Homemade Gift of the Week: Kits

I initially got this idea from an idea I saw on Pinterest... and then the wheels in my head started turning.... Homemade kits!!! I love receiving kits because they always contain things I love but won't necessarily get for myself.  Homemade kits are PERFECT for anyone on your holiday list this year. And I have a kit idea for just about anyone.

Little Boys: 

• Science Kits: Complete with everything you need to complete really cool science experiments
• Visit these two sites to read more about homemade science kits:
• http://rootsandwingsco.blogspot.com/2009/11/make-science-kit-gifts.html
• http://koreamom.blogspot.com/2010/02/science-kit.html

Little Girls:

• Sticker and Art Kit: I remember getting a sticker kit as a kid and just LOVED it. 
• Fill a plastic shoe box with things such as stickers, glitter, glue, sticky foam shapes, ribbon, scissors, markers, colored scrapbooking paper (just use your old scraps), sequins, rhinestone, stamps/stamppads, etc.

Teenage girls: 

• Jewelry-making kit:
• Beads, wire, tools, charms, crystals
• Nail care kit:
• Nail polish, polish remover, cotton balls, nail clippers, file, buffer, cuticle trimmer

Teenage boys:

• Beginner Tool Box: 
• If this is the first tool box, fill it up with simple things like a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, nails, screws, adjustable wrench, etc. 

Gifts for Adults: 

• Sewing Kit: 
• Visit here for a great beginner's sewing kit.
• http://tiffanylanehandmade.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/anthropologie-sewing-kit.jpg
• Craft Kit:
• Small scrapbook paper, scissors, glue dots, flat colored buttons, glue gun/glue sticks, stickers, embellishments, etc.
• First Aid Kit: 
• BandAids (various sizes), scissors, tweezers, adhesive wrap, safety pins, cotton swabs, moist towelettes, matches, hand sanitizer, pain relievers, cough drops, stomach relief medication, insect bite cream, hydrocortizone cream, eye drops, rubber gloves, etc.
• You can also make a mini-first aid kit for those who enjoy biking, hiking, or other outdoor activities
• 72-Hour Kit:
• Visit this site to find out the details of what to include in a 72-hour kit
• http://72hours.org/build_kit.html
•  Spa Kit: 
• Lotions, face mask, bath salts, aromatherapy candles, loofa, body wash
• Do you know a newlywed couple?
• They send out a lot of mail in the first year of marriage.  Consider a mail kit with address labels, stamps, pens, even cards (if you know them well enough).

You can get creative with kits.  Just think of your audience and what their interests are.  

Homemade Gift of the Week: Recipe Book

We all have our favorite recipes.  What a better gift to give than to share all your favorite meals in a recipe book for your friends/family?  This one is quite easy.

1. Type it up.
2. Print out.
3. Make copies.
4. Send it to Kinkos or another copy/business store to have it bound into a book. 
5. Give as gift. 

You have plenty of time... now get going!

Gift Idea: Books

Now, I know not everyone loves books.  But, book can be a gift often overlooked.  Especially for kids.  Kids already have so many toys and let's face it.... they'd rather play with the box it came in anyway.

So give a different kind of gift this year and give the gift of books.

Here are some ways to score a great bargain on books:

• Scholastic Book Clubs (Book Orders): If you know a teacher or have a student in a class, ask about book orders.  In almost every book order, there is a $1 special book.  Books in book orders tend to be a little cheaper than your average book store. 
• Amazon: It seems like Amazon.com always has book cheaper that the listed price as well.  Some items even qualify for free shipping if you spend $25.
• Barnes & Noble:  Sign up to receive their email specials and they often have coupon codes for 10-20% off books.
• Dollar Tree: The Dollar Tree often has coloring books and workbooks for $1. They often carry popular characters like Spiderman, Disney, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street and My Little Pony. 

Handmade Gifts are IN!

I love the holidays but I hate thinking about buying gifts.  I feel like I can never find the right gift.  Don't get me wrong... I would love give my friends and family new flat screen T.V.s or cameras but I just don't have the cash flow for those kinds of fantastic gifts.

Homemade gifts or personalized gifts always add an element of sincerity because the receiver knows that the gift took time, which can be, in someways, more precious than money.

Each week (until the holidays roll around), I am going to add some homemade/personalized gift ideas to the blog.  Get excited!!

This week's gift idea:
Photobooks:

I make one every year for my mom and dad, with all our pictures from the year.  It is a treasured present.  Considering the amount of pictures that are included, the price is fairly decent.  Last year, I put in nearly 2,000 pictures and it cost around $100.  My siblings and I split the cost and it comes to about $20 per couple.  Not too shabby.

Here are the companies I have used for photobooks:

www.blurb.com
Blurb is my by far, my favorite.  They have the best prices for the quality you get.   You can also use Microsoft Publisher or Adobe products to create your own personalized layouts.  You can create books from PDF files as well.  They also tend to offer discounts if you subscribe to their email.

www.shutterfly.com
Most expensive, but fantastic looking premade layouts.  From time to time, they offer free photobooks.

www.mypublisher.com
Last time I used them, they were linked up with Costco.  If you have a membership, I believe they offer a 20% discount.  They also offer discounts to email subscribers.

A Meager Grocery Budget

Since my husband and I are on such a tight budget, we have to stick to a strict grocery budget of $280 a month.  When you do the math, it is about $9/day for food.  That is very small but absolutely doable!

We eat the same thing every day for breakfast and lunch.  It is monotonous but we know that we can mix things up and have a great dinner to look forward to.  It keeps us right on track and we can avoid overspending that way.

Here is a sample day for food:

Breakfast (about 50 cents/person)-

Cereal for Jonny

Cereal or Yogurt for me 

Lunch (about $1.25/person)-

Sandwich

String Cheese

A piece of fruit/Fruit Snacks

Snack item (Ritz Crackers/cheese, Austin PB sandwiches crackers, or store-brand Breadsticks/Cheese)

Granola Bar

OR 

Leftovers from dinner 

Snacks:

A piece of fruit

Popcorn

Vegetables and dip

Cheese and Crackers

Quesadilla

Bowl of cereal

Dinner (between $5-7 for meal)

The trick here is to find dinners that can last for more than one meal.  I am not a huge fan of leftovers, but we try to work in at least one "leftover" dinner night a week to cut down on the expenses.  

Examples:

Chili

Lasagna

Breakfast Casserole

Chicken Pot Pie

Swedish Meatballs

Take a look at your monthly grocery budget.  Do you need to trim it down? Try some of these ideas to see if they work for you and your family.

Coming soon: Dinners on a budget-- how to make delicious food that doesn't break the bank. This will be a recurring post topic. 

Traveling Tips- Carry On Only

I found an extremely helpful article in the June 2011 Westways AAA magazine about saving money on traveling.  Now that airlines charge you your first-born for a checked bag, I am all about carry-on luggage only.  Then, you don't have to worry about your bags getting lost, paying the fees, or waiting for your bags at baggage claim.

These tips come from Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman of Westways magazine.
1- Chose colors that can mix and match easily.
2- Pack only 3 or 4 plain shirts that can be dressed up with accents (jewelry/scarves).
3- Wear something on the plane that you can wear again-- something a little bulky that will relieve space in the suitcase.
4- Wear your heaviest shoes on the plane and pack only 1 or 2 more pairs.
5- Plan on washing your clothes.
6- Think layers.
7- Don't take anything you don't need.

Click on this link below to see exactly how to pack your bag.  I know it isn't the most exciting, but the tips are pretty nice-- just exchange your style and think about what you can substitute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqBc1r4av7M

Working Out- For Less (even FREE!)

If any of you are like me, you may have a difficult time rationalizing spending money on a monthly gym membership when just getting to the gym is a task.  I don't mean finding your way there; I mean finding the motivation to get yourself there. So why pay for something you aren't 100% in love with?

Gyms are fantastic because they have all the necessary equipment in one place and many gyms offer classes to switch up otherwise monotonous workout routines.  But they are also pretty pricey.

But I discovered a wealth of resources at my fingertips (almost literally).  Youtube and Hulu have great links to exercise routines that can be done at home, with nothing more than the computer or TV in front of you.  They vary in length, difficulty, and areas of focus.  Just visit Youtube and type in what you would like to work on.

Here's an example of an ab workout I found on Hulu.com.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/35662/six-pack-abs-quick-abdominal-ball#s-p1-sr-i0

It does take some time to find an exercise routine you love, but I spent absolutely no money finding them.  Then, I bookmark it in a little folder and it is ready to go for the next time I want to use it!  This can save you about $50/month.

Cost-Saving Vacation Idea

Looking for a way to save money on vacation?  Here's one quick and easy way...

Find a hotel that serves breakfast for free!

Every time I go on vacation, I try to book a hotel that offers a complimentary breakfast, which saves you from spending money on one meal a day.

Here are some hotels that offer complimentary breakfast for their guests:

• Drury Hotels
• Hilton (Hampton Inn and Suites, Homewood Suites)
• Mariott (Springhill Suites, Courtyard, Fairfield, Residence Inn)
• Microtel Inn and Suites
• Holiday Inn-- only selected hotels
• Wyndam Hotels (Super 8, Days Inn, Ramada, Howard Johnson, Travelodge)
• Choice Hotels (Clarion Inn, Sleep Inn, Comfort Suites, EconoLodge, Quality Inn)

Some of these hotels offer free continental breakfast, but many of these offer more of a more filling buffet-style breakfast.

And there you have it.. Another way to save money! Who doesn't love that?

Image Source: http://portal.oakwood.com/profiles/images/0875/1386/Photos/OPCC_-_Breakfast_Buffet_Closeup.jpg

Make it a Soup Night

I've been CRAVING soups lately.  Not only are they cheap, they taste so great. 

And here are a few of my favorites:

Meatball Soup 
(adapted from Sam's Club's: Favorite Family Dinners- Barley Soup with Meatballs)
Yields: 6-8 servings; Prep- 20 minutes; Cook time- 20-25 minutes. 

Ingredients:

• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 4-5 medium potatoes, cut in 1- to 1 1/2 inch pieces
• 3 medium carrots, cut into 3/4 inch pieces
• 7 cups of chicken broth
• 1 cup of water
• 1 teaspoon of dried Italian seasonings (or dried thyme and dried oregano)
• 1 cup of minute rice, uncooked
• 36 frozen cooked meatballs
• Salt and Ground Pepper
• Bacon, topping on the soup

1. Cook onion and garlic in butter over medium heat until tender.
2. Add potatoes and carrots, cooking for about 5 more minutes, stir often.
3. Add broth, water, and seasoning.  Bring to a boil. 
4. Stir in rice.  Reduce heat and let simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes.  Make sure potatoes are tender.
5. Stir in meatballs.  Cook for another 10 minutes until meatballs are thoroughly heated. 
6. Serve with salt, pepper and bacon.  Enjoy.

Tony Roma's Baked Potato Soup (Taken from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2- by Todd Wilbur)

• 2 medium potatoes (about 2 cups chopped)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup diced white onion
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups instant mashed potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/8 teaspoon thyme
• 1 cup half and half

Garnish

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 2 green onions, chopped (green part only)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and bake the potatoes or 1 hour or until done. When potatoes have cooked remove them from the oven to cool.

2. As potatoes cool prepare soup by melting butter in a large saucepan, and sauté onion until light brown. Add the flour to the onions and stir to make a roux.

3. Add stock, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes, and spices to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise and scoop out contents with a large spoon. Discard skin. Chop baked potato with a large knife to make chunks that are about 1/2-inch in size.

5. Add chopped baked potato and half-and-half to the saucepan, bring soup back to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer the soup for another 15 minutes or until it is thick.

6. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups of soup into a bowl and top with about a tablespoon of shredded cheddar cheese, a half tablespoon of crumbled bacon and a teaspoon or so of chopped green onion. Repeat for remaining servings.

Mac and Cheese Soup
(adapted from Food Network Magazine- Jan/Feb. 2011)
Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces of elbow macaroni (1 cup)
• 1 Tbsp Butter
• Ground Pepper
• 3 green onions
• 1 carrot
• 1 celery stalk 
• 1/4 cup flour
• 3 3/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 1/4 cups 2% milk
• 1 3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

1.  Cook elbow macaroni according to directions on the box in salted water. 
2. Mince green onion, carrot and celery in a food processor or blender.   Saute veggies in butter until soft. 
3. Add the flour and stir for about 1-2 minutes. 
4. Gradually stir in chicken brother.  Bring to a boil.  Stir until thickened (about 6-7 minutes). 
5. Remove from heat.
6. Add milk, cheeses, and macaroni and stir until all the cheese has melted.  Season with pepper.

Mint.com is the bomb.com!!

If you haven't visited mint.com... you need to stop reading this, type it into your address bar and go explore.  Seriously... what are you waiting for?

I used to use a spreadsheet to track all my expenses.  I was really proud of my spreadsheet and proud that I religiously used it to budget.  But, let's face it... I'm kind of lazy sometimes (ok... more than sometimes).  I would dread the last day of the month when I would have to sit down and check over my accounts to make sure everything was set for the next month. 

I had heard of mint.com, but never checked it out.  It is awesome.  You can choose to input all your expenses on your own, or you can give it access to your accounts and it tracks your expenses for you.  It is very similar to Turbo Tax, which I think actually partners with mint.com.  And the best part is... it's FREE! There's no price better than free. 

Anyway, you can learn all about it but just clicking on that link above and going there.  Do it... you won't regret it.

Can you afford taking care of your hair?

Image taken from http://www.bridalpartytees.com/blog/?p=453

I (correction: one of my friends) found my first gray hair when I was 20.  My mom is beautiful and some would never know, but she is completely gray.  She's not even 50 yet! At the sight of that first gray hair, I thought I was doomed with my mother's genes.  Luckily, I'm not completely gray... but now, at 28, I have quite a bit of gray.  I have had to go back to a lighter hair color, which hides the gray much better.  But, I still have to get my hair dyed if I want to hide those pesky grays.

I miss the days when I could take a weekend trip to see my little sister who used to do my hair. It costs so much to get hair done these days.  When I would dye my dark hair myself, I would spend about $8.00 every three weeks for a mediocre color.  And my wallet just doesn't permit an $100 trip to the stylist every few weeks to get highlights.

But, there is an alternative!  Try getting your hair done at a local cosmetology school.  It not only benefits you (and your wallet) but you are also helping the student get the practice they need to graduate.  Although, it might be a little scary trusting your luscious locks to a student, consider this... they have to get each of their steps checked off by an instructor.  You also have the choice between a senior student (more experience) and a junior student (less experience-- but often cheaper).

I first went to a hair school a couple years ago when my old hairdresser moved.  The girl did a FANTASTIC job.  Then when my little sister signed up for hair school, I went to year every couple months at the school.  She also did an awesome job.  And today, I melted down and visited the local hair school.  I was a little hesitant because the school didn't seem as organized or fancy as my sister's school.  But, my student stylist did a fantastic job and her instructor was just as impressive.  And for nearly 3 hours of work (highlighting, deep condition, haircut and style), it was only $31 plus tip.  SCORE! And it looks awesome! Best yet- she is only a junior student.

So, if you aren't INSANELY picky about your hair and are looking to shed a few dollars from the budget, this is a great way to save money.

*Caution: There are students I would never let touch my hair.  Just talk to the front desk and ask for a senior student, experienced student, someone who has done your color before, or someone who competes.  

Wait to buy your airline tickets until...

Tuesday!  According to a Wall Street Journal article, airline ticket sales are often cheapest on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The most pricey ticket sales are on the weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

For more information about this article, visit http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/111970/where-not-to-buy-airline-tickets?mod=bb-budgeting.

Recent Money Saving Tips

All over the news and magazines are headlines talking about saving money.  Is it finally "in" to actually live a frugal and thrifty lifestyle? Many people are finding themselves struggling in these tough economic times, forcing new changes.

I have found two great articles with some fantastic ideas about how to save money.

1.   "How We're Spending Less, Saving More"(http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-How-We-Spending-ac-3925268592.html?x=0) 
2. "30 Ways to Save Beaucoup Bucks This Year", The Nest Magazine (Winter 2010/11 Issue)

The important idea here is distinguishing your NEEDS from your WANTS.  Once you look at your budget and determine which things are needs, then you can start picking away at your wants and find ways to cut out wasteful spending.

Here are my hand-picked favorite ideas:

1. Cutting grocery bills: Watch the ads and shop sales.  There are times I go to 3 stores just to find the best price.  I plan my meals around what is in season and what is on sale.  Many don't like to shop at Wal-Mart Supercenters or Super Targets, but most of the time, they are far cheaper than local grocery stores.  Buying a box of cereal from those stores can save you up to $1.50 per box and it is the same cereal that people buy at local grocery stores.  I do try to save fresh produce for an actual grocery store as they often have a better selection (but not always).

2. Cutting travel costs: Try to carpool.  Run all your errands in one trip on one day.  One family is saving up to 20% of travel costs doing just these two things.

3. Cut down entertainment costs (specifically movies): This is one area where my husband and I really have had to cut down.  In the last six months, we have seen one movie at the theater... Harry Potter. Ask yourself this question "Can the movie wait for Redbox?" For most movies, we wait for the Rexbox so we only have to spend $1 for the rental... and we make sure we get it back the next day so we aren't charged another dollar.  Look for discount tickets, matinee showings, or dollar theaters in your area.  The Nest recommended going to Costco or Sam's Club for discount movie tickets.

4. Turn your thermostat down 2 degrees:  You may have to cozy up in a blanket to keep you warm or throw another quilt on the bed, but it can save up to $20 a month on your utilities.

5. Buy generic brands: Kraft Mac 'N' Cheese, in my opinion, is the best when it comes to macaroni.  They know how to do it right.  But, when it comes to ziplock baggies, bleach, shredded cheese and milk, you can go with the local store brand and get a very similar and comparable item, without necessarily risking quality.  I am even going to go as far and say that when it comes to fashion, you can probably go with a cheaper brand too.  It may not last as long, but when you need to cut spending, buying some sweats from Target instead of Abercrombie and Fitch can save you loads of money.

6. Mail in Rx: There are mail-in pharmacies that can fill a 90-day supply on just one copay.  Talk to your insurance company to see if they participate in this.

7.  Ask for the student discount: Many stores offer discounts for students (but they don't advertise it).  See if your favorites offer one too.  I know J. Crew does.  All you have to do is show your student ID.

8.  Find local deals for dining and entertainment: Use www.groupon.com to find out what deals for dining and entertainment are going on in your area.  I have had many friends use this and rave about it!

Try one or two of these ideas and see what you can cut out of your budget!

Coupons.com

Image taken from: http://www.travelvacationvouchers.com/Grocery.html

As many of you know, I am a sucker for finding ways to cut my spending, finding deals, and saving money.  A great resource is www.coupons.com.

You go to the site, virtually clip coupons, and then print them out.  It's as easy as that!  It takes me 5 minutes (at most), and I typically save from around $3 to $5 each grocery trip.

Think about this, if you clip coupons once a week and, on average, you save $5 in coupons, over the course of a year, you will have saved $260.  For someone on a tight budget, that's quite a dent.  Or for those of you who aren't on quite as tight a budget, consider that $260 as another pair of boots and a few shirts.

The key to clipping coupons is to buy something (when possible) when you see a coupon come out (even it that means it sits on the shelf for a little bit).  For example, if you have a Swiffer mop and you see a coupon for savings on Swiffer products, buy the product then (even if you don't need it right away).  Those coupon deals don't stick around all the time... they come and go.  It's best to use them when you see them.

Another idea is to plan meals around coupons.  Go through the coupons and see what you deals are available.  Then plan accordingly.

Be cautious-- if you normally buy off-brand products, be sure that your coupon deal beats the off-brand product.

Free Passport Photos

This site was a FANTASTIC find.  No more going to to the post office and paying $15 for a passport photo.  If you don't have a color printer, this is a terrific alternative. This site will do it for you-- all you need is a digital camera! The most you would pay is around one dollar (print and shipping).

Step One: 
Go here: http://www.epassportphoto.com/

Step Two: 
Choose "United State", "Passport 2x2" and then click on "Get My Passport Photos"

Step Three: 
Follow the directions about how to take the photo.  Take your photo.  Upload it onto the site.

Step Four: 
Drag the box around your photo.  Read the directions about the green rectangles. Click Next.

Step Five: 
This is where they get you to buy the photo through them.  You can choose to do that-- it's still cheaper than the post office.  Or you click on the small "No Thanks" option and it will skip right through those choices.

Step Six:
Download the passport photo sheet.  It saves it as a 4x6 jpg.  Then you can sign up for 20 free photos through Snapfish, upload your photos there, and VOILA... free passport photos.  (Otherwise, you can take it to any Target, Walmart, Walgreens, etc., and have them print it for around 15 cents).

Isn't getting stuff for free great?