storage would be flour, dry milk, oil, sugar, yeast, etc.
Deciding how much you want to stockpile and have available in your food storage is up to you. Do you want to be set for A few weeks? 6 months? A year? That amount is up to you to determine. It is typically recommended, however, that you have about 6 months to one years worth of food stockpiled and stored, just in case. That's a pretty lofty goal! But with some hard work and dedication, you can have a good stockpile and food storage going in no time! Just don't expect it to happen overnight! Be sure to use the Food Storage Calculator to see how much you should shoot for based on the size of your family.
If you just think I'm crazy and don't believe in the true importance of a food storage and stockpile just head on over to the Prudent Homemaker to read her story of how her food storage and stockpile fed her family for a year!
Food storage and stockpiling is something that I really believe in, for the sake of feeding my family, and it really works for me!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Holiday Gift Giving Deals
...Head on over here to print off a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $5 or more at any Hallmark store! There are many things that would be very little OOP after this coupon, which would make for an inexpensive Christmas gift that's sure to be loved! You can also get a box of Christmas cards for very inexpensively with this coupon! This coupon is also available in several magazines...for a complete listing, head on over here!
...If you haven't snagged your 50 photo cards for only $3 (just S&H!) from See Here yet, then you're in luck! This deal was supposed to expire on 11/30/09...but SeeHere was gracious enough to extend it! So just head on over here to order yourself 50 photo cards and pay only S&H!! Just remember to enter coupon code newbaby when you are checking out! I got my order last week and am sooo happy with how these turned out!!
...Remember that Swagbucks is offering up different gift cards at a reduced price through December! A great way to pick up a gift card for that hard to shop for person on your list at a discount! Don't know what Swagbucks is? Then head on over here to learn more! It's a great site that you MUST be using!
...Money Saving Mom put together a great list of some of the current coupons for retail stores that you can use to get a discount on Christmas gifts! This is great, especially if you were already planning on shopping these stores for some gifts!
...Snapfish is offering a free $10 credit to any new members! This could make for some super great deals or FREE deals on photo gifts! Head on over here to learn more!
...If you haven't snagged your 50 photo cards for only $3 (just S&H!) from See Here yet, then you're in luck! This deal was supposed to expire on 11/30/09...but SeeHere was gracious enough to extend it! So just head on over here to order yourself 50 photo cards and pay only S&H!! Just remember to enter coupon code newbaby when you are checking out! I got my order last week and am sooo happy with how these turned out!!
...Remember that Swagbucks is offering up different gift cards at a reduced price through December! A great way to pick up a gift card for that hard to shop for person on your list at a discount! Don't know what Swagbucks is? Then head on over here to learn more! It's a great site that you MUST be using!
...Money Saving Mom put together a great list of some of the current coupons for retail stores that you can use to get a discount on Christmas gifts! This is great, especially if you were already planning on shopping these stores for some gifts!
...Snapfish is offering a free $10 credit to any new members! This could make for some super great deals or FREE deals on photo gifts! Head on over here to learn more!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Ways to Save - Decorating your Home for the Holidays Edition!
...Need a new tree skirt? How about a woman's skirt? Just head on over to your local Goodwill and look for a woman's skirt in the colors that you want. We are going with a brown and gold theme on our tree this year, and I found a brow peasant skirt with gorgeous embroidery and sequins for only $3 at Goodwill...and it looks FAB as our tree skirt! You can't even tell that it's a woman's skirt!!
...Wait until the after Christmas sales! I have yet to pay full price for any of our Christmas decorations. I just wait until after Christmas when they get marked down, and once they hit 50% and up I buy up!
...Watch Goodwill and garage sales throughout the year. It's amazing some of the gorgeous gems you can find for pennies on the dollar!
...Wreath's can be soooo expensive, both real and artificial! Instead of making one up with greens, try making an ornament wreath! Ornaments can be gotten for mega cheap at Goodwill or Dollar stores, so pick some up and then head on over to Thrifty Decor Chick for a tutorial!
...Check out Dollar Stores! They have cute stuff for only $1!! I get a lot of holiday decorations there (not just Christmas!)!!
Happy Holiday Decorating! To see more great money saving ideas, check out Frugal Friday over at Life as Mom!
...Wait until the after Christmas sales! I have yet to pay full price for any of our Christmas decorations. I just wait until after Christmas when they get marked down, and once they hit 50% and up I buy up!
...Watch Goodwill and garage sales throughout the year. It's amazing some of the gorgeous gems you can find for pennies on the dollar!
...Wreath's can be soooo expensive, both real and artificial! Instead of making one up with greens, try making an ornament wreath! Ornaments can be gotten for mega cheap at Goodwill or Dollar stores, so pick some up and then head on over to Thrifty Decor Chick for a tutorial!
...Check out Dollar Stores! They have cute stuff for only $1!! I get a lot of holiday decorations there (not just Christmas!)!!
Happy Holiday Decorating! To see more great money saving ideas, check out Frugal Friday over at Life as Mom!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Freebie Roundup!
...Suffering from chapped lips during this cold and dry time of year? Then head on over to MyCarmex where you can snag a free sample of Carmex Lip Balm!
...Head on over to Parents Choice to get three different samples of their formulas! Each sample is a day's worth of formula, so that's three days of free feedings!!
...I haven't had to purchase feminine products in at least a year thanks to signing up for all the freebies that are always available! Get a head start on your own samples stockpile by requesting a sample of Carefree liners and Stayfree pads over here!!
...Seventh Generation is offering up a free sample of their dryer sheets! If you cut your sheets into halves or thirds like I do then you can make this sample stretch for more than one load too!
...Don't spend money on a new calandar at the end of the year! Just head on over to Betty Crocker and you can get a fun 2010 calandar for completely free!
...Coffee Lover? Head on over to WalMart for a free sample of Millstone's gourmet coffee!
...Splenda has some new flavors available, and they're offering up samples for you to try! Choose from fiber, coffee mocha or coffee hazlenut!
...Shampoo Samples are great! I love them for when we travel, they pack well and I don't have to worry about bottle explosions! So be sure to grab up this sample of Aveeno Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner!
...Head on over to Parents Choice to get three different samples of their formulas! Each sample is a day's worth of formula, so that's three days of free feedings!!
...I haven't had to purchase feminine products in at least a year thanks to signing up for all the freebies that are always available! Get a head start on your own samples stockpile by requesting a sample of Carefree liners and Stayfree pads over here!!
...Seventh Generation is offering up a free sample of their dryer sheets! If you cut your sheets into halves or thirds like I do then you can make this sample stretch for more than one load too!
...Don't spend money on a new calandar at the end of the year! Just head on over to Betty Crocker and you can get a fun 2010 calandar for completely free!
...Coffee Lover? Head on over to WalMart for a free sample of Millstone's gourmet coffee!
...Splenda has some new flavors available, and they're offering up samples for you to try! Choose from fiber, coffee mocha or coffee hazlenut!
...Shampoo Samples are great! I love them for when we travel, they pack well and I don't have to worry about bottle explosions! So be sure to grab up this sample of Aveeno Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Have a Freezer Cooking Day!
I'm sure you've all seen the posts and updates that MoneySavingMom puts up when she hosts her baking/freezer cooking days. She is really onto somethig here, and up until about a month ago, I never got into it. One Sunday however, I decided it couldn't hurt to at least boil up some chicken and mash up some potatoes to have on hand in the freezer for upcoming meals.
There are two ways that you can go about freezer cooking days. The first way is to make up complete meals and store them in the freezer, so that all you have to do for supper is pull the meal you want out of the freezer to thaw and then bake! The other method is just doing the prep work. I choose to do the latter method because I love cooking and would hate it if I couldn't spend at least some time in the kitchen each night. However, with me working until 6:00 pm every night, by the time I get everything prepped and cooked, it's sometimes pretty late before we can actually eat. Things go so much faster if the prep work is done and all I have to do is assemble and cook or bake!
A common freezer cooking day for me consists of boiling some chicken to shred for the freezer (and then saving the stock to freeze as well that was made when the chicken was boiling...it's like getting two birds with one stone!), browning some ground meat, using my bread machine to mix up a few batches of french bread and/or pizza dough and making up a loaf or two of banana bread or muffins to have on hand for snacks.
Not only do I think about the things that will be needed for the next few menu plans, but I also look into our freezer and look for staples that we are running low on. For example, this past weekend I noticed that we only had one container of freezer jam left from this summer, so I whipped out some of the fresh rhubarb I had frozen and made a few batches of jam to replenish our stock (I tried a new recipe from the one that is linked, watch for it over at my other blog!). I also use my crockpot to make beans for the freezer when our bean stock is low. I always have a few bags of dried beans in the pantry, so it's no problem to just whip out a bag and cook them up!
I do try to keep a few full meals on hand in the freezer as well, for those nights when I get home from work and am not feeling well, or am just too exhausted to cook at all. I don't typically include those meals in my freezer cooking day, instead throughout the month I make a double or triple batch of a dish or two and then freeze most of it. It's nice to know that I have a standby in the freezer so we can avoid the takeout money pit!
Give freezer cooking a try! You will save time by doing everything in bulk and at once, money, and energy since you'll multitask your oven/stove heat. This is what really works for me!!
There are two ways that you can go about freezer cooking days. The first way is to make up complete meals and store them in the freezer, so that all you have to do for supper is pull the meal you want out of the freezer to thaw and then bake! The other method is just doing the prep work. I choose to do the latter method because I love cooking and would hate it if I couldn't spend at least some time in the kitchen each night. However, with me working until 6:00 pm every night, by the time I get everything prepped and cooked, it's sometimes pretty late before we can actually eat. Things go so much faster if the prep work is done and all I have to do is assemble and cook or bake!
A common freezer cooking day for me consists of boiling some chicken to shred for the freezer (and then saving the stock to freeze as well that was made when the chicken was boiling...it's like getting two birds with one stone!), browning some ground meat, using my bread machine to mix up a few batches of french bread and/or pizza dough and making up a loaf or two of banana bread or muffins to have on hand for snacks.
Not only do I think about the things that will be needed for the next few menu plans, but I also look into our freezer and look for staples that we are running low on. For example, this past weekend I noticed that we only had one container of freezer jam left from this summer, so I whipped out some of the fresh rhubarb I had frozen and made a few batches of jam to replenish our stock (I tried a new recipe from the one that is linked, watch for it over at my other blog!). I also use my crockpot to make beans for the freezer when our bean stock is low. I always have a few bags of dried beans in the pantry, so it's no problem to just whip out a bag and cook them up!
I do try to keep a few full meals on hand in the freezer as well, for those nights when I get home from work and am not feeling well, or am just too exhausted to cook at all. I don't typically include those meals in my freezer cooking day, instead throughout the month I make a double or triple batch of a dish or two and then freeze most of it. It's nice to know that I have a standby in the freezer so we can avoid the takeout money pit!
Give freezer cooking a try! You will save time by doing everything in bulk and at once, money, and energy since you'll multitask your oven/stove heat. This is what really works for me!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
November Goal Wrap Up and December Goals
...Get credit card debt completely paid off!
I've finally decided that this tax return has taken 6 months to get to us, and we're STILL waiting to hear back from them. It's frustrating to have to call and check up on the IRS, we shouldn't have to babysit them on this. Anyways. I want to start snowballing out of our paychecks while we are waiting for this seemingly nonexistant return to show up, but money is very tight right now with hubs' hours being cut at work due to it being the off season. So we are actually having to pull from savings to make ends meet each month. I feel like we're sliding backwards, but it will all work out eventually.
...Find new ways to make money from home.
I've been religiously checking my You Data account, and have started making little bits here and there through this method. I've also listed some books on Half.com to sell and have sorted through all my clothes and have quite a large pile to take to the second hand store. I've also been using my MyPoints account and my Swagbucks account to save up for gift cards to put towards baby items when the time comes.
...Get emergency savings account built up to one years expenses
We are actually currently having to borrow from this savings and not be able to add to it. We also will have to change this goal a little bit because right now we're just concerned about getting this account built up with enough to last through my unpaid maternity leave in May.
...Accumulate as many gift cards as possible
In the last two months I earned $20 in Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks. I've decided that I'm saving these gift cards up for the baby's crib. I've found one on Amazon that I really like, and we're over halfway to having it paid in full with gift cards from Swagbucks. I also got a $5 Subway gift card back from a rebate I sent in and a $5 gift card to Target from a trade that I did over at HotCouponWorld.
....Get back in the rebate game
In the past two months, I have sent out for a whole 6 rebates totaling $34.56. I recieved $49.89 back from previously sent out forms.
...Get house ready for winter
I'm just waiting on hubs to finish putting in the storm windows and the house will be ready. We had kept our thermostat at 65, and I turned it up to 68 one day when I was cold. Hubs complained that he thought it was too hot then, so back down to 65 it went. Which is nice, not having to fight over a crazy low thermostat temperature.
...Be very organized in my Christmas gift shopping and keep OOP expenses very low.
Thanks to some great online deals, I've been able to get a few people on my list crossed off with practically no OOP. I've also decided to utilize my stockpile and compile several gift baskets. This will be very little OOP as well.
...Get back into the habit of homemaking items that are cheaper homemade than store bought.
Thanks to a few freezer cooking days throughout the month, I have been able to make more time for homemaking and homebaking items. This has helped the grocery budget immesely!
...Set 2010 goals!!
...Stockpile one years worth of baking supplies while they are on great sale for December. This will lower OOP the other 11 months of the year.
...Call the IRS and find out what is STILL taking so long.
...Get hubs on board to help with money saving costs (reducing energy useage, etc.)
...Find areas we can reduce our budget, to make more room for snowballing at debt and savings.
I've finally decided that this tax return has taken 6 months to get to us, and we're STILL waiting to hear back from them. It's frustrating to have to call and check up on the IRS, we shouldn't have to babysit them on this. Anyways. I want to start snowballing out of our paychecks while we are waiting for this seemingly nonexistant return to show up, but money is very tight right now with hubs' hours being cut at work due to it being the off season. So we are actually having to pull from savings to make ends meet each month. I feel like we're sliding backwards, but it will all work out eventually.
...Find new ways to make money from home.
I've been religiously checking my You Data account, and have started making little bits here and there through this method. I've also listed some books on Half.com to sell and have sorted through all my clothes and have quite a large pile to take to the second hand store. I've also been using my MyPoints account and my Swagbucks account to save up for gift cards to put towards baby items when the time comes.
...Get emergency savings account built up to one years expenses
We are actually currently having to borrow from this savings and not be able to add to it. We also will have to change this goal a little bit because right now we're just concerned about getting this account built up with enough to last through my unpaid maternity leave in May.
Couponing Goals...
...Accumulate as many gift cards as possible
In the last two months I earned $20 in Amazon gift cards from Swagbucks. I've decided that I'm saving these gift cards up for the baby's crib. I've found one on Amazon that I really like, and we're over halfway to having it paid in full with gift cards from Swagbucks. I also got a $5 Subway gift card back from a rebate I sent in and a $5 gift card to Target from a trade that I did over at HotCouponWorld.
....Get back in the rebate game
In the past two months, I have sent out for a whole 6 rebates totaling $34.56. I recieved $49.89 back from previously sent out forms.
November Goals Update...
...Get house ready for winter
I'm just waiting on hubs to finish putting in the storm windows and the house will be ready. We had kept our thermostat at 65, and I turned it up to 68 one day when I was cold. Hubs complained that he thought it was too hot then, so back down to 65 it went. Which is nice, not having to fight over a crazy low thermostat temperature.
...Be very organized in my Christmas gift shopping and keep OOP expenses very low.
Thanks to some great online deals, I've been able to get a few people on my list crossed off with practically no OOP. I've also decided to utilize my stockpile and compile several gift baskets. This will be very little OOP as well.
...Get back into the habit of homemaking items that are cheaper homemade than store bought.
Thanks to a few freezer cooking days throughout the month, I have been able to make more time for homemaking and homebaking items. This has helped the grocery budget immesely!
December Goals...
...Set 2010 goals!!
...Stockpile one years worth of baking supplies while they are on great sale for December. This will lower OOP the other 11 months of the year.
...Call the IRS and find out what is STILL taking so long.
...Get hubs on board to help with money saving costs (reducing energy useage, etc.)
...Find areas we can reduce our budget, to make more room for snowballing at debt and savings.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Gift Giving Deals Round Up!
...Planning to give a family member a photo gift for Christmas? Currently, Canvas People has a great deal going on where you can get an 8x10 canvas print for FREE (plus shippig, which is $14.95). But this is where it gets really good! If you shop through Cashbaq, you will get $6 back. PLUS, if you aren't a member yet, you will get $5 back for just signing up! So that's $11 extra dollars coming back you to in rebate form, making the 8x10 canvas print cost only $3.95!! What a deal! Here's what to do...
- Head on over to Cashbaq and set up an account.
- In the search box, enter Canvas People, and click on the top option that says "Free 8x10 after $6 rebate"
- Follow the instructions from there, and you will have your free print!
What a great holiday (almost) freebie!!
...Swagbucks is offering up great deals on gift cards during the month of December! Each day they will be offering a different gift card at a discount "swagbucks" rate! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for what cards are marked down each day, it could be a good way to get some practically free gift cards, and at a discount at that!!
...If you have a beer conesuer on your list this year? Then head on over to Pottery Barn and pick up a customized beer mug for only $7! You can get up to 8 charecters per line...and two lines! Monogramming and shipping is free...so $7 will be your total OOP for this unique gift!
...Giving gifts that require batteries? Or just need to stock up on batteries for the loads of gifts you know that YOUR kids will get requiring batteries? Then head on over to Staples and you can get a 20 pack of Duracell batteries for FREE after Staples Reward! Just sign up for a Rewards Card, then purchase a 20 pack of AA or AAA Duracell batteries for $12.99 and you'll get back $12.99 back in Staples Rewards. This deal can be done twice per week (per household) until December 24. That's a lot of free batteries!!
...If you haven't gotten your 50 Christmas cards for only $3.95 (just shipping) yet then today is your LAST DAY to do so!! Just head on over to SeeHere and you will get to order 50 FREE customizable photo Christmas cards (with envelopes!!), just pay $3.95 s&h...which is still an AMAZING deal!! But remember....TODAY IS THE LAST DAY for this deal!! So hurry over!! This is a deal that can't be beat!!
Lastly, today is Cyber Monday, so there will be a lot of great deals going on! I have to work all day and will miss most of it, but just head on over to Hip to Save and she will be blogging all of the fab deals as she finds them! The few I've seen already are pretty hot, so today could be your day to finish Christmas shopping on a budget without even leaving your house!!
Happy Holiday Shopping (on a budget!)!!
- Head on over to Cashbaq and set up an account.
- In the search box, enter Canvas People, and click on the top option that says "Free 8x10 after $6 rebate"
- Follow the instructions from there, and you will have your free print!
What a great holiday (almost) freebie!!
...Swagbucks is offering up great deals on gift cards during the month of December! Each day they will be offering a different gift card at a discount "swagbucks" rate! Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for what cards are marked down each day, it could be a good way to get some practically free gift cards, and at a discount at that!!
...If you have a beer conesuer on your list this year? Then head on over to Pottery Barn and pick up a customized beer mug for only $7! You can get up to 8 charecters per line...and two lines! Monogramming and shipping is free...so $7 will be your total OOP for this unique gift!
...Giving gifts that require batteries? Or just need to stock up on batteries for the loads of gifts you know that YOUR kids will get requiring batteries? Then head on over to Staples and you can get a 20 pack of Duracell batteries for FREE after Staples Reward! Just sign up for a Rewards Card, then purchase a 20 pack of AA or AAA Duracell batteries for $12.99 and you'll get back $12.99 back in Staples Rewards. This deal can be done twice per week (per household) until December 24. That's a lot of free batteries!!
...If you haven't gotten your 50 Christmas cards for only $3.95 (just shipping) yet then today is your LAST DAY to do so!! Just head on over to SeeHere and you will get to order 50 FREE customizable photo Christmas cards (with envelopes!!), just pay $3.95 s&h...which is still an AMAZING deal!! But remember....TODAY IS THE LAST DAY for this deal!! So hurry over!! This is a deal that can't be beat!!
Lastly, today is Cyber Monday, so there will be a lot of great deals going on! I have to work all day and will miss most of it, but just head on over to Hip to Save and she will be blogging all of the fab deals as she finds them! The few I've seen already are pretty hot, so today could be your day to finish Christmas shopping on a budget without even leaving your house!!
Happy Holiday Shopping (on a budget!)!!
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