Howdy Y'all!!
So last week we talked about planning our meals before we go to the grocery store to help prevent buying junk food! Well here is another money saving technique I found that works for busy people!
So you have planned your meals for the week and have already bought the ingredients to make these meals. By this time your probably tired and just want to put the food away and relax. But remember, all that meat you just bought is defrosted and if you throw it into the freezer your going to have to defrost later on in the week for the meal you have planned. This takes time which means you will have to take more time later that you could be relaxing to prepare something you could have ahead of time.
My family goes grocery shopping on the weekend. Sometimes I go by myself around 8 or 9 so I do not have to carry the baby around and I can have time the rest of the day to spend with my family. That being said sometimes we go on Sunday after lunch to make it a family trip. As soon as we get back from the grocery store I make sure to go ahead and divide all the meat into the portion sizes I need for each meal.
This makes it easier to defrost and I do not have to worry about getting the cutting board dirty every day due to cutting raw meat. I typically do this for days that we are really busy or if its late in the evening. It isn't to extreme but it helps with the meals later on in the week with killing time. Its easier to defrost a lb of beef rather than 5lbs when I only need a lb.
For days I have more time or the energy I go ahead and make all or most of the meals for the week. I will cut up the meat I need and set them aside in the fridge while I prepare each meal. I like to keep meals that need to be cooked at the same temperature together so that I can just leave the meal on and go from there. There are some meals I cook ahead of time so that even if I am having a busy day or not feeling well my husband can put in the oven and just warm it back up.
Pasta and softer dishes I do not cook ahead of time because when you reheat them you run into the chances of making them hard or over cooking. Crockpot meals or stews I put the ingredients together into an air tight container and place in the fridge or freezer depending on how soon I am going to make the meal. This is so it limits the space needed as well as makes it easier to grab what I need instead of hunting for each individual item.
If I am making tacos or anything that just requires cooked meat I will go ahead and cook that. I find it easier to already have the ground beef cooked and just add the sloppy joe or taco seasoning to the ground beef later on. Same with baked chicken. If I am making chicken Alfredo I bake the chicken ahead of time and then when I go to cook the Alfredo I am ready to just throw the meat in without the worry of over cooking the pasta.
Think of the time you will save if you go ahead and prepare or cook all your meals when you have the free time. You do not have to do it as soon as you get home from grocery store. You can do it when ever you have free time.
Thank you for reading and let me know if you have any other suggestions or questions comment below!
Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Planning the meals before the store
Howdy Y'all!
I do not know about you but when I go into my local grocery store I can't help but sigh at the end of each transaction. It is so expensive when it comes to buying food that will last about a week. And if I go into the store hungry or tired I am more tempted to buy junk food that may last me one night.
We go to the grocery store once a week for milk, bread, and other small items that our son manages to devour. It gets crazy between gas and time spent at the store. So I have learned through trial and error the best thing to do, at least for us, is to plan our meals ahead of time.
I plan for 8 days worth of meals. And yes, I know there is only 7 days in a week but with that extra day it saves me in case we do not feel like having a certain meal or if something happens where I can not go to the store. I plan for meals of all different cuisines and meats.
I also make sure to look at all sale items. We go through a LOT of meat and dairy products so I make sure to always go into the clearance sections for the best deals. Currently we have enough meat to last us a month but that was because it was on sale. I also make sure to get can goods on sale because they have a longer expiration date and I can find recipes to match what ever canned good I have.
If you also plan ahead you know what coupons to get to save even more money. ( I plan to go over coupons in a future post!)
Make sure to always go to the grocery store after you have a meal and well rested. If you go hungry your more likely to let your cravings take over and buy things you do not need. If you can buy things that you can use for multiple meals that will help as well.
For instance; my son eats eggs almost every morning so I just need to make sure to have a huge carton of eggs for his breakfast. I also make sure to make plenty of the other meals so we have left overs. Left overs are a great way to make sure you have snack food, late night snack, or back up in case you do not feel like cooking one day!
People are more likely to go out to eat when they do not feel like cooking so if you can make sure you have left overs in the house you are less likely to go out to eat for that reason.
Stay tuned for other meal budget topics and make sure to comment below to give me some feedback!!
Thank you!
I do not know about you but when I go into my local grocery store I can't help but sigh at the end of each transaction. It is so expensive when it comes to buying food that will last about a week. And if I go into the store hungry or tired I am more tempted to buy junk food that may last me one night.
We go to the grocery store once a week for milk, bread, and other small items that our son manages to devour. It gets crazy between gas and time spent at the store. So I have learned through trial and error the best thing to do, at least for us, is to plan our meals ahead of time.
I plan for 8 days worth of meals. And yes, I know there is only 7 days in a week but with that extra day it saves me in case we do not feel like having a certain meal or if something happens where I can not go to the store. I plan for meals of all different cuisines and meats.
I also make sure to look at all sale items. We go through a LOT of meat and dairy products so I make sure to always go into the clearance sections for the best deals. Currently we have enough meat to last us a month but that was because it was on sale. I also make sure to get can goods on sale because they have a longer expiration date and I can find recipes to match what ever canned good I have.
If you also plan ahead you know what coupons to get to save even more money. ( I plan to go over coupons in a future post!)
Make sure to always go to the grocery store after you have a meal and well rested. If you go hungry your more likely to let your cravings take over and buy things you do not need. If you can buy things that you can use for multiple meals that will help as well.
For instance; my son eats eggs almost every morning so I just need to make sure to have a huge carton of eggs for his breakfast. I also make sure to make plenty of the other meals so we have left overs. Left overs are a great way to make sure you have snack food, late night snack, or back up in case you do not feel like cooking one day!
People are more likely to go out to eat when they do not feel like cooking so if you can make sure you have left overs in the house you are less likely to go out to eat for that reason.
Stay tuned for other meal budget topics and make sure to comment below to give me some feedback!!
Thank you!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Fun with the family on a budget
Howdy Y'all!
As you know I am a mom and with being a mom that means I have to plan outings for not only my husband and I but with the kids as well! But going to entertainment places such as Main Event or Incredible Pizza gets SUPER expensive. For my son its Chuck-E-Cheese but even that is to much for us.
So I have thought of a couple of ways to have family fun time without breaking the budget. So of course there is the easiest answers. We can go to the park, a normal park and the water spray parks. These are very easy and you can take a picnic to save money on food.
If you feel the park has reached its limit or you have older kids then I suggest you google "Activities in (Your city or county)" We just moved so I had no idea what they had for the community or what events were around so I googled and found A LOT!
Churches hold events in order to get new followers and bring their church name in the community and most of them are free. Certain companies hold deals over the summer and holidays to also drive customers so that can help as well.
There are also unknown event places such as bouncy houses, water parks, gyms, arcades, ect that can be super affordable and fun. When it comes to meals always look for coupons or local restaurants that offer meal deals. Our local frozen yogurt shop offers 50% off for children between 2-4pm so it makes a nice treat for our little one!
Also, check museums and zoos! Our zoo offers free days for certain banks, festivals, ect. We always take advantage of the free days!
Normally we eat a meal first, pack plenty of snacks, and juice before we head out. We limit our time out between 2-4hours since after awhile he will get hungry and fussy. If we limit the time then we are less likely to go out to eat and spend more money!
Thank you for reading and if you have any suggestions or questions feel free to comment below!
As you know I am a mom and with being a mom that means I have to plan outings for not only my husband and I but with the kids as well! But going to entertainment places such as Main Event or Incredible Pizza gets SUPER expensive. For my son its Chuck-E-Cheese but even that is to much for us.
So I have thought of a couple of ways to have family fun time without breaking the budget. So of course there is the easiest answers. We can go to the park, a normal park and the water spray parks. These are very easy and you can take a picnic to save money on food.
If you feel the park has reached its limit or you have older kids then I suggest you google "Activities in (Your city or county)" We just moved so I had no idea what they had for the community or what events were around so I googled and found A LOT!
Churches hold events in order to get new followers and bring their church name in the community and most of them are free. Certain companies hold deals over the summer and holidays to also drive customers so that can help as well.
There are also unknown event places such as bouncy houses, water parks, gyms, arcades, ect that can be super affordable and fun. When it comes to meals always look for coupons or local restaurants that offer meal deals. Our local frozen yogurt shop offers 50% off for children between 2-4pm so it makes a nice treat for our little one!
Also, check museums and zoos! Our zoo offers free days for certain banks, festivals, ect. We always take advantage of the free days!
Normally we eat a meal first, pack plenty of snacks, and juice before we head out. We limit our time out between 2-4hours since after awhile he will get hungry and fussy. If we limit the time then we are less likely to go out to eat and spend more money!
Thank you for reading and if you have any suggestions or questions feel free to comment below!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
DIY Easy Lunch Snacks!
Howdy Y'all!
Snacks and treats at the store can be so expensive! As a stay at home mom on one income we have had to find ways to cut corners and the easiest corner to cut was junk food. Now that being said I love sweets so we couldn't cut cold turkey!
So here are two easy recipes that will fill lunch boxes and still be on a budget!
Rice Krispie Treats:
As a child or cereal lover you have probably seen the Rice Krispie recipe or made them on your own during the holiday season. But a lot of people seem to forget how easy and affordable it is to make!
All you need for your traditional Rice Krispies are:
Snacks and treats at the store can be so expensive! As a stay at home mom on one income we have had to find ways to cut corners and the easiest corner to cut was junk food. Now that being said I love sweets so we couldn't cut cold turkey!
So here are two easy recipes that will fill lunch boxes and still be on a budget!
Rice Krispie Treats:
As a child or cereal lover you have probably seen the Rice Krispie recipe or made them on your own during the holiday season. But a lot of people seem to forget how easy and affordable it is to make!
All you need for your traditional Rice Krispies are:
- 6 cups of Rice Krispie cereal (or almost the entire box)
- A bag of Marshmallows (we use small or mini marshmallows but large/jumbo works as well)
- Tbs of butter
- 9x10 baking sheet
- parchment paper, wax paper, or non stick spray
- large mixing bowl
The way I make my Rice Krispies is in the microwave since I make them with my two year old son but you can also make them on the stove top.
Take a full bag of Marshmallows and the butter and cook in the microwave in a large microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals so the mixture remains fluffy and doesn't clump up. The end texture should be smooth and sticky.
Pour the 6 cups of cereal into the marshmallow mix and stir until fully combined. Beware, it will be sticky and messy.
Once well combined pour into the 9x10 baking sheet that is lined with your non stick spray, parchment paper, or wax paper. I find parchment paper works best because you can lift out of the sheet when they are solid and cut easier.
Smooth evenly and put it into the fridge until harden! Once its completely cooled just cut into the size you want each treat to be and your done! I pack mine into sandwich bags to save space in the fridge. Mine lasts about two weeks but if you want them to last longer put them in the freezer or in air tight containers!
Tip: If you want to make it festive or add a little more flare you can add sprinkles, chocolate chips, or extra toppings after you evenly smooth and before you put in the fridge. You can also dip the solid krispies in chocolate or your favorite syrup to add a little coating on top of the already delicious treats!
Homemade Chocolate Cosmo Style Brownies:
As a kid my mom always had Little Debbie products in the house for us to munch on. But they only have 6 packages to a box and if you put one in your lunch boxes each day for work it would only last one week! That's not very budget friendly! So instead I decided to make my own brownies that resemble them!
What you need to make the brownies:
- Chocolate Cake Mix (any brand works)
- The ingredients to make the cake mix that are listed on the back of the box
- Sprinkles, chocolate chips, or chocolate candies found int he baking section all depends on the topping you want!)
- 9x10 baking sheet
- parchment paper or non stick spray
The first step is to set your oven the temperature it tells you on the cake mix and to make the cake mix. Line your baking sheet with parchment paper or non stick spray; parchment paper makes it easier to cut and keeps the sheet clean!
Put the cake in the over and wait. You want to pull you cake mix just as it begins to harden but still needs a few minutes to cook. This is the time to add the toppings so that they do not melt but they are actually attached to the "brownie".
Pop it back in the oven and finish baking. Once its done put the cake in the fridge and let it cool completely before cutting. You can add more toppings if you want or just leave as is!
Once it is completely cooled, cut into desired portion sizes. I can make two-three weeks worth of brownies but if you are greedy you can make them as big as you want them!
Put them into your desired containers and your done!
I buy my cake mix for a dollar since I go with store brand and buy the cheap chocolate chips so it costs me about $2 for the materials (excluding ingredients listed on the box) but it lasts me three times as long!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
How to create a budget and stick to it!
Howdy Y'all!
So as I stressed a lot in my first introduction post, money management is VERY important. This is what is used in order to buy anything you want, from bills to luxury items!
There are many ways to manage your budget and save money so I will go over a couple that worked for me.
Step 1:
The first thing to do before putting these techniques into action is to write down exactly what you want to save up for and what the budget is. This can be anything from rent to a new gaming system. Every month I would write down the amount of each item that I wanted to put money towards. The normal things were utilities, rent, gas, groceries; but occasionally I would have a date night or items for luxury rather than necessity. When it came to the monthly things I would print out or draw the calendar for the month and write down the bill plus how much it would cost. This helped a lot when it came to paying for each item without being broke afterwards.
For instance each month rent was due the first three days, electricity and phone bill were a week later, and by the third week the insurance and cable were due. This left the fourth week with no bills to pay. With it written out I could see how much on average I would have left over each week to put into savings, what I could put towards other bills if I knew we would be short the following week, and what I had for groceries or fun. My husband works a pretty set schedule so we could always figure out how much he would bring home each week. But we also had to save in case he got sick or had to miss work.
Tip: When it comes to bigger bills, such as rent, save a little each week instead of putting one or two paychecks together. We first used to take an entire week and half of pay to pay towards our rent but that would mean we would have no money at certain times of the money which is a scary feeling. If the car would have broken down or we needed diapers we would have no money to put towards it due to this method. So now we do the each week method. What that means is we take the amount we owe and divide it out so we can pay it slowly with each paycheck.
Step 2:
Once you have the budget in mind make sure to have it hanging somewhere in the house! I had a calendar in our kitchen that would have the bills written down on the day it was due. This helped with making sure I did not forget to pay the bill as well as reminding me of what had to be paid before we ran out to get TacoBell. In our bedroom we had a poster board up with our goals for 10 years. I set it for 10 years because I wanted to be sure to include HUGE goals.
On that list it included trips we wanted to take, buying our first house, paying off things, and getting married. You do not have to write one for that far out. I have seen some that were only a year out. You can even have multiple lists out and about. Our poster also included the traditional thermometer gauge you see at fundraisers that mark each dollar amount saved. This helped us a ton when it came to buying our house! We would treat ourselves after each notch was checked off with a small dinner to pat ourselves on the back for making it that far.
Having your goals and budget out in front of you when your doing you everyday life stuff helps remind you of what is important! Our calendar didn't have the amount due but had initials of each bill, so billy may not know what it reads but I would and not have to worry about nosey people.
Method 1: Envelopes
This is the easiest method for those who want to budget for short term items or have the dreaded issue of spending money they see in their accounts. The way this method works is after each paycheck you set a certain amount aside and put it in an envelope. If you get your pay check direct deposited you just pull the set amount out of your account. You put the envelope in a secret location or lock box so that its safe and your not tempted to spend the floating cash. This is also good for younger people who get paid allowances or do not have a bank account.
I tried this method for a very short time and found that 1) it made me uneasy having cash just sitting in my apartment and 2) I would forget about the cash and then have to spend hours looking for it. This works great though for those who want to buy luxury items, or who want to have the ability to be able to use their cards without the worry of over spending because they forgot they were saving a certain amount for something.
Method 2: Separate Bank Accounts
This method is a great for long term goals and for people with bank accounts. The way this works is with each pay check you take a set amount that you need to save and move it to either a savings account or another bank account. Moving the money into another account helps so you do not over swipe your card and you do not have to worry about floating cash around. To open a separate account you can try to do it online but I recommend going up to your bank. Make sure to check your bank terms and conditions. Certain banks have limits on withdrawals from saving accounts.
I use this method since we get direct deposit. I have ones for trips, big budgets, and bills. With everything being online this makes it also easier instead of taking the cash from method one and having to deposit it.
Method 3: Giving to someone trust worthy to hold onto
This one is a little uncommon. You can either transfer the money or do the envelope but this is for extreme circumstances where you can not save a dime and have a problem not spending the money. The person has to be very trust worthy and if you even question it you can always have it in writing that the money is yours and they will not spend it.
In Conclusion:
These are the three methods I have had to use before and the ones I found worked the best. This will be the first step in order to make it in today's economy. Money makes the world go round and if you are able to save now and put these habits into action now they will help you for the future!
If you have any other methods you have used in the past or have any comments on the ones I listed here, feel free to leave a comment below!
Thanks and see y'all again soon!
So as I stressed a lot in my first introduction post, money management is VERY important. This is what is used in order to buy anything you want, from bills to luxury items!
There are many ways to manage your budget and save money so I will go over a couple that worked for me.
Step 1:
The first thing to do before putting these techniques into action is to write down exactly what you want to save up for and what the budget is. This can be anything from rent to a new gaming system. Every month I would write down the amount of each item that I wanted to put money towards. The normal things were utilities, rent, gas, groceries; but occasionally I would have a date night or items for luxury rather than necessity. When it came to the monthly things I would print out or draw the calendar for the month and write down the bill plus how much it would cost. This helped a lot when it came to paying for each item without being broke afterwards.
For instance each month rent was due the first three days, electricity and phone bill were a week later, and by the third week the insurance and cable were due. This left the fourth week with no bills to pay. With it written out I could see how much on average I would have left over each week to put into savings, what I could put towards other bills if I knew we would be short the following week, and what I had for groceries or fun. My husband works a pretty set schedule so we could always figure out how much he would bring home each week. But we also had to save in case he got sick or had to miss work.
Tip: When it comes to bigger bills, such as rent, save a little each week instead of putting one or two paychecks together. We first used to take an entire week and half of pay to pay towards our rent but that would mean we would have no money at certain times of the money which is a scary feeling. If the car would have broken down or we needed diapers we would have no money to put towards it due to this method. So now we do the each week method. What that means is we take the amount we owe and divide it out so we can pay it slowly with each paycheck.
Step 2:
Once you have the budget in mind make sure to have it hanging somewhere in the house! I had a calendar in our kitchen that would have the bills written down on the day it was due. This helped with making sure I did not forget to pay the bill as well as reminding me of what had to be paid before we ran out to get TacoBell. In our bedroom we had a poster board up with our goals for 10 years. I set it for 10 years because I wanted to be sure to include HUGE goals.
On that list it included trips we wanted to take, buying our first house, paying off things, and getting married. You do not have to write one for that far out. I have seen some that were only a year out. You can even have multiple lists out and about. Our poster also included the traditional thermometer gauge you see at fundraisers that mark each dollar amount saved. This helped us a ton when it came to buying our house! We would treat ourselves after each notch was checked off with a small dinner to pat ourselves on the back for making it that far.
Having your goals and budget out in front of you when your doing you everyday life stuff helps remind you of what is important! Our calendar didn't have the amount due but had initials of each bill, so billy may not know what it reads but I would and not have to worry about nosey people.
Method 1: Envelopes
This is the easiest method for those who want to budget for short term items or have the dreaded issue of spending money they see in their accounts. The way this method works is after each paycheck you set a certain amount aside and put it in an envelope. If you get your pay check direct deposited you just pull the set amount out of your account. You put the envelope in a secret location or lock box so that its safe and your not tempted to spend the floating cash. This is also good for younger people who get paid allowances or do not have a bank account.
I tried this method for a very short time and found that 1) it made me uneasy having cash just sitting in my apartment and 2) I would forget about the cash and then have to spend hours looking for it. This works great though for those who want to buy luxury items, or who want to have the ability to be able to use their cards without the worry of over spending because they forgot they were saving a certain amount for something.
Method 2: Separate Bank Accounts
This method is a great for long term goals and for people with bank accounts. The way this works is with each pay check you take a set amount that you need to save and move it to either a savings account or another bank account. Moving the money into another account helps so you do not over swipe your card and you do not have to worry about floating cash around. To open a separate account you can try to do it online but I recommend going up to your bank. Make sure to check your bank terms and conditions. Certain banks have limits on withdrawals from saving accounts.
I use this method since we get direct deposit. I have ones for trips, big budgets, and bills. With everything being online this makes it also easier instead of taking the cash from method one and having to deposit it.
Method 3: Giving to someone trust worthy to hold onto
This one is a little uncommon. You can either transfer the money or do the envelope but this is for extreme circumstances where you can not save a dime and have a problem not spending the money. The person has to be very trust worthy and if you even question it you can always have it in writing that the money is yours and they will not spend it.
In Conclusion:
These are the three methods I have had to use before and the ones I found worked the best. This will be the first step in order to make it in today's economy. Money makes the world go round and if you are able to save now and put these habits into action now they will help you for the future!
If you have any other methods you have used in the past or have any comments on the ones I listed here, feel free to leave a comment below!
Thanks and see y'all again soon!
Hello and Welcome!
Howdy Y'all!
If your a new parent, stay at home parent, young adult living on your own, or someone trying to get on their feet this is the place for you! So stay tuned for future posts!
I wanted to use this first post to introduce myself and the purpose of this blog! I am a young, 21 years old, wife and mom of two! We live in the big state of Texas and even own our first home!
I grew up in a divorce family with three siblings. Both my parents worked and always stressed the importance of an education and being independent. Bouncing back and forth between homes for holidays and the summer made a huge impact on my life to make sure I never had my kids go through that. With both my parents working I also made it my goal to be able to spend time with my future kids. I began working when I was a Junior in high school and like most high schoolers struggled with saving my money. It took me over a year to be able to save money in order to buy my first car out right. This big purchase made me realize how important money management was!
When I graduated I enrolled in school and after my first semester I moved out with my husband, my fiance at the time. But after just 4 months of living on our own we realized that we were not very smart when it comes to money management. We moved back home and began to save again! Finally 7 months and our first son being born we were able to move out on our own again! From that moment on we began to really crack down on money management. I learned how to make dishes with a low budget and how to cut back on every day utilities!
Six months later we moved to a bigger apartment, due to being able to save more money and have room in our budget! We got married, which we paid a majority of it ourselves. From there it was a year worth of building credit, saving money, and looking towards the big future!
And now, three years after graduating we have our very own home and second child on the way this November. It took three years of saving, shaping our life styles, and killing old habits but we were able to do it. This blog is my way to share the things we used in order to be able to do this! I will have recipes, tips, Q&A, and some DIY decorative tips for those who think you have to spend a fortune to make a place your own! I will have open communication with ALL my readers so please feel free to email or leave a comment!
If your a new parent, stay at home parent, young adult living on your own, or someone trying to get on their feet this is the place for you! So stay tuned for future posts!
Have an amazing day!
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