Angie says:
I know that here on this site we're trying to save money, but part of saving money and being thrifty is knowing what to spend money on and what not to spend money on. I'm notoriously cheap when it comes to certain things. Let me tell you about a few lessons learned about this.
A few years ago my husband and I bought a vinyl shed to put our stuff in. for $50 bucks the store would come and put it together for us. Nope, I was going to save $50 bucks and do it myself because I'm a handy person. About $150 and three days taken off of work (to get it done before the snow fell) later I was kicking myself for being cheap. That shed was really hard to figure out. My brother even came over for a few days to help and didn't have much better luck.
If a company offers to put something together FOR you, for a good deal, let them. That shed was a pain in the tuckus.
My next lesson was just recently. In order to save money on painting our house my husband and I have been doing it by hand (I hate T-11 siding, oh how I hate it). Because it has rained almost all the time since we started we've been running outside whenever the sun peeks out. We haven't done anything really this summer because we've been staying home in case it turns out sunny. I broke down and rented a paint sprayer yesterday. Best thing that I did in a long time.
So the moral is: be cheap elsewhere, make your own coffee, don't buy trendy clothes, don't buy a plasma tv when your tv works just fine. Do rent a paint sprayer if it's been raining non-stop for over a month; Do let someone else put together an extremely complicated shed.
Monday, August 4, 2008
for all you gen exers
Molly says:
Here's an article I found interesting -- all about how my fellow gen-xers need to start saving, saving, saving for retirement. Not the most scintillating of topics, I know, but time's a-wasting and those baby boomers are gonna suck the teet dry of all the money we're putting into social security. Those bastards.
Generation X's Last, Best Hope for Retirement
It's not too late yet -- but it's getting close.
By Chuck Saletta
Motley Fool
July. 27, 2008
If older Americans are in trouble when it comes to their retirement planning, Generation X is in big trouble, because:
Pensions have become things of the past.
The Social Security system is failing.
Debt, debt, and more debt.
We Gen Xers are staring into a financial future bleaker than anything our baby boomer parents imagined.
From bad to worseUSA Todaypublished an article that painted a grim future for the generation born from 1965 through 1980. The employer and social safety nets are gone. Life expectancies are on the rise -- so retirement will last longer. That might sound great, but with insufficient retirement funds, those years won't be so golden after all.
While time is less of an ally now, this problem can be solved.
Tick, tock!The oldest members of Generation X are 43 years old. In 20 or 25 years, they'll be ready to retire -- if they have the nest egg they need. Unfortunately, it gets a lot tougher to amass that nest egg the longer you wait. Time is the enemy here. The less time you have to let your money compound, the more you'll need to come up with out of pocket every month to reach your goal.
Say, for instance, you figure you'll need $1,000,000 and a paid-off home to live comfortably in retirement. If you've been working on your home but not your nest egg, the battle is already starting to get tougher, and the longer you wait, the nastier it will get.
For instance, assume you can get an 8% annual return on your investments. Depending on how much you've got socked away, here's how much you'd have to invest every month to retire with that (see link above to view graphic)
Unless you're a leading-edge Generation Xer who's already got a decent nest egg -- and statistics show that there aren't many in that camp -- this may well be your last realistic chance to retire comfortably at a reasonable age.
Start soon, but start smartlyTime may be running out, but that's no reason to panic. Even the oldest members of Generation X can retire comfortably without stretching beyond the contributions they're likely eligible to make across both their 401(k)s and IRAs.
To get started, make these three priorities:
Invest enough every payday to be able to reach your goals.
Diversify appropriately to protect yourself from the failure of any one company.
Keep your retirement a top financial priority, no matter what life may throw your way.
The diversification part is particularly important, as investors in Bear Stearns or Countrywide can attest. Almost nobody called the size and speed of their implosions accurately. If they were the only companies you happened to own, then you might have been wiped out.
One of the big benefits of a broad index fund is the fact that you get a stake in many, generally successful, companies. In an S&P 500 fund, for instance, you get a stake in 500 companies. If a dozen or so of them hit the skids, then you still own 488 others that should mute your downside. Just look at the wide swings in performance for a handful of companies in the S&P 500 index over the past year: (again, see link above to view graphic)
While the index itself is down 16% over the past year, it has done far better than some of its constituents. I admit that this is a crude example of diversification, and I'm not suggesting you own nothing but a single index fund. But even the stock pickers among us can recognize that having at least a portion of their savings in a broad-market index will cushion them even if they've happened to pick the next abject failure within that index.
There's still hope yetAll is not lost for Gen Xers, but if the power of compounding money isn't put to work today, that dream retirement will be just that. So start saving with vigor, diversify appropriately, and make your retirement plan a reality, not an abstraction.
Here's an article I found interesting -- all about how my fellow gen-xers need to start saving, saving, saving for retirement. Not the most scintillating of topics, I know, but time's a-wasting and those baby boomers are gonna suck the teet dry of all the money we're putting into social security. Those bastards.
Generation X's Last, Best Hope for Retirement
It's not too late yet -- but it's getting close.
By Chuck Saletta
Motley Fool
July. 27, 2008
If older Americans are in trouble when it comes to their retirement planning, Generation X is in big trouble, because:
Pensions have become things of the past.
The Social Security system is failing.
Debt, debt, and more debt.
We Gen Xers are staring into a financial future bleaker than anything our baby boomer parents imagined.
From bad to worseUSA Todaypublished an article that painted a grim future for the generation born from 1965 through 1980. The employer and social safety nets are gone. Life expectancies are on the rise -- so retirement will last longer. That might sound great, but with insufficient retirement funds, those years won't be so golden after all.
While time is less of an ally now, this problem can be solved.
Tick, tock!The oldest members of Generation X are 43 years old. In 20 or 25 years, they'll be ready to retire -- if they have the nest egg they need. Unfortunately, it gets a lot tougher to amass that nest egg the longer you wait. Time is the enemy here. The less time you have to let your money compound, the more you'll need to come up with out of pocket every month to reach your goal.
Say, for instance, you figure you'll need $1,000,000 and a paid-off home to live comfortably in retirement. If you've been working on your home but not your nest egg, the battle is already starting to get tougher, and the longer you wait, the nastier it will get.
For instance, assume you can get an 8% annual return on your investments. Depending on how much you've got socked away, here's how much you'd have to invest every month to retire with that (see link above to view graphic)
Unless you're a leading-edge Generation Xer who's already got a decent nest egg -- and statistics show that there aren't many in that camp -- this may well be your last realistic chance to retire comfortably at a reasonable age.
Start soon, but start smartlyTime may be running out, but that's no reason to panic. Even the oldest members of Generation X can retire comfortably without stretching beyond the contributions they're likely eligible to make across both their 401(k)s and IRAs.
To get started, make these three priorities:
Invest enough every payday to be able to reach your goals.
Diversify appropriately to protect yourself from the failure of any one company.
Keep your retirement a top financial priority, no matter what life may throw your way.
The diversification part is particularly important, as investors in Bear Stearns or Countrywide can attest. Almost nobody called the size and speed of their implosions accurately. If they were the only companies you happened to own, then you might have been wiped out.
One of the big benefits of a broad index fund is the fact that you get a stake in many, generally successful, companies. In an S&P 500 fund, for instance, you get a stake in 500 companies. If a dozen or so of them hit the skids, then you still own 488 others that should mute your downside. Just look at the wide swings in performance for a handful of companies in the S&P 500 index over the past year: (again, see link above to view graphic)
While the index itself is down 16% over the past year, it has done far better than some of its constituents. I admit that this is a crude example of diversification, and I'm not suggesting you own nothing but a single index fund. But even the stock pickers among us can recognize that having at least a portion of their savings in a broad-market index will cushion them even if they've happened to pick the next abject failure within that index.
There's still hope yetAll is not lost for Gen Xers, but if the power of compounding money isn't put to work today, that dream retirement will be just that. So start saving with vigor, diversify appropriately, and make your retirement plan a reality, not an abstraction.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Entertaining On The Cheap Part II
Angie Says:
Earlier I told you about a little get together that I was having. Everything went over really well (as long as you don't as about the pie. Just don't ask). In a couple of weeks I'm having another little crafty get together and thought that I should start thinking about what inexpensive but fantastic foods I might whip up.
It got me thinking about a certain recipe. I don't think that the show is on anymore but on the Food Network there was a show called Good Deal with Dave Lieberman where he showed you how to entertain on a budget. Even though his budget was often larger than what I would spend his ideas were fantastic. The following is an adaptation of one of his recipes.
Empty the cans of beans into a colander and rinse them briefly under cold water. Drain thoroughly and empty the colander into a large serving bowl. Toss the beans together with the red onion and arugula. Shake the olive oil, vinegar, chopped basil, salt and pepper in a sealable container until the salt is dissolved. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. It's best to make and dress the salad about an hour before you serve it. Let it stand at room temperature, tossing every time you think about it. Just before serving, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.
Earlier I told you about a little get together that I was having. Everything went over really well (as long as you don't as about the pie. Just don't ask). In a couple of weeks I'm having another little crafty get together and thought that I should start thinking about what inexpensive but fantastic foods I might whip up.
It got me thinking about a certain recipe. I don't think that the show is on anymore but on the Food Network there was a show called Good Deal with Dave Lieberman where he showed you how to entertain on a budget. Even though his budget was often larger than what I would spend his ideas were fantastic. The following is an adaptation of one of his recipes.
Cannellini Bean, Red Onion, and Basil Salad
4 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 bunch arugula, thick stems removed, washed and dried
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Handful washed basil leaves, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon salt 20 grinds black pepper
4 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans
1 medium red onion, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 bunch arugula, thick stems removed, washed and dried
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Handful washed basil leaves, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon salt 20 grinds black pepper
Empty the cans of beans into a colander and rinse them briefly under cold water. Drain thoroughly and empty the colander into a large serving bowl. Toss the beans together with the red onion and arugula. Shake the olive oil, vinegar, chopped basil, salt and pepper in a sealable container until the salt is dissolved. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. It's best to make and dress the salad about an hour before you serve it. Let it stand at room temperature, tossing every time you think about it. Just before serving, adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.
So that is EXACTLY his recipe. You know that here in Alaska it's often hard to find certain food items. I hardly ever make this recipe with Cannellini beans because they're hard to find. I use navy beans and it's just as good. I also hardly ever find arugala so I just skip it. It's still very tasty and pretty inexpensive to make.
His recipe makes a lot (because it's for entertaining) so you can halve it, or quarter it really. In my book, it's just plain tasty.
A few things:
1. Make sure you rinse the beans and drain them well.
2. Make sure you're using a brand of canned beans that are still firm when you open them. Canned or not, they should still be fairly firm.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Sale alert!
Molly says:
I was at Walmart in Wasilla this weekend and saw tons of wedding favor boxes and invitation kits on clearance -- perhaps to make way for all the new Martha Stewart merchandise Walmart is now carrying. And it was good wedding stuff too. Not that tacky crap you see so much of. I bought several packages of small favor boxes, not for wedding stuff, but just to put in my stash of giftwrapping stuff for future gift-giving and -wrapping. They were a nice multi-purpose design, not to wedding-ish. 50 little favor boxes for $3. There were boxes of really pretty invites for the wedding and shower. Just tons of stuff that looked great -- I wish I could have found these back when I was in the market. The rack was in an odd spot in the store -- in a front corner amongst seasonal gardening stuff, so you might have a challenge finding it but it's worth the search.
Also, Lowe's had all its outdoor plants clearanced for half off. Trees were 75% off!
I was at Walmart in Wasilla this weekend and saw tons of wedding favor boxes and invitation kits on clearance -- perhaps to make way for all the new Martha Stewart merchandise Walmart is now carrying. And it was good wedding stuff too. Not that tacky crap you see so much of. I bought several packages of small favor boxes, not for wedding stuff, but just to put in my stash of giftwrapping stuff for future gift-giving and -wrapping. They were a nice multi-purpose design, not to wedding-ish. 50 little favor boxes for $3. There were boxes of really pretty invites for the wedding and shower. Just tons of stuff that looked great -- I wish I could have found these back when I was in the market. The rack was in an odd spot in the store -- in a front corner amongst seasonal gardening stuff, so you might have a challenge finding it but it's worth the search.
Also, Lowe's had all its outdoor plants clearanced for half off. Trees were 75% off!
Friday, July 25, 2008
trim your grocery bill
Molly says:
MSN Money has some really good articles lately on spending less at the grocery store.
In this article, a woman answers the call to try to feed her family of four on $100 a week. You can read the full story at the link above. Some of the key things I got from her:
The average food stamp allowance for a family of 4 is $117 per week.
The U.S. Government consider $182 per week a moderate budget for a family of four with ages similar to the author's.
$100 per week came to $1.19 per meal per person.
To stick with a budget like that requires meticulous planning of each meal and snack and everyone in the family has to stick with the plan.
Buy enough food to cover all the meals for the week -- returning to the store later might lead to overspending on impulse buys.
Instead of steak, buy lean stew meat and cook it in stew or soup. The crockpot works wonders.
Add three bean-based meals each week.
In terms of meat, consider canned: salmon, clams, tuna, and chicken are great in casseroles, wraps, and pasta and rice.
Stockpile stuff when you see a sale.
Cheap and healthy snacks: raisins, popcorn (cooked on the stove, not the microwave), carrot sticks, pretzels, cheese, and bananas.
Check the article to see the results of their weeklong experiment.
MSN Money has some really good articles lately on spending less at the grocery store.
In this article, a woman answers the call to try to feed her family of four on $100 a week. You can read the full story at the link above. Some of the key things I got from her:
The average food stamp allowance for a family of 4 is $117 per week.
The U.S. Government consider $182 per week a moderate budget for a family of four with ages similar to the author's.
$100 per week came to $1.19 per meal per person.
To stick with a budget like that requires meticulous planning of each meal and snack and everyone in the family has to stick with the plan.
Buy enough food to cover all the meals for the week -- returning to the store later might lead to overspending on impulse buys.
Instead of steak, buy lean stew meat and cook it in stew or soup. The crockpot works wonders.
Add three bean-based meals each week.
In terms of meat, consider canned: salmon, clams, tuna, and chicken are great in casseroles, wraps, and pasta and rice.
Stockpile stuff when you see a sale.
Cheap and healthy snacks: raisins, popcorn (cooked on the stove, not the microwave), carrot sticks, pretzels, cheese, and bananas.
Check the article to see the results of their weeklong experiment.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
staycations!
Molly says:
This article has a nice little round-up on travel deals here at home. I have my eye on at least two of them.
This article has a nice little round-up on travel deals here at home. I have my eye on at least two of them.
Monday, July 21, 2008
What to Do
Angie says:
Anchorage:
Wednesday:
Peter Cooper and Eric Brace in concert Free.
Sixteen noted authors to give nine evenings of free readings
Friday
Music in the Park: The Derry Aires- Free. I love this group
Saturday:
Saturday Cultural Series: cultural dancers, Schultz & Hammer with Mz. Lona Free.
Potter Marsh Grand Opening Free.
Dingy Sailboat Regatta Free.
Soldotna:
The fourth weekend in July, Soldotna celebrates its biggest event of the year - Progress Days. The main event is a parade with more than 100 participants. Other activities include art & crafts booths, car races, a rodeo, community barbecues and much more.
Free.
Homer:
June thru August –
Pratt Pods Art & Science programs, Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 pm at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635
The Object at Hand Mondays and Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Pratt Museum. Meet with a Museum docent and take an even closer look at some of the unique objects in collections storage, 235-8635
Creatures of the Dock Tours Tuesday through Saturday. Center for Alaska Coastal Studies yurt on the Homer Spit, 235-6667
Weekly Children's Programs at Wynn Nature Center 235-6667 Pre-schoolers, Bio-kids (ages 5-10), Wynners Wilderness Survival (ages 7-10), and Wynners Passport Program (ages 8-12)
Alaska Wildlife Ranger-Led Talks & Walks Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Wildlife & Birding Hotspots Sundays & Mondays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Beachwalks Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Estuary Hikes Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Discovery Labs Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Historical Harbor Walking Tours - Days and times TBD
Anchorage:
Wednesday:
Peter Cooper and Eric Brace in concert Free.
Sixteen noted authors to give nine evenings of free readings
Friday
Music in the Park: The Derry Aires- Free. I love this group
Saturday:
Saturday Cultural Series: cultural dancers, Schultz & Hammer with Mz. Lona Free.
Potter Marsh Grand Opening Free.
Dingy Sailboat Regatta Free.
Soldotna:
The fourth weekend in July, Soldotna celebrates its biggest event of the year - Progress Days. The main event is a parade with more than 100 participants. Other activities include art & crafts booths, car races, a rodeo, community barbecues and much more.
Free.
Homer:
June thru August –
Pratt Pods Art & Science programs, Tuesdays & Thursdays 1:00 pm at the Pratt Museum, 235-8635
The Object at Hand Mondays and Fridays 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Pratt Museum. Meet with a Museum docent and take an even closer look at some of the unique objects in collections storage, 235-8635
Creatures of the Dock Tours Tuesday through Saturday. Center for Alaska Coastal Studies yurt on the Homer Spit, 235-6667
Weekly Children's Programs at Wynn Nature Center 235-6667 Pre-schoolers, Bio-kids (ages 5-10), Wynners Wilderness Survival (ages 7-10), and Wynners Passport Program (ages 8-12)
Alaska Wildlife Ranger-Led Talks & Walks Wednesdays and Fridays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Wildlife & Birding Hotspots Sundays & Mondays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Beachwalks Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Estuary Hikes Tuesdays & Thursdays, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Discovery Labs Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, 235-6961
Historical Harbor Walking Tours - Days and times TBD
Never running out of dinosuars: Priceless
Angie says:
Yesterday morning on our way to breakfast my husband and I noticed a man putting up a garage sale sign. A Sunday only garage sale? That would mean that not all of the good stuff was picked over on Saturday. The man was also driving away in an Escalade towards a very nice neighborhood. All signs of a super garage sale. We wolfed down our food and drove up a hillside (not THE Hillside for all you Anchorage people) for quite a long time. We finally reached the garage sale and it was the garage sale to end all garage sales. It was primarily little kids things but since several of our friend are now having children who will eventually come over to play we figure we should have something more child-friendly for them to play with than say the large display of antique cameras or my grandfather's military collection. The following is a list of what I aquired at this garage sale.
1. punch bowl and cups $2
2. lace tablecloth: $1
3. plastic pail with 5 sand digging tools: $1
4. Fisher-Price doctor set with all the pieces: $1
5. 2 giant floor puzzles of dinosaurs, jumbo pieces that are "easy clean"; $1
6. Giant box of 250 dinosaurs: $5
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Free Entertainment
Angie Says:
Molly and I were talking today about our dogs. We are dog people. Molly was talking about how she can regale her husband with hilarous stories about Sadie and he just doesn't get how much entertainment she gets out of the dog. I can watch my dog for hours and just get a kick out of how dumb/smart/silly/weird she is. My husband pretends that he isn't as entertained but he his. As for free; well I guess as acident prone as she is she actually costs us more than the heating bill some months. Let's call her "worth the cost" entertainment, which is more than I can say for the cable.
Entertaining on the Cheap
I'm having a little get together this weekend. A little crafting time with the girls. My husband and I usually go all out when we host events. Not this time. I'm trying to be thrifty right? So, my guests are expecting spectacular but I don't' want to spend very much money. What to do?
I've decided to only use what I already have in the house to entertain. My inventory includes mozzarella, and pepperoni, canned diced tomatoes, a bit of red wine left over, and basil growing in my window=Pizza. It also includes some pasta, italian dressing and frozen peas=pasta salad. And for the finally I have flour, butter, and frozen fruit=pie.
A while ago I learned a very nice trick for canned tomatoes. If you have to use canned (and here in Alaska you usually do) a nice trick is to open the can, drain it (reserve the liquid if you need it later), place tomatoes in a roasting pan and on the center rack of the oven broil for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until the tomatoes start to brown around the edges. Then remove the pan and add a bit of red wine and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes to deglaze the pan.
This sort of revives the tomatoes and gives it a much "fresher" taste. I dont' mind doing the extra work because I make a LOT of sauce and freeze it.
I'll give an update on how the party goes.
I've decided to only use what I already have in the house to entertain. My inventory includes mozzarella, and pepperoni, canned diced tomatoes, a bit of red wine left over, and basil growing in my window=Pizza. It also includes some pasta, italian dressing and frozen peas=pasta salad. And for the finally I have flour, butter, and frozen fruit=pie.
A while ago I learned a very nice trick for canned tomatoes. If you have to use canned (and here in Alaska you usually do) a nice trick is to open the can, drain it (reserve the liquid if you need it later), place tomatoes in a roasting pan and on the center rack of the oven broil for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes until the tomatoes start to brown around the edges. Then remove the pan and add a bit of red wine and cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes to deglaze the pan.
This sort of revives the tomatoes and gives it a much "fresher" taste. I dont' mind doing the extra work because I make a LOT of sauce and freeze it.
I'll give an update on how the party goes.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
avoiding food waste
Molly says:
Angie's last post (see below) reminded me that I had this post knocking around in our drafts section so I thought I'd better get to publishing it.
I enjoyed this article about a study that estimated we throw away about 14% of the food we buy. There are lots of handy tips on using everything you buy. It advocates reducing waste, cutting costs and safeguarding health by shopping and eating smarter.
Don't buy more than you need. Check fridge often to see what needs to be used or frozen before it spoils. Shop with planned meals in mind. Only buy sale items you know you'll use -- food that's unhealthy or that you don't like is never a bargain no matter what the price.
This is a good article too, talking about how people in Britain are being encourged to return to World War II frugality. It probably wasn't much fun at the time, but I've always loved the idea of the ways in which people cut back during that time period. The masses coming together to grow vegetable gardens and give up many material goods.
My best food-using tip is to check your fridge or cabinet for something that's been sitting there for awhile, waiting for its moment to shine, and search online for a recipe based on that one ingredient, no matter how obscure. For instance, I just opened a little can of chipotle peppers in adobo, and I only needed a teaspoon and I have no idea what to do with the leftovers. The list of recipes is usually really interesting and I get all sorts of dishes I might not have thought to seek out on my own. For instance, these yummy-sounding cheddar burgers with balsamic onions and chipotle ketchup. Or this pan-fried red snapper with chipotle butter. 102 recipes at my fingertips all courtesy of a little can of chipotles.
OH and it that food you throw away is produce, be sure to dump it in a compost heap and not in your garbage can.
Angie's last post (see below) reminded me that I had this post knocking around in our drafts section so I thought I'd better get to publishing it.
I enjoyed this article about a study that estimated we throw away about 14% of the food we buy. There are lots of handy tips on using everything you buy. It advocates reducing waste, cutting costs and safeguarding health by shopping and eating smarter.
Don't buy more than you need. Check fridge often to see what needs to be used or frozen before it spoils. Shop with planned meals in mind. Only buy sale items you know you'll use -- food that's unhealthy or that you don't like is never a bargain no matter what the price.
This is a good article too, talking about how people in Britain are being encourged to return to World War II frugality. It probably wasn't much fun at the time, but I've always loved the idea of the ways in which people cut back during that time period. The masses coming together to grow vegetable gardens and give up many material goods.
My best food-using tip is to check your fridge or cabinet for something that's been sitting there for awhile, waiting for its moment to shine, and search online for a recipe based on that one ingredient, no matter how obscure. For instance, I just opened a little can of chipotle peppers in adobo, and I only needed a teaspoon and I have no idea what to do with the leftovers. The list of recipes is usually really interesting and I get all sorts of dishes I might not have thought to seek out on my own. For instance, these yummy-sounding cheddar burgers with balsamic onions and chipotle ketchup. Or this pan-fried red snapper with chipotle butter. 102 recipes at my fingertips all courtesy of a little can of chipotles.
OH and it that food you throw away is produce, be sure to dump it in a compost heap and not in your garbage can.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Leftover Hater: Yeah, That’s Right, I’m Talkin To You
Angie says-
The thing about two people writing one blog is that sometimes, I'll log in, all ready to post my awesome tips for saving you money and there, sitting in the Edit Posts list is a Draft that Molly is working on about the same darn thing. What can I say? Great minds think alike. I got all jazzed up to write about food waste and then saw that draft. So, I'll just stick to the topic of leftovers, which some people dread. Personally, I love leftovers so I have a hard time sympathizing with leftover haters. I think that most food is better the next day, plus I'm lazy, so to me leftovers are a beacon of light in my fridge at the end of a long day when I'm too tired and/or lazy to cook. But, for all of you leftover haters this post is for you:
My friend is one of you leftover haters, so I thought I’d do a bit on leftovers since they’re such a money saver.
First, if you eat lunch out everyday and spent only $5 you’d be spending about $1300 a year for lunch. That’s a lotta steak and I like steak. So taking your lunch is a wise thing to do.
Second, Each American household throws away 470 pounds of food a year! Seriously. What a waste! It’s a waste of landfill space and a waste of money.
The following article is from The Simple Dollar and offers some good tips.
My first thought when I think of leftovers is “Eww… they save money, but… ewww….” so the first thing I did was make a list of the things that bothered me about leftovers:
1. I just had this stuff yesterday. I don’t particularly want to have the same thing I had for dinner again the next day for lunch every single day.
2. It’s messy. I don’t usually cook sandwiches, if you know what I’m saying. I like sauces and things that aren’t … neat. Thus, transporting them back and forth to work can be a mess if I’m not careful.
3. It takes effort in the morning when I’m already busy. Usually, I’m rushing around feeding my son breakfast with one hand and shaving with the other in the morning. I don’t have time to deal with leftovers.
4. Reheated food sucks. It often becomes homogeneous and bland on the second heating.
That’s a pretty negative list for someone who is trying to convert fully to the brown bag club. So, I tackled these issues one at a time.
1. I take leftovers not the next day but the day after that. This gives me a gap of four meals between a repeated meal, which means that I won’t be grumbling about having what I just had for supper the night before.
2. I use a series of meal-ready Tupperware containers. On the top of each container, I write a weekday on it. When I put the meal into Tupperware, I find the one marked for the day I intend to eat it, fill it up with a solid meal sized portion, and put it in the fridge.
3. I prepare the meals at night. Each night after dinner, I put the meals into the appropriately dated Tupperware containers and put them on the fridge, then I take my lunch bag, put the Tupperware container marked for the next day in it (along with a jar of milk and a fruit) and stick that in the fridge. The next morning, I just grab my lunch bag and run.
4. I include a “spice bag.” Whenever I use spices to prepare a meal, I put a little bit extra into a “spice bag,” a tiny Ziploc bag. I seal this up good and toss it on top of the Tupperware container before I seal it. Then, when I go to heat the meal up, I pop off the lid, dump the contents of the spice bag on top, stir them in a bit, and heat them up. Boom, suddenly the meal has recaptured some serious flavor!
These four tactics have made the cost-saving measure of taking leftovers to work much more palatable and have made me appreciate home-cooked meals all the more. Now, I can just microwave a great meal at work and spend my lunch break doing more fulfilling things than standing in line for some greasy fast food - and also enjoy the jingle of money in my pocket.
That's a pretty good article and I think it sums up what's behind a lot of leftover hating. I know that a lot of people don’t reheat their food properly, making it bland and or tough. Every day at work I see people microwaving meals in a fashion that would make your leftovers pretty gross. If you’re reheating chicken in the microwave soak a paper towel in water to cover it while it reheats. This is actually a good tip for most meat that you reheat, it doesn’t become dry. Also, if you’re making beef that can be cooked separately, such as burgers or steak, cook the extra that you’re making for the next day a bit more rare than you usually would. That way the microwave doesn’t overcook it, while you’re reheating the next day. One more thing: don’t forget to cover your food while microwaving it, or you’ll earn the wrath of your co-workers for spattering the microwave with your burrito.
Speaking of burritos, they make fantastic next day meals. The key to reheating is to turn the plate frequently so that the center gets hot.
One of my favorite shows on the Food Network is Quick Fix Meals. I don't always like some of her tips but what I do love is that she shows you how to buy one cut of meat that can be for two separate meals that taste totally different.
We'll post again later on eliminating food and money waste. If you have any tips, let us know.
The thing about two people writing one blog is that sometimes, I'll log in, all ready to post my awesome tips for saving you money and there, sitting in the Edit Posts list is a Draft that Molly is working on about the same darn thing. What can I say? Great minds think alike. I got all jazzed up to write about food waste and then saw that draft. So, I'll just stick to the topic of leftovers, which some people dread. Personally, I love leftovers so I have a hard time sympathizing with leftover haters. I think that most food is better the next day, plus I'm lazy, so to me leftovers are a beacon of light in my fridge at the end of a long day when I'm too tired and/or lazy to cook. But, for all of you leftover haters this post is for you:
My friend is one of you leftover haters, so I thought I’d do a bit on leftovers since they’re such a money saver.
First, if you eat lunch out everyday and spent only $5 you’d be spending about $1300 a year for lunch. That’s a lotta steak and I like steak. So taking your lunch is a wise thing to do.
Second, Each American household throws away 470 pounds of food a year! Seriously. What a waste! It’s a waste of landfill space and a waste of money.
The following article is from The Simple Dollar and offers some good tips.
My first thought when I think of leftovers is “Eww… they save money, but… ewww….” so the first thing I did was make a list of the things that bothered me about leftovers:
1. I just had this stuff yesterday. I don’t particularly want to have the same thing I had for dinner again the next day for lunch every single day.
2. It’s messy. I don’t usually cook sandwiches, if you know what I’m saying. I like sauces and things that aren’t … neat. Thus, transporting them back and forth to work can be a mess if I’m not careful.
3. It takes effort in the morning when I’m already busy. Usually, I’m rushing around feeding my son breakfast with one hand and shaving with the other in the morning. I don’t have time to deal with leftovers.
4. Reheated food sucks. It often becomes homogeneous and bland on the second heating.
That’s a pretty negative list for someone who is trying to convert fully to the brown bag club. So, I tackled these issues one at a time.
1. I take leftovers not the next day but the day after that. This gives me a gap of four meals between a repeated meal, which means that I won’t be grumbling about having what I just had for supper the night before.
2. I use a series of meal-ready Tupperware containers. On the top of each container, I write a weekday on it. When I put the meal into Tupperware, I find the one marked for the day I intend to eat it, fill it up with a solid meal sized portion, and put it in the fridge.
3. I prepare the meals at night. Each night after dinner, I put the meals into the appropriately dated Tupperware containers and put them on the fridge, then I take my lunch bag, put the Tupperware container marked for the next day in it (along with a jar of milk and a fruit) and stick that in the fridge. The next morning, I just grab my lunch bag and run.
4. I include a “spice bag.” Whenever I use spices to prepare a meal, I put a little bit extra into a “spice bag,” a tiny Ziploc bag. I seal this up good and toss it on top of the Tupperware container before I seal it. Then, when I go to heat the meal up, I pop off the lid, dump the contents of the spice bag on top, stir them in a bit, and heat them up. Boom, suddenly the meal has recaptured some serious flavor!
These four tactics have made the cost-saving measure of taking leftovers to work much more palatable and have made me appreciate home-cooked meals all the more. Now, I can just microwave a great meal at work and spend my lunch break doing more fulfilling things than standing in line for some greasy fast food - and also enjoy the jingle of money in my pocket.
That's a pretty good article and I think it sums up what's behind a lot of leftover hating. I know that a lot of people don’t reheat their food properly, making it bland and or tough. Every day at work I see people microwaving meals in a fashion that would make your leftovers pretty gross. If you’re reheating chicken in the microwave soak a paper towel in water to cover it while it reheats. This is actually a good tip for most meat that you reheat, it doesn’t become dry. Also, if you’re making beef that can be cooked separately, such as burgers or steak, cook the extra that you’re making for the next day a bit more rare than you usually would. That way the microwave doesn’t overcook it, while you’re reheating the next day. One more thing: don’t forget to cover your food while microwaving it, or you’ll earn the wrath of your co-workers for spattering the microwave with your burrito.
Speaking of burritos, they make fantastic next day meals. The key to reheating is to turn the plate frequently so that the center gets hot.
One of my favorite shows on the Food Network is Quick Fix Meals. I don't always like some of her tips but what I do love is that she shows you how to buy one cut of meat that can be for two separate meals that taste totally different.
We'll post again later on eliminating food and money waste. If you have any tips, let us know.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sale alert!
Molly says:
This week Fred Meyer has all its gardening plants on sale for 50% off. I got some sweet-looking herbs for $2 each and they're the best I've seen all season. My favorite is a variegated sage that looks good enough to eat. Which is what you do with sage anyway, but you know what I mean.
And! If you need pots to put those bargain plants in, head on over to JoAnn Fabric and take a look at all their gardening stuff. It's on sale for 60% off. They have some of the best prices around on gardening pots and trellises and other tchotkes. Back at the beginning of the gardening season, I was lamenting how darned expensive all this stuff was. Little did I know the "end of season" sales would happen a mere month later.
The bargain hunter in me isn't complaining, but come on, people. It's July!
This week Fred Meyer has all its gardening plants on sale for 50% off. I got some sweet-looking herbs for $2 each and they're the best I've seen all season. My favorite is a variegated sage that looks good enough to eat. Which is what you do with sage anyway, but you know what I mean.
And! If you need pots to put those bargain plants in, head on over to JoAnn Fabric and take a look at all their gardening stuff. It's on sale for 60% off. They have some of the best prices around on gardening pots and trellises and other tchotkes. Back at the beginning of the gardening season, I was lamenting how darned expensive all this stuff was. Little did I know the "end of season" sales would happen a mere month later.
The bargain hunter in me isn't complaining, but come on, people. It's July!
On Splurging
Angie says:
I agree with Molly on the meat issue. My husband feels that he NEEDS meat but fortunately he will eat tofu and veggies if they're sufficiently altered to form more than something that looks like just a side dish. If you're splurging on meat, you might be able to have less of it in a week. Still, you want protein in your diet. The following is a recipe that I altered from 101 Cookbooks and it is VERY filling as a breakfast. It's got a ton of good things in it and the portions are easily altered.
Brown Rice Bowl
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 red onion finely chopped
2 pinches of salt
1 pinch of chili powder (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
3/4 cup extra-firm tofu (1/4 inch dice)
1/2 cup-1 cup chopped fresh cilantro ( I love cilantro so I add a full cup).
2-3 cups pre-cooked whole grain rice (I make a lot of this and freeze it in small bags)
4 eggs
Fill a wide mouthed sauce pan with 3-4 inches of water and bring to a simmer
Separately, warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Stir in the onion, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Let the onions soften up a bit. GENTLY stir in the tofu- let it heat up and brown a bit. Now stir in the garlic. Cook a few minutes. Stir in pre-cooked rice and saute until hot. Remove from heat. Add cilantro. Taste for seasoning as well, you might want salt or more cumin.
Now gently crack each egg into a well oiled ramekin. Lower ramekin into simmering water. Lightly salt and pepper egg. You could use this time to add a tiny bit of garlic powder or chili powder if the rice mixture wasn’t seasoned enough. Cover pan with a translucent lid. Cook until the whites have become almost opaque. Cook longer if you like your egg a bit more done. Remove ramekin from water with tongs. Immediately remove with a small silicone spatula. Divide rice mixture into 4 bowls, place egg on top of each. Add more cilantro if desired. Let each person break the egg over their own rice.
What I do, because I don’t have time to make this before work, is to make everything the night before. Place rice mixture into small containers. Cook the eggs less than you would normally and place one egg on top of the rice. Refrigerate overnight. When I get to work the next morning I microwave it for about 30 seconds or less and it’s ready to eat.
I agree with Molly on the meat issue. My husband feels that he NEEDS meat but fortunately he will eat tofu and veggies if they're sufficiently altered to form more than something that looks like just a side dish. If you're splurging on meat, you might be able to have less of it in a week. Still, you want protein in your diet. The following is a recipe that I altered from 101 Cookbooks and it is VERY filling as a breakfast. It's got a ton of good things in it and the portions are easily altered.
Brown Rice Bowl
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 red onion finely chopped
2 pinches of salt
1 pinch of chili powder (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon finely minced garlic
3/4 cup extra-firm tofu (1/4 inch dice)
1/2 cup-1 cup chopped fresh cilantro ( I love cilantro so I add a full cup).
2-3 cups pre-cooked whole grain rice (I make a lot of this and freeze it in small bags)
4 eggs
Fill a wide mouthed sauce pan with 3-4 inches of water and bring to a simmer
Separately, warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Stir in the onion, salt, cumin, and chili powder. Let the onions soften up a bit. GENTLY stir in the tofu- let it heat up and brown a bit. Now stir in the garlic. Cook a few minutes. Stir in pre-cooked rice and saute until hot. Remove from heat. Add cilantro. Taste for seasoning as well, you might want salt or more cumin.
Now gently crack each egg into a well oiled ramekin. Lower ramekin into simmering water. Lightly salt and pepper egg. You could use this time to add a tiny bit of garlic powder or chili powder if the rice mixture wasn’t seasoned enough. Cover pan with a translucent lid. Cook until the whites have become almost opaque. Cook longer if you like your egg a bit more done. Remove ramekin from water with tongs. Immediately remove with a small silicone spatula. Divide rice mixture into 4 bowls, place egg on top of each. Add more cilantro if desired. Let each person break the egg over their own rice.
What I do, because I don’t have time to make this before work, is to make everything the night before. Place rice mixture into small containers. Cook the eggs less than you would normally and place one egg on top of the rice. Refrigerate overnight. When I get to work the next morning I microwave it for about 30 seconds or less and it’s ready to eat.
a post about splurging.
Molly says:
This is a post about splurging -- strange, I know, for a blog about all-things-thrifty. But I'm on this email list for a fabulous restaurant I visited while in Portland a few months ago, Simpatica Dining Hall. It's a wonderful place -- local foods, their own butcher shop and charcuterie, they're open for only brunch and dinner on the weekends. If I had a restaurant, I'd want it to be just like this. If you're in Portland and you go to one restaurant, be sure it's this one.
Or Apizza Scholls.
Not only was the food at Simpatica out of this world, it was also very affordable. Their most recent email newsletter really resonated with me. It's all about buying quality rather than quantity, and if you can only afford a little bit of quality, that's ok.
Excerpt from the newsletter from Ben Dyer, one of the founders of Simpatica:
"Before I talk about this week's menus, I wanted to spend a little bit of time on one of my favorite places, my soapbox. As some of you may have heard, Fred Meyer/Kroger issued a huge recall of some 5.3 MILLION lbs. of tainted (E. Coli) ground beef last week, right before the holiday weekend. I received a lot of questions from customers, mostly regarding what I thought about it. I decided I would include those thoughts into this week's email. Now, I realize for most of you that I'll be preaching to the choir, but still, maybe some of you can bring this up in conversation amongst your friends, or even just mull over what I'm about to say. I am often struck by Americans' attitude toward the consumption of meat. Many Americans seem to hold the belief that daily meat consumption is on par with some sort of god-given right. That meat should be plentiful, and that meat should be cheap. Most people don't care where their meat comes from, just so long as it's inexpensive. This level of consumption has forced/enabled many companies to produce their meat, especially beef, pork and chicken, at a much lower standard of animal well-being and a need to do it cheaply as possible. So am I surprised that an event like what happened last week came to pass? Not at all. Perhaps the American populace needs to take a long, hard look at what they put into their bodies, and what sort of practices are used to raise the food they consume. My reaction to these events is twofold. First, this is yet another example of why people should support their local butcherand treat themselves to a higher quality product. Unfortunately, and I know this better than almost anyone, a higher quality product is more expensive, as a higher level of care and love is needed to produce a healthier, happier animal. Which leads me to my second point, and this one may seem very strange coming from a butcher... maybe the high level of meat consumption is not the self-evident right most of us have been led to believe. I'm pretty sure there was no clause in the Declaration of Independence or the Bill of Rights that referred to meat consumption. Maybe eating meat should be more of a special occasion. Instead of eating some crappy meat everyday, maybe you should eat something that costs two or three times as much (but with a quality at a much higher level of magnitude) once every two or three days. It may be more expensive, but it's not going to make you drop dead (or give you Mad Cow disease). Plus it tastes better. Just a thought. But really, aren't you worth it? I think so."
This is a post about splurging -- strange, I know, for a blog about all-things-thrifty. But I'm on this email list for a fabulous restaurant I visited while in Portland a few months ago, Simpatica Dining Hall. It's a wonderful place -- local foods, their own butcher shop and charcuterie, they're open for only brunch and dinner on the weekends. If I had a restaurant, I'd want it to be just like this. If you're in Portland and you go to one restaurant, be sure it's this one.
Or Apizza Scholls.
Not only was the food at Simpatica out of this world, it was also very affordable. Their most recent email newsletter really resonated with me. It's all about buying quality rather than quantity, and if you can only afford a little bit of quality, that's ok.
Excerpt from the newsletter from Ben Dyer, one of the founders of Simpatica:
"Before I talk about this week's menus, I wanted to spend a little bit of time on one of my favorite places, my soapbox. As some of you may have heard, Fred Meyer/Kroger issued a huge recall of some 5.3 MILLION lbs. of tainted (E. Coli) ground beef last week, right before the holiday weekend. I received a lot of questions from customers, mostly regarding what I thought about it. I decided I would include those thoughts into this week's email. Now, I realize for most of you that I'll be preaching to the choir, but still, maybe some of you can bring this up in conversation amongst your friends, or even just mull over what I'm about to say. I am often struck by Americans' attitude toward the consumption of meat. Many Americans seem to hold the belief that daily meat consumption is on par with some sort of god-given right. That meat should be plentiful, and that meat should be cheap. Most people don't care where their meat comes from, just so long as it's inexpensive. This level of consumption has forced/enabled many companies to produce their meat, especially beef, pork and chicken, at a much lower standard of animal well-being and a need to do it cheaply as possible. So am I surprised that an event like what happened last week came to pass? Not at all. Perhaps the American populace needs to take a long, hard look at what they put into their bodies, and what sort of practices are used to raise the food they consume. My reaction to these events is twofold. First, this is yet another example of why people should support their local butcher
Friday, July 11, 2008
Avoiding food waste
Molly says:
I enjoyed this article about a study that estimated we throw away about 14% of the food we buy. There are lots of handy tips on using everything you buy. It advocates reducing waste, cutting costs and safeguarding health by shopping and eating smarter.
Don't buy more than you need. Check fridge often to see what needs to be used or frozen before it spoils. Shop with planned meals in mind. Only buy sale items you know you'll use -- food that's unhealthy or that you don't like is never a bargain no matter what the price.
This is a good article too, talking about how people in Britain are being encourged to return to World War II frugality. It probably wasn't much fun at the time, but I've always loved the idea of the ways in which people cut back during that time period. The masses coming together to grow vegetable gardens and give up many material goods.
OH and it that food you throw away is produce, be sure to dump it in a compost heap and not in your garbage can.
I enjoyed this article about a study that estimated we throw away about 14% of the food we buy. There are lots of handy tips on using everything you buy. It advocates reducing waste, cutting costs and safeguarding health by shopping and eating smarter.
Don't buy more than you need. Check fridge often to see what needs to be used or frozen before it spoils. Shop with planned meals in mind. Only buy sale items you know you'll use -- food that's unhealthy or that you don't like is never a bargain no matter what the price.
This is a good article too, talking about how people in Britain are being encourged to return to World War II frugality. It probably wasn't much fun at the time, but I've always loved the idea of the ways in which people cut back during that time period. The masses coming together to grow vegetable gardens and give up many material goods.
OH and it that food you throw away is produce, be sure to dump it in a compost heap and not in your garbage can.
Denali Road Lottery
Molly says:
Looking for a cheap get-away this late-summer/early-fall? There's still a few weeks to throw your hat in the ring for the Denali Road Lottery. On four days in September, the National Park Service will allow 400 vehicles per day to drive into the park -- usually only buses are allowed so it would be quite the occasion to be a chosen one. One entry per person, $10 per person. If you win (or should I say WHEN you win) you can pack your car full of people to chip in on gas money and have yourself a nice little staycation, visiting a place people spend big bucks to travel to each summer. More info and instructions available at the link above.
Looking for a cheap get-away this late-summer/early-fall? There's still a few weeks to throw your hat in the ring for the Denali Road Lottery. On four days in September, the National Park Service will allow 400 vehicles per day to drive into the park -- usually only buses are allowed so it would be quite the occasion to be a chosen one. One entry per person, $10 per person. If you win (or should I say WHEN you win) you can pack your car full of people to chip in on gas money and have yourself a nice little staycation, visiting a place people spend big bucks to travel to each summer. More info and instructions available at the link above.
Don't Do It!
Angie says:
Molly's post about not wasting your money got me thinking about other things people waste their money on. One of them is eating at Snow City Cafe here in town. You know it: that super trendy downtown spot, known for great food, uber trendy staff and cute t-shirts. What it's NOT known for is it's outrageously high prices, lack of spice in food, and horrible, horrible service. The service is seriously some of the worst in town. That being said take a look at their menu. Let's take the breakfast a go-go sandwich. It's tasty, and quite large for an breakfast sandwich but basically, just eggs, and cheese on bread, no special spices or ingrediants. Lets say you go in, wait the long wait, order a BAGG and a latte. You, my friend have just unwittingly racked up an $11 breakfast for eggs and coffee, $11.50 if you choose the bagel instead of the english muffin and $14 if you want the hashbrowns. That's way, way too high of a price to pay for what is. Just do yourself a favor and make it at home.
Molly's post about not wasting your money got me thinking about other things people waste their money on. One of them is eating at Snow City Cafe here in town. You know it: that super trendy downtown spot, known for great food, uber trendy staff and cute t-shirts. What it's NOT known for is it's outrageously high prices, lack of spice in food, and horrible, horrible service. The service is seriously some of the worst in town. That being said take a look at their menu. Let's take the breakfast a go-go sandwich. It's tasty, and quite large for an breakfast sandwich but basically, just eggs, and cheese on bread, no special spices or ingrediants. Lets say you go in, wait the long wait, order a BAGG and a latte. You, my friend have just unwittingly racked up an $11 breakfast for eggs and coffee, $11.50 if you choose the bagel instead of the english muffin and $14 if you want the hashbrowns. That's way, way too high of a price to pay for what is. Just do yourself a favor and make it at home.
expensr
Molly says:
One of my favorite online penny-pinching tools is http://www.expensr.com/. It's a free online budget tracker that helps you answer the question, "Where did all my money go?" Sure you can scribble everything on a legal pad but I just love online tracking tools. It makes everything seem so much more official. There's lots of other sites just like it and I didn't take the time to check all of them out, but I found this one early in my search and decided to stick to it.
Expensr has spots to enter paychecks, bills, groceries, clothing, entertainment, and any other category you can come up with. Once you get some entries in, the site generates cool pie charts showing exactly where your money's going. I love a pie chart.
Supposedly, the site can link into your online bank account and import your deposits and expenses automatically, but I don't know about that ... it makes me a little antsy to think about giving that sort of access to a website so I do it all by hand each morning, accounting for the previous day.
The site says, "Your odds of becoming a millionaire are similar to your odds of filing for bankruptcy." See how much of your money goes to food or gas. Then compare your spending with similar people. For instance, see if you spend more or less on groceries than other people in your age group.
Create budgets to stay on track and use our forecasting tools to avoid any financial surprises.
It's all free, easy-to-use, and takes only a couple of minutes each day.
One of my favorite online penny-pinching tools is http://www.expensr.com/. It's a free online budget tracker that helps you answer the question, "Where did all my money go?" Sure you can scribble everything on a legal pad but I just love online tracking tools. It makes everything seem so much more official. There's lots of other sites just like it and I didn't take the time to check all of them out, but I found this one early in my search and decided to stick to it.
Expensr has spots to enter paychecks, bills, groceries, clothing, entertainment, and any other category you can come up with. Once you get some entries in, the site generates cool pie charts showing exactly where your money's going. I love a pie chart.
Supposedly, the site can link into your online bank account and import your deposits and expenses automatically, but I don't know about that ... it makes me a little antsy to think about giving that sort of access to a website so I do it all by hand each morning, accounting for the previous day.
The site says, "Your odds of becoming a millionaire are similar to your odds of filing for bankruptcy." See how much of your money goes to food or gas. Then compare your spending with similar people. For instance, see if you spend more or less on groceries than other people in your age group.
Create budgets to stay on track and use our forecasting tools to avoid any financial surprises.
It's all free, easy-to-use, and takes only a couple of minutes each day.
A deal-and-a-half for the Valley kids
Molly says:
Students 18 and younger can ride free this summer on MASCOT, the Matanuska-Susitna area's public transportation system. Ask bus drivers for a pass. The free passes, courtesy of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, are only good on MASCOT's Palmer and Wasilla routes. Perfect for getting back and forth to those summer jobs, the library, the movies, etc. For more information about schedules and service areas, go to http://www.matsutransit.com/.
Students 18 and younger can ride free this summer on MASCOT, the Matanuska-Susitna area's public transportation system. Ask bus drivers for a pass. The free passes, courtesy of the Mat-Su Health Foundation, are only good on MASCOT's Palmer and Wasilla routes. Perfect for getting back and forth to those summer jobs, the library, the movies, etc. For more information about schedules and service areas, go to http://www.matsutransit.com/.
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