Make your own Recipe Ready!

Has anyone seen the new Recipe Ready things from Birds Eye? I picked up a few to check them out. They're not your classic diced veggies. They're actual ingredients you might use in a recipe. My favorite one is the diced onion and pepper.

I got the idea to just buy veggies and are chop them for my recipes from these Recipe Ready bags. On the days I'm premaking a bunch of food I go ahead and chop up a bunch of extra veggies and pack them away in the freezer. Then when I go to cook I can just pull some stuff out and toss it in a pan.

I decided premaking half of the weeks meals was a much better use of my time but that still leaves 3 days I have to cook from scratch. During those 3 days, to cut down on prep time, I just pull from whatever I've pre chopped.

This has also help me cut back on our grocery bills. I can still buy the fresh veggies I love to use and get them at good prices. I tend to buy way too much though. After chopping and freezing them not only am I saving prep time later on but I'm saving money by using what was on sale and not wasting money by wasting veggies.

Thanks Birds Eye for giving me this idea.

Stay Healthy,
Yasha

The Cheap Date

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

Save money! Save health!

Ok, so that title make no grammatical sense. I couldn't think of anything better.

Since I've been posting about allergies and colds I figured this post would go right along with that. Chances are you or someone you know could save some cash. I wish this post would work for all of us but it's rather topic specific.

See, this is about cigarettes. I'm not even going to touch on the health impact. I won't mention it, not even once. I'm going for the money argument. A long time about I used to be a smoker. I know it's hard to quit but the way I eventually did quit was by checking my bank account. I added up everything I spent on cigarettes and I was not happy.

I'm going to make it quick:
Average cost of Cigarettes per pack by state varies from $4.96 in Kentucky to $14.50 in New York. (Prices from theawl.com)
I'm going to run averages a few different ways: The lowest average price per pack $5, Highest price per pack $14.50, and average price per pack $8.4622 or $8.50 for simplicity.
First how much it costs a year.
Smoking only a pack a day you spend: $1,825.00; $5,292.50; or $3,102.50.
Smoking a half pack a day: $912.50; $2646.25; or $1,551.25
Smoking a pack a week: $260.00; $754.00; or $442.00
and 2 packs a day: $3,650.00; $10,585.00; or $6,205.00

Numbers, numbers, numbers...

What does it mean?
For college students:

Average cost of a 4 year college per year for a full time undergrad $22,092. (according to NCES) So if you smoke a pack a day at the average price of $8.50 a pack you can pay 14% of your tuition out of pocket every year or $12,410.00 by the end of college. That like getting a semester free of loans!

For high school students:
Again with a pack a day.
You can buy a scooter or put a down payment on a car. You can have one very awesome prom dress or tux plus enough cash for weekly mani/pedis and possibly enough for your favorite stylist or shopping trip.

For young adults:

You can use the money to help pay off a student loan, put a down payment on a car, get your weekly mani/pedi, invest in stocks, or put it in a 401k.

So lots of things to do with it other than smoke it.

Stay green,

Yasha

Downsizing to a Minimalist

We're out of the house and back into an apartment. Not a big deal for us. Some repairs were made to the house but there was so much wrong with it. It needed more work than we were told, plumbing, structure, etc. Just goes to show you even if you think the repair job is good you could run into more than you can handle.

One of the things we're going to have to fix is the amount of stuff we have! From the 15k sqft house to a 700sqft apartment things certainly do NOT  fit. So how to make it fit? First we downsized out entertainment center from a 2 piece to a small 1 piece that fits just the tv and game system. The desk has gone from a corner desk to a single top desk. And no more dining room. That last part is the only sad thing about it all.

But what did we do with all the stuff? We sold most of it! Between Craigslist and a yard sale we got rid of many things we didn't need and made a small profit. The rest of it went to charity. Since we don't have room I didn't want to keep it all here; we didn't see the point in renting a storage unit for things we don't need. So, out it went!

Here's to a less cluttered home!

Stay green,
Yasha

New Kitchen courtesy of Resale

I've just gotten home after a full day family fun. My only disappointment today was the realization that I was 100 tiles shy of refinishing the bathroom.

Today we visited Re-Store. Re-Store is a resale store featuring items needed to remodel an repair homes. Everything is donated or rescued from the dumpsters at job sites. This wonderful store is run laby Habitat for Humanity and everything you purchase goes to funding new homes for people that need them!

After spending 2 hours sorting through 8x8in tiles I finally realized I would be 100 tiles short of the 260 I need. *sigh* Oh well, I can try again later.

Stay green, Yasha

The New Floor

We just finished (about a month ago that is) redoing the entire hallway and kitchen floor. I'm so excited about it! It looks wonderful; much better than the yucky flooring that was under the tile removed tile. Unfortunately, the hardwood that should have been beautiful could not be restored due to the cheap stick-down tile that had been placed on top of it (3 layers!) Some of that wood had to be replaced where a previous tenant had let water pool and it warped and rotted. (Yuck!)

What has been placed down is a stick on vinyl flooring but looks much better than the yucky brown "tile." The new flooring is imitation wood in a walnut color. I'm so excited about it! It was purchased by the owners over a year ago. Since I had never installed flooring before one of them showed me how. It's actually much easier than I had envisioned and I'm ready to tackle it by myself next time.

The next floor to be redone is the secondary bathroom. Oi, it needs a lot of work tiles need to be reset in the bathing area, flooring needs to be put down, and the whole thing needs a general remodel.

Wondering why all the remodeling on a rented house? Check my post on saving on rent: HERE.

Pictures will follow but my camera is dead!

Stay green,

Yasha

Use It Up, Wear It Out...

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. That's what grandma said right? I try to take it to heart at our house so food, clothes, and other assorted things don't usually get wasted.

This is a big reason I shop used stores. I feel bad paying full price for kids clothes that I know they will grow out of before they get a hole in them.

I've scored pretty big over the years by shopping used but the biggest score is using it until it wears out completely. Take these shoes for instance. My favorite sandals have lasted me 4+ years of heavy wear. These poor shoes are practically the only thing I have worn in warm weather during that time.

It may now be time for new shoes but by using up my shoes until they have completely worn out I have probably saved about $40. That isn't much to some people but it's a day's worth of meals for my family.

Hope this inspires you to keep something a bit longer than you would normally!

Stay green,
Yasha

My "new" old picture frames

I have some old picture frames that just don't match. You know the kind, every shape, size, material, and color ever thought of. Some how my taste has changed over the years and I decided to buy new frames while never throwing out the old ones.

I finally got fed up with my frame fetish and decided to fix the problem only to discover a new and much larger problem.

I'm broke.

So what to do? What to do? Hmm... Don't I still have a can of spray paint around here somewhere? I do. I do! Hooray!

I am now the proud owner of 7 "new" black frames. All it took was a little bit of time and effort. No my frames don't all match in size or shape but they are all the same color. It gives it a kind of eclectic feel without being overwhelming. Since the color scheme in my living room is pewter and black this worked out pretty well for me.

Tips for decorating on a tight budget:

• Look around. You may have something you can use. The picture frames and spray paint I already had.
• Check resale, yard sales, and charity stores. Since I'm painting all the picture frames the same color and don't care if bevels or sizes match I could get any frame I want.
• Redefine your limitations. For the longest time I wanted frames from only one collection. One shape, one size, one bevel. I'm much happier with reusing my old frames and actually being able to display my pictures than having to wait and save up to buy the new frames at $8 a pop.

My next project will be a DVD stand that currently has a wooden finish. It will soon be black to match the rest of the living room!

Stay green,
Yasha

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

All I want for Christmas is a new AIO...

AIO (All in One) is a type of diaper that closely resembles a disposable diaper in shape and design. I happened to have come across a great deal on AIOs recently. Since my baby girl has all but outgrown the prefolds I have this is perfect timing. Not only do we have the money but the person selling them is pricing them way below cost because they have quit cloth diapering.

I'm so excited that tomorrow I will have in my hands new, to me, AIOs and I just can't wait!

I am a little hesitant about what condition the diapers are in. If this woman is selling them so cheap there must be something wrong with them right? I really hope they are fine and she actually is just looking to get rid of her stash.

Well whatever the outcome of tomorrow may be I am still very excited and hopeful! Soon I may have 12 new AIOs to add to my diaper stash. I'm relieved that I found a good deal on the size I need since I've waited so long to buy them. I've been hoping I wouldn't have to pay full price and that I would get them on sale. I guess my wish has come true.

Stay green,
Yasha

Getting the most out of the resale shops.

I love to shop at the local resale shop. It's great to find clothes that look new and have a small price tag. Here are some tips to shopping smart second hand.

1. Scrutinize. Look at the item closely. The people at the front may or may not have seen a stain or missing button. Check to make sure the item is in good shape.
2. Be Selective. If you do find a stain, missing button, broken zipper, tear, etc consider how much it will take to fix the item. If it will take too much put it back. I bought a dress yesterday that was missing a button after a quick search I found a spare button sewn to the inside.
3. Haggle. If there is something wrong with the item and you still want to buy it ask the shop keeper to discount it. The dress I bought yesterday was marked at $3.50. After pointing out the missing button they took 20% off. I paid 2.80 for a dress I could easily fix.
4. Put it down. If you don't feel you can fix it or the shop keeper doesn't take enough off the price put it back. Don't take a second look at it. If you buy it and never fix it you've wasted your money.
5. Know your Shop. Only shop at reputable shops. If you go into a shop that has racks and racks of crap all marked the same price, chances are you aren't going to find anything worth buying. You can still search but it may be a waste of your time to return.
6. Look Up. Take a look at the walls. Many shops feature their best items on the walls or above the racks. If the items on the walls are dirty, stained, or torn chances are you won't find anything good on the racks and you should leave.
7. Is it Clean? Look at the floors and shelves. If the floors and shelves are dirty just leave. A good bargain is not worth bringing mites, nits, or fleas into your house. My mother once scored a great bargain on some clothes at a dirty little used clothes shop. The clothes were great but she had to spend over $40 to get the fleas out of the house. Not a great bargain anymore.
8. Remember your last trips. Although you may not find anything you like on your first or second visit you may score on the third. However, if you find that you keep walking away from the same shop with no clothes again and again, it may be safe to assume you never will. Find a new shop and begin a new search.
9. When Reselling go to the shop that will offer you the most for your clothes first! If the shop you like to frequent offers more money great! However, you may get more money from a different shop.
10. Distinguish between store credit and money. You should only think about store credit with stores you frequent. If you don't return a store at least once a month you may want to think about cash. Also check on how the store keeps track of credit and how long it is valid. If the store gives you a sheet to keep track of your own credit keep the sheet in the car. Also, if the store credit is not valid after 3 months go with the cash or pick a different store.

Stay green,
Yasha

Mmm Leftovers!

I know I have my lunches for a week! Already the freezer and refrigerator is stocked full of ready made lunches for hubby and myself. Each lunch is stacked conveniently in a divided lunch container. I've only used leftovers from Thanksgiving for the first few, after that I use combinations of leftovers and frozen veggies to store in the freezer. I'm so happy I don't have to worry about any wasted leftovers since hubby never likes to make his own lunch and would rather grab one I've prepared for him.
I love the food that was cooked at Thanksgiving; the whole family chipped in. We had 2 types of cranberry sauce, 5 pies, 2 turkeys, a ham, dressing, sweet potatoes, scalloped corn, veggie trays, etc. No one left with what they made we all took home other people's left overs. Since we can replicate our own recipes we decided we'd give away what we made ourselves.

Once I got home All i had to do is replicate a couple of things I cooked that day. The rest of the packed lunches are pure leftover. Since I froze some of it we won't get tired of having turkey everyday.

Now what did I do with those veggie trays? All we had left was broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, and mushrooms. What do you think I made? SOUP! Mmm, yummy, tasty soup. Hearty and filling. That will be our dinner for the next two nights, the rest of the soup will be dinner one night in January!

I just love Thanksgiving such a bountiful harvest of, love, family, and food!

Stay green,
Yasha

Freezing your toes off yet?

We are! It's rather cold here already. The highs only hit 60 or 70 tops! Plus winds of 15 to 25 mph. Brrr! But with all that how do we keep our electric bill down?

To help conserve energy during the cold months we have an upstairs apartment. All of the heat from the neighbors eventually makes its way up to us helping to keep the place warmer. Plus, we turn our heater down when we wake up since the appliances help heat up our place. I like to bake at night as well, adding more heat to a cold situation.

We caulked around the windows outside last year and replaced the weather stripping on the outside door last spring. That helped seal the air in better. This place is not nearly so drafty.

When we leave we still turn off all the appliances (except the fridge) which does help conserve energy but also makes it colder inside. We also turn down or turn off the heater when we aren't here. As long as we don't leave the windows or doors open this place stays pretty warm.

We're also looking at winter weatherization kits, film or screens that can be placed on a window to keep cold air out. Some companies even make a roll on caulking that can be attached to the inside of a window to seal it completely.

We're hoping to save more than ever on our bills this winter!

Stay green,
Yasha

Pumpkin Toss

With only a week left before Halloween what are your plans for that pumpkin afterwards? Toss it in the trash right? Nah, that is too wasteful. Make it into a flower pot? Now that sounds more like it!

How in the world do you create a pumpkin vase? First, Cut the top off your pumpkin. Second, Scoop out the insides saving them for the next project (see below). Make sure you scrape the inside of the pumpkin and get all the meat. There should be nothing but shell left. Third, Place a small coffee can or vase in the pumpkin. Now place your favorite fall flowers inside!

What to do with the seeds and pulp. Separate the seeds from the pulp. Set the pulp aside for now. Spread the seeds on a cookie sheet in an even layer and bake at 250°F until dry.

Now for the pulp! Puree the pulp of the pumpkin until smooth and store in the freezer for up to 1 month! That is just enough time for Thanksgiving!!!!!!

For more recipes to recycle your pumpkin:
Martha Stewart - Pumpkin Puree
Martha Stewart - Pumpkin Pie
Martha Stewart - Sweet and Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
Taste of Home - Cream Filled Pumpkin Cupcakes
Taste of Home - Pumpkin Stew
Taste of Home - Spiderweb Pumpkin Cheesecake
Taste of Home - Candied Pumpkin Seeds

ATTENTION! PLEASE DO NOT USE PUMPKINS THAT ARE WRINKLED, MOLDED, OR THAT HAVE A BAD SMELL TO MAKE ANYTHING EDIBLE AS THESE MAY BE SIGNS OF A SPOILED PUMPKIN. By making these recipes you assume all responsibility to check the pumpkin for rot, mold, or anything else which may affect the recipes and your or anyone else's health.

Save money by going to bed early!

You heard correctly; save yourself a dollar to two on your electricity by retiring earlier. Not only will your wallet thank you your boss will too.

How is this possible? Well, think about it. If you're up at night you have to turn on a light to see. If you go to bed earlier you waste less energy by turning off those lights. Try it out and see how much you save!

Another tip! Try putting a night light in your bathroom for those midnight trips. No one likes to sear their eyes with the blinding bathroom light anyways! We have an LED nightlight in our bathroom; it is just bright enough to light up that space so we can see at night. It's wonderful!

You could also install a small window in your throne room for added ventilation and light. Use stained glass or wavy glass so no one can see in. By venting the extra moisture from baths and showers you will put less strain on your Heating/Cooling system and save a few bucks along the way. Plus with a window in there who needs a light bulb?

Hope this gives you some great ideas!

Stay green,
Yasha

PS Don't forget about putting a half gallon jug in your tank to use less water when you flush, turn off the faucet when you brush, and other small things you can do to help save.

My "stash" Q&A

My daughter's fluffy butt diaper stash. It only cost me $170 USD. Since I started using cloth I would have spent at least $220 on disposables so since May I have saved $50.

Happy dance! Money in my pocket! I'm so glad I stuck with it!

Q. But what about all the extra laundry you have to do?
A. What extra laundry? I just put all the whites together and wash everything at once.

Q. Eww. You wash your laundry with cloth diapers?
A. Sure do. I don't know about you but my washer gets clothes clean so what is the difference?

Q. Doesn't it smell bad?
A. I really don't think cloth smells bad. You have to rinse it before it goes in the diaper pail so it doesn't smell.

Q. Rinse it?
A. Well once you change it you need to rinse off the poo or it'll stain the diaper. Plus, you wouldn't want to put poo in your washer.

Q. That sounds like a lot of work.
A. Each week I save about $10. That is 45 minutes of work per week that I'm not spending to pay for disposables. How much time do I spend cleaning diapers? Maybe 14 minutes a week. It doesn't take that long to clean a diaper.

Q. Ok so you save money. What about when you go on trips?
A. Oh, that one is easy! I still cloth diaper. Any where you travel (especially in the US) you can find laundromats.

Q. What about if you travel out of country?
A. Do some research about where you're going. You can find out if there is a local laundromat, diaper service, or if your hotel does laundry.

Q. Well, I've heard they aren't as absorbent.
A. That is true. More true with some brands or types than others. You just can't beat chemicals. BUT do you want to put chemicals on your baby's butt? Besides you still save money this way and there are ways to "add" absorbency to a dipe.

Q. Add absorbency?
A. Yes, you can add absorbency to a cloth diaper by using a diaper doubler. You can also wick the moisture away from baby's bottom by placing micofleece between the top layer of diaper and the butt.

Q. What about diaper rash can you use a cream?
A. Most bottoms do not need to be slathered in cream every time you change a diaper; only when they are actually rashy. If your baby does get a rash DO NOT use regular cream. Most creams ruin diapers. Use Lanolin (for breast feeding) instead.

Q. I checked with my daycare and they will not allow children with cloth diapers. What now?
A. First, consider who you asked. Was it the director, owner, or just one of the people that take care of the kids. Second, think about how much cloth diapering means to you? (ie Is it just a way to save money or do you like the environmental impact?) Third, talk to the director or owner about your concerns, ask why they do not allow cloth. Is it too much of a hassle? Are there special state regulations that they do not meet for cloth? Is the staff just not trained? See if you can resolve any issues or concerns they may have about cloth. Be prepared to answer questions.
If they still say no and it means a lot to you look for a different day care.

Q. I'm thinking of using cloth. Is there anything else I should know?
A. Oh lots. I'm not the expert on diapers.
These sites can help you:
Detergents safe to use on Cloth Diapers
Cloth diaper rash Creams
A forum dedicated Cloth Diapers

Places to Buy:
www.nickisdiapers.com/
www.greenmountaindiapers.com/
www.fuzzibunz.com/
www.bumgenius.com/ 
http://www.diapers.com/
Also check Bed Bath and Beyond online, Amazon.com, Target.com, and WalMart.com

Ready for a new home?

I bet you've never thought of this.

Amazing Homes and Offices Built from Shipping Containers

That's right a new home made from a shipping container! Amazingly affordable. Surprizingly spacious. It's a wonder they haven't caught on more in the states.

A few place in Europe have started dedicating buildings made from these containers as student housing. What do the students think? They love it!

Shipping containers are well insulated, spacious, easy to modify, and abundant. It's the perfect green home. Since many of the houses are modular prefabs you can order as much or as little space as you need. Need more space? No problem just order a few more rooms, haul them into place, and voila! A larger home!

I know this sounds like an ad for shippin containers but I really do think they are a good idea. Since the materials are already there why not use them?

Stay green,
Yasha

Hypermiling

So I foung this article on Hypermiling. At first I had no idea what it was but as I read further it slowly dawned on me... This was a way to save more money!

The article discusses different ways to enhance the milage of your auto. Everything from slowing down to gear shifting. It's a good read even if you aren't planning on hypermiling. I found a few tips that I've started to practice which have raised my mileage from 21mp to 23mpg. Not much but it saved me an extra trip to the pump! I've noticed that the extra few mpg I'm gaining is allowing me to go 2 weeks between fillups instead of 1 1/2 weeks. Pretty nice if you ask me.

One of the tips is just plain smart. when you're in bumper to bumper traffic don't step on the gas everytime the car in front of you creeps forward. Leave it in neutral until there is a sizable gap then idle forward. They've been doing construction on the main road near my house and this one tip has saved me a few gallons (and a few gray hairs!)

Another tip on just slowing down saved me in the parking garage the other day. I was driving out on the down ramp and an SUV pulled out in front of me. Since I was going slower than usual I managed to swerve, avoid, stop, and honk before the other driver hit me. Scared the crap out of me but had I been travelling faster I would not have been able to avoid them.

All in all even if you don't hpermile for the mileage do it for safety!

Stay green,
Yasha
101+ Tips for Hypermiling

I just caught myself being lazy!

So as I was catching up on a new green trend, Hypermiling, I noticed my desk lamp was on. It's the middle of a bright day and I have the windows open. Why is my desk lamp on? So I reached over and switched it off. No problem.

Then I noticed the kitchen light is on AND the living room fan is on! What is going on here? So while I was getting up to turn all those things off I went ahead and switched off the power strip leading to the TV. I'm not using it so why have it on?

Look around, are you being lazy too? No one will notice if you get up and go turn some things off but your power bill will be a little lighter this month.

Stay green,
Yasha