So my husband and I talked his sister into watching the kids so we could have a little get away for a day. Problem was we had very limited funds to really do any thing extravagant. Luckily some time management, coupons, and luck saved our date.
Usually, when faced with no money and a chance to get away hubby and I just go to the park and stream a movie. Problem was it was too wet and nothing on Netflix really interested us. As luck would have it our family members gave us gift cards last year for Christmas. It was time to put those puppies to use! We used a card at the theater and went to a matinée. No snacks! It's just not worth $7 for a thing of popcorn. Later we had a late lunch with another card and used a coupon. We had planned on getting froyo to top it off but it was getting a bit late. I'll just save that bogo froyo for later.
What would this have coat us normally? Probably about $30-40. Granted that isn't a huge bill but we paid nothing. I much prefer the $0 to $35!
Here is a list of some of the places I visit to get coupons and cards. Cards from family are free but even a discounted card is better than full price at the till.
Livingsocial.com
Groupon.com
http://www.cardpool.com Gift cards to restaurants and stores at 35% off.
www.restaurant.com Gift cards to local restaurants at up to 50% off.
I've also been known to stash away money "for a rainy day" and there are tons of places that we love to visit that are cheap and fun. We have a local retro arcade that has unlimited play time with a $5 cover fee. That and a froyo make a $20 date! Score!
Have fun finding deals!
Stay green,
Yasha
Showing posts with label coupon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coupon. Show all posts
Thursday, November 07, 2013
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Christmas presents for Grandparents
While at the Goodwill today (browsing for more frames) I noticed some very nice photo albums. Hmm, Grandparents like pictures of the grandkids right? Just how expensive are these albums? 50 CENTS!?
Score!
Now how to fill them? I know Walgreens has deals on 4x6 photos from time to time. Usually, 10 cents each. I think I could swing that. It looks like the grandparents will be getting more pictures of the grandkids this year. Won't that make them so happy?
Score!
Now how to fill them? I know Walgreens has deals on 4x6 photos from time to time. Usually, 10 cents each. I think I could swing that. It looks like the grandparents will be getting more pictures of the grandkids this year. Won't that make them so happy?
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Cheap Chef
How the heck do you stay within budget every month if you cook at home? I swear it seems like you just can't keep to the budget. You plan and plan and by the time it's time to cook recipe A you want B or "Hey let's try this new recipe we have the ingredients for it" happens and now recipe C, you were supposed to do on Thursday, is now missing carrots.
So how do you do it?
Don't plan ahead as much. Well planning is a large part of saving but it isn't everything. A meal plan for our house is generally vague. I may say, "Ok today we will have X and Saturday I feel like making Y," and then go buy the ingredients. But for the days in between I usually look to my fridge and pantry for guidance.
Usuing what you have. When you go out and buy ingredients for certian recipes your grocery bill can add up quickly. Instead of buying for one or two recipes a week buy basics and use them. Almost everyone has ground beef or turkey in the fridge or freezer, so look into using that in different ways. Burgers, meatballs, meatloaf, Taco meat, stroganoff, burger steaks, and salad toppings are some of the things you can make with ground meat.
Buy basics. Ever watch the old shows and someone was shopping? You always see some lady with a list saying, "Flour, milk, eggs..." This used to be a very basic concept. Shop for the basics. With flour, milk, and eggs and perhaps 2-3 other ingredients you can make pancakes, crepes, french toast, fried chicken, deviled eggs, muffins, a cake, noodles, tortillas, and cookies. Wow, that sounds like breakfast and lunch plus dessert!
Out of flour? Improvise! I learned from my mother, bless her heart, when you have 3 things on the stove and you just realised you ran out of milk, it is time to improvise. Run out of milk baking a cake? Use oil to suppliment. Run out of butter baking bread? Use applesauce. Out of carrots for your salad? Olives or gherkins can substitute.
There are so many ways to substitute when cooking. By searching the cabinets you can find plenty of ideas! I hope you have fun making and altering recipes. Good luck.
Stay green,
Yasha
So how do you do it?
Don't plan ahead as much. Well planning is a large part of saving but it isn't everything. A meal plan for our house is generally vague. I may say, "Ok today we will have X and Saturday I feel like making Y," and then go buy the ingredients. But for the days in between I usually look to my fridge and pantry for guidance.
Usuing what you have. When you go out and buy ingredients for certian recipes your grocery bill can add up quickly. Instead of buying for one or two recipes a week buy basics and use them. Almost everyone has ground beef or turkey in the fridge or freezer, so look into using that in different ways. Burgers, meatballs, meatloaf, Taco meat, stroganoff, burger steaks, and salad toppings are some of the things you can make with ground meat.
Buy basics. Ever watch the old shows and someone was shopping? You always see some lady with a list saying, "Flour, milk, eggs..." This used to be a very basic concept. Shop for the basics. With flour, milk, and eggs and perhaps 2-3 other ingredients you can make pancakes, crepes, french toast, fried chicken, deviled eggs, muffins, a cake, noodles, tortillas, and cookies. Wow, that sounds like breakfast and lunch plus dessert!
Out of flour? Improvise! I learned from my mother, bless her heart, when you have 3 things on the stove and you just realised you ran out of milk, it is time to improvise. Run out of milk baking a cake? Use oil to suppliment. Run out of butter baking bread? Use applesauce. Out of carrots for your salad? Olives or gherkins can substitute.
There are so many ways to substitute when cooking. By searching the cabinets you can find plenty of ideas! I hope you have fun making and altering recipes. Good luck.
Stay green,
Yasha
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