Trading for kids activities

So, for the first 6 years of having kids, we never had any extra in the budget for extra activities for the kids.  So we didn’t do swim lessons, or any sports, or anything.
Then we were able to add enough to the budget to let everyone do one thing for one month each year.
Last year my girls decided they wanted one month of gymnastics…well, you do one month of gym and the kids and the coaches want you to continue.
I explained our situation to the coach, and she asked if I would like to do a trade.  So I go help with the toddler gymnastics in the morning, and it pays for my girls (I have 5 of them) to do gymnastics!
Trading is awesome!  Since then I’ve heard of people trading for a bunch of things…preschool, dance lessons….
And it doesn’t even have to be in kind, my mom said she traded swim lessons, and tutoring, for piano lessons, and swim team!
So, if you would like to be involved in more activities, see what you can trade for it.
It’s a win/win for you and the business, or person, you’re trading with!

Coupons, be not afraid

Ok, so I have always felt like doing coupons was a daunting task.  People buying 5 newspaper subscriptions, spending hours clipping, and they always seemed to be for things I never use (name brand and such)…
But recently I took a class, and still felt a little overwhelmed, but thought I’d try.
It turns out you can print coupons online (sometimes multiple times), you can take as much or as little time as you want.  And it’s not always the name brand things.  I found a coupon for a dollar off of any brand cheese, and 75 cents off any brand milk! I’m buying those anyways!
So a friend of mine has baseball card page protectors that she keeps her coupons organized in, and keeps them in a folder. so they don’t get lost in a purse, and you actually use them.
 
So here are a few websites:

• smartsource.com
• coupons.com
• redplum.com

Now for a couple of rules:

1. Don’t buy something you wouldn’t buy anyways. (you can’t buy stuff just to save money)
2. Don’t clean the store out of everything (you don’t need a 5 year supply of tissues) leave some for the other customers.
3. Don’t feel like you have to become a coupon Nazi, even if you only use a couple of coupons at the store, that’s saving a little bit, and every little bit counts.

Good luck!

Homemade Valentines

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on someone to make them feel special.  The thoughtful, homemade gifts can be the best. 
We like to give out love coupons. To be redeemed by you, like…

• Good for one long walk together
• Good for a 30 minute back rub
• Here are some other good ideas!

Here's a website with some great coupons!
http://www.allfreeprintables.com/coupons/index.shtml
Happy Valentines Day!!

meal calendar

So, if I go into a store, my mind goes blank, and I can’t remember anything I need.  I gotta have a list.
I actually made a 5 week meal plan list of my family’s favorite meals so that I don’t have to think up a bunch of meals I want to cook, I just rotate through them.  I look at the calendar, and write down the groceries I need for the next week (or two if I can get my milk to last that long).  Then I’m good to go for a week or two.
Here are some of the positives to doing this:

• Only having to go to the store once a week, or less.  Saves time and gas
• When you go to the store you always buy a few things that aren’t on the list (less chances of doing that)
• There are way fewer times when you decide to grab some fast food because you didn’t have anything to make, or the time to make it.
• You always have what you need, when you need it.
• You’re usually eating healthier that way – not macaroni and hot dogs again.
• You’re husband doesn’t say, “Spaghetti?  Isn’t this the second or third time this week?”  Happened to me. True story.  ( and he was probably right)
• You can still eat out every once in a while, but it’s planned, and in your budget.

Homemade Playdough

Our kids love playdough, but it’s not cheap at the store.  This is the recipe we use for playdough.  It’s way easy, doesn’t dry out as fast, and doesn’t ruin the carpet like the store bought stuff.:
In a medium saucepan, mix:

• 1/2 cup salt
• 2 cups flour
• 2 Tbsp cream of tartar
• 4 Tbsp oil
• 1 1/2 cups water
• food coloring

Stir over medium heat. Continue to stir until solid thick.  Dump on counter to knead with hands (don’t burn yourself). Let cool before storing in a zip lock baggie in the fridge.  Most importantly, play with your kids.  It’s a great bonding moment.

Date on a budget

Ok, so dating is so important, especially when you’re married, you gotta still have fun together.  The problem is that it can get expensive.
So we went on a fun double date a while back that I thought I’d share with you.
It was a kind of scavenger hunt.  We went to a mall and split off as couples and took 15 or so minutes to find 4 or 5 things for the other couple to find.  (For example a greeting card with snoopy on it, or a teddy bear wearing a top hat, things that were somewhat unique).
Then we met back and gave each other their lists, and set off to find each thing.  When we found them we took a picture of them with our phone, to show the others when we’d found everything.
We had so much fun – AND it was completely free!

Refried Beans from scratch

OK, so I had always heard that beans were hard to make.  Soak them overnight, then hopefully they would be soft enough.  So when I first started cooking I used canned beans…Dried beans are about half the price of canned beans. If you buy in bulk, you can save even more!  So i decided to try to figure out dried beans…. I found a lot of ways not to make them (crunchy beans just aren’t that great),  but recently a friend shared this recipe with me,no need to soak and it’s sooo good!
Ingredients

• 3 Cups Pinto Beans
• 9 Cups Water (more if needed)
• 1/2 Tsp salt

Put them in a crock pot and cook on high for about 8 hours ( so if you want it in time for dinner, just stick them in  that morning) Make sure beans never run out of water.  Drain liquid from beans into a separate container and set aside.
If you just want plain beans, you’re done!  You can even save them for later by putting them in a plastic container with some of the liquid and put it in the freezer. That way when you want beans last minute, you’re set!
For refried beans:

• 1-3 Tbsp butter
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup mild salsa

Add the rest of the ingredients to the beans.  Mash or blend with a hand blender till mostly smooth.  Add additional reserved liquid as needed until beans are the desired consistancy.
Enjoy!