Dave Ramsey: Working With Your Differences

There's a great article at Focus on the Family written by Dave Ramsey. It's called Working With Your Differences and addresses the "nerd" and "free spirit" personalities that are often represented in every marriage.

Already have your budget straight? Read it anyway...there's alot of humor in how Dave addresses the conflicting personality issues.

Fun Friday Family Nights (guest post) ~

Guest Post by Stacy, friend and Simple Saving Savvy reader:

Friday night at our house means two things: time together and most importantly, dessert! Whether it is a family game or movie, service projects or date night for Mom and Dad, it is our aim to spend Friday nights with each other. It is usually cheap, and usually fun – but not always perfect, just like us.

Here are some of our recent nights, and a few of our upcoming plans:

• UNO and Mile High Fudge Pie. UNO is a game we can all play, even if we have to change it up a little. We always let our 3 year-old join in by matching colors during the rounds.

• Solitaire and Cookies – Aren’t you thinking that Solitaire is an individual game? Yes it is, but our boys were wanting to learn how. So my husband and I coached them along, and my daughters and I baked cookies. I have altered the Crisco Ultimate Chocolate Chip recipe to fit our family’s allergy restrictions.

• Birthday night – our youngest daughter’s 3rd birthday is Sunday so we are celebrating on Family Night (this works because she doesn’t know the actual date). Dessert is chocolate cake! Activity is house-decorating and visiting with relatives.

• Double Duty Day – two family activities. The first is a visit to an Alzheimer’s Unit. We are going to exchange Valentines and play some cards, or just visit. Second activity is a local event – a ball. Yes, I said a “ball.” The Annual Winter Ball is a benefit event for every member of the family to participate in. We are all able to dress up and go out on a family date. The proceeds benefit a different Christian ministry every year. There is a short ballet performance and then there are line dancing lessons for all.

• Service project – We are finishing the fleece blankets we started. We donate these to a foster care ministry for children. We are going to finish a pink polka-dot one, and a CARS one. If you can use scissors and tie your shoes, then you can make this blanket.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

From me: Stacy is the wife of a pediatrician and homeschool mom to four children, two boys (9,7) and two girls (5,3).  She has a servant's heart and the reputation of a prayer warrior. I do not know Stacy well, but from what I do know, she seems to exemplify 1 Peter 3:3-4 ~ And let not your adornment be merely external...but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

Have You Considered Your Stockpile?

FREE eBook: The American Frugal Housewife ~

Here's a free copy of The American Frugal Housewife. Although written in old English in 1835, this book many time-tested, frugal tips as well as suggestions for intentional living that I think you will find enlightening as well as amusing.

"In this country, we are apt to let children romp away their existence until they are thirteen or fourteen. It is not well for the purses or patience of parents; and it has a still worse effect on the morals and habits of children."

Thanks Lynn for sharing!

Freezer Cooking Day

Since we're snowed in here in Oklahoma, I thought I might join in on the Freezer Cooking Day being hosted by Money Saving Mom and Life As Mom.

The official dates for this even are January 29 through February 2. I think most of the participants are doing their cooking on Monday but I'm choosing to do mine a little differently. Instead of doing all my cooking in one day, I'm going to spread it out over the next few snow days according to when I have time and if I feel like it.

I know, not exactly the most intentional method but it's what works for me.

Now, I did not plan to do this until just last night. So this morning I got up, checked my cupboards and refrigerator, ran through my recipe book and made a list. I will not be making a ton of meals to be used this next month but rather taking steps to save time and money later. Here's my plan:

• Lemon Chicken*
• Italian Chicken *

*I purchased a 2.5lb bag of Tyson Chicken Breast at Crest Foods Anniversary sale. I'll divide this to make the above two items. I have the ingredients on hand for the lemon chicken marinade and of course a million bottles of italian dressing for the italian chicken.

• Green Chili Turkey Burgers
• Chop & freeze more green bell peppers (purchased at Crest Foods for 3/$1)
• Chop & freeze apples for later use in cobbler
• Cook & freeze 3lbs rice
• Crush and freeze cracker crumbs ( I have two boxes that are almost out of date. I will make crumbs and use later for filler or breading).
• Pancakes (cooking and freezing for quick breakfasts) Thanks Dedra!

If I get out to the store tomorrow, I'll pick up red/orange bell peppers and onions (Homeland has them on sale 3lbs for $1.29). I have italian sausage and the other ingredients to make a couple batches of my Sausage Saute and then I'll chop, cook and freeze the rest of the onions for use in later dishes (Thanks Lynn!).

So that's my plan. We'll see how it goes.

Intentional Housekeeping Part 9: Solitude

Over the past several weeks we have covered many aspects of Intentional Housekeeping but as I said last week, this is by far the most important element...solitude.

 Let me give you a glimpse into many of my days.

The alarm goes off in the morning and my feet hit the floor running. Get myself ready, wake up the kids, get them out the door to school, but not before I've had to refocus their efforts a hundred times, make lunches, check backpacks and referee at least three misunderstandings.

I try to make time for daily quiet time but most days it's lunch time and I'm knee deep in household chores before I realized the enemy is laughing gleefully because once again I was sidetracked.

By then, there's no way I can slow down because it's almost time for school to be out and then it's the homework marathon, getting dinner on and working frantically to try to pull off some semblance of peace and tranquility by the time hubby comes home.

After dinner, well, someone has to clean up. And then it's time to start preparing for the next day. Somehow everyone else seems to have time to play, relax, or whatever, but I've still got a million things to do.

My hubby wants me to go to bed early with him but most nights I'm dragging myself to bed around 10 or 11, fitfully sleeping and then rolling out of bed what seems like way to early the next morning, just to start it all over again.

Can you relate? Just a little? What ever happened to all the intentionality we talk about so often?

Read more »

FREE eBook offer: Smooth and Easy Days (Charlotte Mason):

We've been discussing quite a few topics regarding being intentional in the home and this offer goes hand in hand with our Intentional Housekeeping series.

Right now you can download a FREE copy of "Smooth and Easy Days" .

Charlotte Mason believed that the answer to "smooth and easy days" lay in developing good habits. She said, "The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.”

This eBook contains many of the common-sense ideas and practical tips Charlotte gave to help us moms secure those smooth and easy days.

The articles include:

•Cultivate good habits in your child (and yourself).
•Discover why nagging doesn’t work.
•Be encouraged about your own habits.
•Learn how to motivate your child.
•Think of good habits as a delight.

And while you're at it, download a free copy of Thriving on Less--Simplifying in a Tough Economy.

Enjoy! and Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Intentional Housekeeping Part 8: Organizing Chores for Kids

My how time has flown! I can't believe it's already been a week and time for another installment of Intentional Housekeeping. I hope you are implementing some systems in your home for yourself and your children. And if you already have systems in place, it never hurts to tweak them from time to time.

This week I'm sharing our summer work schedule with you. As I mentioned before, during the school year, we go light on chores. Our children are in public schools and for those of you who have this in common with us, you know how little time is left in the day once homework, dinner, showers and quality time are done.

So during the school year, I pick one afternoon or a weekend morning and create a short list of things I need help with. I assign the chores, we all dive in and that's it. Other than taking care of their own things and the occasional pick up session, they don't do much.

But when summer comes....well, summer time is a whole different story. This is the time of year I use to teach new skills, hone ones already learned and work on responsibility/accountability.

During the summer, I have a weekly chore chart and a kitchen clean-up  chart. On the weekly chart I have five inside chores and five outside chores. Each child is assigned one of each and we rotate each week so that everyone has a chance to do every chore at least once.  As you can see, I outline each chore and the expectations at the bottom.

We usually start on Monday and everyone works at the same time. Then throughout the week, it is up to them to keep up with it at their own discretion. If it comes to the end of the week and they have not maintained their assigned task, their time becomes my time and they work according to my schedule (which I make sure I plan for a time when others are playing freely).

This summer I will change the chores up a bit to train in new areas, and I will also make everyone responsible for folding/hanging their own laundry.

We also follow a kitchen routine. I have four nightly kitchen chores: set the table, clear the table, sweep the floors, rinse the dishes. Again, I list at the bottom of the chart the expectations for each chore. I take care of Sunday and Monday nights, and then the children rotate the rest of the week, each having one more night off.

Since creating this routine, it seems the kids have really taken to it. They enjoy checking the chart each week to see what they were assigned and they like knowing exactly what's expected of them. They also like knowing that once done, they are FREE!!

Next week is our last installment of Intentional Housekeeping and we'll cover what I feel to be the MOST IMPORTANT element of maintaining a stress-free, organized and productive home. You won't want to miss it!

And as a special treat, I'll be giving away two copies of  Housekeeping Skills for Kids by Davidene Humphreys to two readers. She has some great ideas for teaching your children household skills without feeling like you're working twice as hard.


While I don't use her exact formula, I do tweak some of her ideas to work for my own family as well as use her recommendations for age appropriate skills.

Mrs. Humphreys has been a stay-at-home mome to four children, a writer, speaker and Bible study teacher. She now spends her time being a grandma, writing and speaking. She lives right here in Oklahoma with her husband, Kent.

To enter this giveaway, just leave a comment this week telling me what you have enjoyed most in the Intentional Housekeeping series. Don't forget to leave your email if it is not included in your login profile information. The giveaway will end Wednesday, January 20 at midnight CST. I will announce the winner in next week's  Intentional Housekeeping.

Intentional Housekeeping Part 7: Systems for Kids

Here we are...into our first full week of 2010.  There's no better time to decide to get organized than going into a fresh new year. And no better time to finish out our Intentional Housekeeping series.

For the next couple of weeks we'll be discussing our children; how to help them learn organization and how they can help you be more productive. And consequentially, when everyone's organized and working together, quality time can abound.

The key to helping your children with organization and productivity is to put a few simple systems with realistic expectations in place. As I've said before, children respond well to structure. And when we teach them responsibility in the home and help them succeed in this area, we are actually equipping them for success outside the home.

Show me a teenager who generally has a cheerful disposition, is respectful to others (particularly their elders and those younger than them), is willing to help with any given task, and can stay on task with very little supervision and I'd be willing to bet they have been raised in a home where everyone is required to be a responsible member of the family by helping the household to run smoothly.

Of course, the ideal is to begin as early as possible with age appropriate expectations. But even if you're getting a late start, I believe it's never too late.

Around our home we believe in letting kids be kids. But we also believe that kids are capable of much more than we generally give them credit for. And with five kids running around between the ages of 8 and 11, there's considerable potential for chaos.

So here are a few systems we have put in place.

Read more »

Intentional Housekeeping: Part 6 - Weekly/Monthly Planning

How's the menu planning coming along? I hope you are implementing some sort of system that will help you decrease spending and eliminate stress.

The method I will share with you today may be old news to many of you. But you'd be surprised how many people don't use it. I can't imagine my life without it. Especially since I have to somehow keep seven people on the same page.

So with that said, I'd like to introduce you to one of my best friends:

This little guy keeps everyone where they need to be, when they need to be there and makes sure we don't end up needing to be two places at once. And occasionally when we DO need to be two places at once, this helps me know ahead of time so we can plan accordingly.

I buy one of these every year, usually at Target for around $8. It covers a year and a half. Each month is shown at a glance and then the weeks are divided up with plenty of space to write in notes or details about appointments or projects. It is spiral bound so it lays open and flat on my desk at all times.

When I first get it, I go through and write down all of the regular appointments I have like Monday shopping, Tuesday Bible Study Fellowship, the weekends we have the kids, etc. When I get sports schedules or the schedule for the school year, I go through and mark down all the game times and activities. And I just keep adding as we go. Snack days, class parties, project due dates, parent/teacher conferences, etc.

The best thing about a  planner, is that I can look at a glance and see what kind of week to expect. I can tell whether it's safe to schedule one more thing or if I need to lay low and say NO.

I know many of you  use more modern, electronic devices to do this very same thing which is great. Organization is organization. But for many people (like me), technology isn't always an answer.

Hubby  and I have decided not to tie ourselves to a phone plan of any kind so we don't have the technologically advanced phones that do everything for you and we feel that we shouldn't spend the money on one that will be out of date almost as soon as we buy it and in no way near worth what we paid for it. And palm pilots or Windows Live or any other kind of scheduling softwares aren't really my thing.

While I love the internet and email and even this blog...I still have a need for writing things down. I think it helps stick in my memory that way. Plus, because we only have one computer right now, which happens to be in our bedroom, if hubby is sleeping or shopping on ebay, I can't access it.
So my good, old fashioned $8 paper planner works quite nicely to keep us on track.

Regardless of what method you use to keep track of your family schedule, the question really is WHY should you engage in weekly and monthly planning?

Reason #1
It decreases stress! Enough said. When hubby and I were first married, I can't tell you how many times we argued because of over-scheduling, forgetting we had to be somewhere or because we were just stressed out because we planned too much. Now, before we plan anything or add anything, we sit down and go over the calendar. And every Friday we have a "what's on your agenda" meeting just in case something didn't get on the calendar like oil changes or a trip to Bass Pro.

Reason #2
It adds structure. And families need structure. Even the most spontaneous personalities need some structure. Experts will tell you that kids thrive on structure. If you don't like the word structure, then think of it as boundaries to keep your family safe. Safe from over-scheduling, safe from stress, safe from busy-ness that negates quality time. And most importantly, safe from a stressed-out psycho mom who feels like if she so much as breathes, the whole house will come tumbling down around her.

Reason #3
It creates productivity. When I map out what I need to do, then I can plan the best plan of attack. This allows me to stay focused and use my time wisely thus being more effective. And as I've said before, organization leads to productivity which leads to a cheerful disposition. Do you desire a more cheerful disposition from family members? Get organized and  add some structure so you can be more productive.

God gave each of us our own distinct personality. We all respond and learn in different ways. So my method of planning and scheduling may not be comfortable for you. And what works for you may not fit someone else's needs. So research different planning ideas and go with what appeals to you. Then tweak it to make it your own. Before you know it, you will have created your own "system" and your household schedule will be running like a well oiled machine.

Oh, and by the way, I always add "chore day" to my planner. Next week we'll discuss more about how to effectively utilize the available labor sources (your children) without feeling like you're pulling your hair out and thus creating capable, responsible and cheerful future citizens.

Intentional Housekeeping: Part 5 - Planning Your Shopping Trip

Here we are again. We skipped a week due to the Thanksgiving holiday and I hope each of you found plenty to be thankful for.

With so many people in the house, I am very thankful that I was intentional and planned ahead. I was able to make dinner for everyone and still not spend my entire holiday in the kitchen. It was very relaxing!

In the last post, I mentioned my recipe binder....here's an in-depth look:


Once I have my meal plan written out and a list of ingredients, I can then make my master list. I write this out by hand. Writing it out helps me to think it through better and make sure I don't miss anything.

I find that writing my list using categories helps my shopping trip go smoother. I put things in categories like dairy, meat, frozen, pantry, produce and other. This saves missing something on the list and having to backtrack.

I add all the ingredients on my meal planner list as well as any other items we may need that week to the master list. For example: bread, yogurt, fruit for lunches, etc.

Once the master list is complete I compare it to the deals lists posted on Simple Saving Savvy for Homeland, CVS and Walgreens to decide which items should be purchased where. I then make a separate list for each specific store I will visit.

I then purchase the remaining items either at Crest or Walmart (usually switching back and forth so I can keep an eye on prices).

I also cushion in any deals I find that might be used for coming weeks and are too good to pass up. By planning menus and having a list of tried and true recipes, it makes it easier to stockpile and keep on hand those things you use regularly WITHOUT having to pay regular prices.

Quite a bit of planning and organization goes into my weekly shopping trips but it pays off in the end where budget and time are concerned.

How do you plan your shopping trips?

Intentional Housekeeping: Part 4 - Meal Planning

How's the organization coming? I've talked to a few people who are getting their belongings under control and they feel triumphant. I'll be the first to tell you that organization leads to productivity which leads to a cheerful disposition. There's a reason why God encourages order and hard work!

It's time to move on from basic organization of our things to organization of our responsibilities and schedules. Everything goes hand in hand.

This week we'll be discussing menu planning.

But before we jump into it, I have to offer a disclaimer for this entire series:

I, by no means, consider myself an expert in any of the subjects we are discussing. I am definitely not in the ranks of other gals like Lindsay over at Passionate Homemaking or Mandi at Organizing Your Way. I am simply passing on to you the things I have learned through trial and error that make my life as a wife, mom, servant-in-training, ministry director and mom blogger much easier.

Let's get started....what category do you fall in? Are you the woman who always knows exactly what's for dinner and often times has the prep done ahead of time? Or are you the gal who flies by the seat of her pants, deciding what to fix for dinner an hour before?

Whichever category you fall under, I hope you'll take some helpful tips away from this post.

I plan my menu on a weekly basis, sometimes moving into the second week so I know what items to keep an eye out for. (Some plan a month in advance and engage in freezer cooking. I, personally do not practice this on a regular basis although I do sometimes create a few casseroles for the freezer for crazy evenings or taking meals to others).
Read more »

Intentional Housekeeping: Part 3 - Organizing Your Stockpile

Last week I discussed the finer details of organizing the "stuff" in your home by giving you a glance at my walk-in closet and desk area.

About now you probably think I sound (and read) like a broken record - "store like with like, give everything a home, make it easily accessible" - but hopefully you are beginning to see the method to my obsession.

This week we're going to take a look at how I organize my stockpile.

For those of you who are new to Simple Saving Savvy, not only do I shop deals using coupons but I engage in a practice called stockpiling which is exactly as it sounds. I "stockpile" terrific deals as I find them so that I never have to pay full price for anything again.

Sometimes stockpiling can be a challenge where storage is concerned. I hope the following videos will give you some ideas and also show you how to set good boundaries.





In the last couple of weeks we've covered setting up ground rules or putting systems in place to aid in being intentional in your home:

*Everything Must Have a Home
*Touch it Once
*Use Available Labor Sources

We've taken that a step further by setting ground rules for organization in the home:

*Designate a place for everything (give it a home)
*Keep like items together
*Recycle containers to aid in organization

This week we've added another system with regard to our stockpiles:

*Never stockpile more of an item than you can store in it's designated space.
*If you do find great deals on items you already have stocked, consider donating those items.

Next week we'll move away from item organization and look at some more systems that can really help to declutter and destress our everyday lives.

Intentional Housekeeping: Part II - Organization in the Home

In Part I of Intentional Housekeeping, I discussed laying ground rules or setting up systems. One of those ground rules was to give everything a home or in other words: get organized.

Organization, while not effortless, is simple when you follow a few basic rules:

Rule #1
Look at the big picture. Know what you own and what you need to find places for. If necessary, remove everything from the area needing organization and start from scratch. I found it quite helpful to draw up "plans" when trying to figure out how to organize my stockpile in the most efficient way. I made a rough sketch of my space, made a list of item categories (oral hygiene, bathroom tissue, hair care products, skin care product, etc.) and then assigned spots for everything.

Rule #2
Store "like" items together. This is just common sense efficiency. It just doesn't make sense to store some office supplies here and some there. Keep them all together. Your home will stay neater and you'll work more efficiently.

Rule #3
Always be on the lookout for boxes and containers you can recycle for organization. This will save your budget from unnecessary expentitures to buy organizational tools. You can recycle things like shoe boxes, coffee cans, any kind of plastic or glass jars, check boxes, stationery boxes,l small tins, etc.

Rule #4
Here's where the "touch it once" rule comes into play again. Once you've organized everything...make sure you put it away!

Here's a video of my walk-in closet. It isn't always this clean, but I have to admit that it doesn't get much worse. It's easy to keep things in order when you have a plan.

As you can see from the video, my organizational methods are very simple and very cost efficient. If you are a person that must have everything matching or color coded, then consider checking out the Dollar Tree or other dollar stores in your area for cheap baskets and containers. And don't rule out yard sales or thrift stores.

Another area in my home where organization is of utmost priority is my desk. This is where I keep my Bible study supplies, office/school supplies and the hub of Simple Saving Savvy and my personal couponing. Once again, I have recycled organizational tools and tried to store like items together.


I hope this week's videos have been inspirational and given you some ideas on how to organize your own home. Next week we'll look at how I organize my stockpile...in the meantime, I'd love to hear how you're being intentional in your own home. And I LOVE photos!

Intentional Housekeeping: Part I - Setting Up Ground Rules

Over the next few weeks we will look at ways to de-stress our lives by living intentionally through organization in the home, from drawers to calendars to meal plans...and whatever falls in between.


I don't know about you but I just feel better when I take the time to live intentionally.

I have found, as I'm sure you have, that I am in a much better place to serve my family and others when I have a plan. When things are getting done and I'm not rushing around just trying to keep up.

To be productive, effective and stress-free, I must have "systems" in place to combat the chaos. I must have a plan!

In my personal experience, this starts with the state of my home. If my home is cluttered, my mind feels cluttered. If I can't find what I need, I feel frustrated which bogs down my mind even more. If I don't set the example of order for my family...well, I think we all know where this is going.

And most surprisingly, I find it easier to be spontaneous and enjoy my family when I plan ahead. Who woulda thought it?

Now lest you think I am an obsessive compulsive organizer or a clean freak, I have to confess this is not the case. On any given day, you can find my floors in need of sweeping, my kitchen counters cluttered, clean laundry spread out all over the couches (I don't have a laundry room), a "to do" list a mile long and don't forget the thin layer of dust covering the bookshelves.

But no matter how crazy life gets (barring a natural disaster or something of the like) I know there's always a light at the end of the tunnel because I've set up a few systems or in other words, I've laid a few ground rules.

Rule #1 - Everything Must Have a Home

Everything in my home has a spot where it belongs. If it doesn't, I give myself two options: either find it a home or get rid of it.

If I can't find a suitable home for something I own, then that means I have no place to put it when I clean. So I am either stressing over where to put things or I am juggling things from one place to another which just adds to the clutter.

In my house, there are very few things that I just don't know what to do with. Everything has a place. So when it comes time to take control of the chaos, I start first with the simple task of putting things away...WHERE THEY GO! Then there's just the basic cleaning to do and VOILA!, we're done! And the great thing about this? The kids learn where everything goes and they can help! Then hopefully it will carry over to their bedrooms!

Rule #2 - "Touch It Once"

Instead of leaving clothes on the bed or laying jewelry on the dresser or kicking shoes off in the living room, I try to remind myself to touch it only once by putting it away now. I am still training myself in this rule but I'm doing a much better job than I used to and I feel much more on top of things as a result.

It really does cut stress and save time in the long run.

I've started to try to train my kids to do this. The jury's still out on that one.

Rule #3 - Use Available Labor Sources

Husband

Since I am a SAHM and since my husband works 10-12 hour, physically and mentally exhausting days in every kind of weather, I really try to stay away from asking him to do too much around the house. In my opinion, this is my full time job. Besides, he takes care of the outside which is quite labor intensive and time consuming. That doesn't mean, however, that I don't ask a favor here and there. And I have found that my husband (mostly) really does want to help me, he just doesn't anticipate how.

So here's what I do. If I see my husband heading out to the garage and I know the trash is full, I kindly say, "honey, would you do me a big favor and take the trash with you on the way?". He usually complies without so much as blinking an eye. And then you know what happens? I find that he is randomly taking out the trash when it needs it...WITHOUT being asked!

I've also tried this with clearing the table. There have been many times when I have to run somewhere while the family is still eating or if I have an evening engagement. When I come home, I find all the plates have been strewn across the counter and all the serving dishes are still right where I put them...on the table. So I kindly said to hubby, "I don't expect you to clean the kitchen, but when I have to be gone during the evening, it would be such a big help if you could stack the dishes and put away leftovers. It's such a relief for me not to have to come home and do it".

A couple of nights ago I taught a coupon class so put dinner on the table and headed out the door. When I arrived home, the dinner plates were neatly stacked and the table was cleared. What a guy!

Of course, not ALL husbands are my hubby. But I think you'll find that most are willing to help if pointed in the right direction with the right words and and an attitude of gratefulness.

Children
Our children are never too young to start learning to help. And I think most mothers find that the earlier they teach their children about helping and responsibility around the house, the easier it is to transition into elementary and later, middle school and high school years.

Around here we call it "being a responsible member of the family" or "pulling your weight". It is every one's responsibility to help out so that the household operations run smoothly. It is every one's responsibility to do so with a willing and cheerful spirit.

This rule can be very difficult to incorporate if you are like me...a "works alone" type person. I just figure it's easier for me to get it done myself, the way I like it than to have to try to teach, train and sometimes redo what my kids do. However, this is a HUGE disservice to my children for two reasons. One, I am depriving them of the blessings that come from hard work and serving and two, I am not teaching them survival skills for life.

So, I allow my children to help me. And as they get older, and more efficient, I am finding that at times they are lifesavers.

We can whip through the house in a short couple of hours and be done. They fold/hang laundry, clean their bathroom, vacuum, dust, take out the trash, sweep the porches, sidewalk and garage, vacuum and dust the van, water plants, sweep & sometimes mop floors. And they regularly put all their own clothes away and keep their rooms clean.

If they grow up with this, they just consider it the normal way to do life. In fact, the other day I told my 8 year-old daughter that I had one more chore for her before she had free time...clean your room. She matter of factly said, "mom, that's not really a chore". There are certain basic responsibilities we require of our children outside of the chores they are asked to do...she knew that one of these is keeping her room clean.

Next week I'll show you some areas in my home I've organized with very little effort or expense. Meanwhile, I'd love to hear what kind of "systems" you have in place for conquering the chaos.

Savvy Saving Solutions...Frugal Tips in the Kitchen ~

Along my frugal journey, I've picked up various non-coupon tips that help to save money on my household budget.

Now mind you, these are not lightning bolt from the sky, ground breaking tips. They are, in fact, very common tips that many of you probably already use. But on the off chance that it will help someone, I'm going to share them anyway.
In the kitchen....

Potato Chips ~ You know when the bag of potato chips gets down to the very last...when there's more crumbs than chips? Instead of throwing them away, add them to your next meatloaf as a substitute for breadcrumbs. They work the same and then you don't have to add any salt.

Bread Heels ~ Instead of throwing out the ends of your bread, simply bake them in the oven at a low temperature until throughly dried out. Put them in a ziploc bag or on a huge cutting board and grind them down using your rolling pin. Transfer to a freezer bag or container and never buy bread crumbs again.

With this same thought in mind, you can also cut the bread into cubes, spray it with cooking spray and sprinkle with the herbs/seasonings of your choice. Then bake and VOILA!!...croutons!

Chicken Broth ~ I pretty much buy boneless meat but every now and again I purchase bone in chicken. I boil the chicken and de-bone it. I place the bones back in the water I boiled it in and continue to simmer, adding a bit of salt to make a broth. Freeze the chicken and also freeze the broth. The smaller ziploc containers are the perfect size for this, stack nicely in your freezer and are the perfect portion for using in most recipes.

Cob Corn ~ My family loves cob corn. I make alot so everyone has their fill but there's almost always a cob or three left over. I cut the corn from the cob and freeze to add later to casseroles.

Green Chilis - Instead of buying canned green chilis, buy them fresh (late summer is the best season) and roast them yourself. The flavor is so much fuller and a little goes a long way.

You'll want to be sure to pick fleshy green chilis. Start the charcoal grill (you can also use your oven broiler but you won't get the smoked flavor) and while you're waiting, cut the chilis in half and remove the seeds.

When the grill is ready, place them skin down on the grill. The skins will turn black (you'll also hear some sizzling and popping). Once the skins are completely black, remove from grill. The skins should peel right off. Be sure to use disposable gloves if your skin is sensitive.

Chop and transfer small amounts to freezer containers or bags. They'll be ready to thaw and add to your favorite dishes or soups.

Thanks, to my friend Nancy, the Santa Fe Queen, for teaching me how to do this.

Black Beans (or other bean varieties) ~ I LOVE black beans. Just ask my family...I find ways to sneak them into everything.

But what they don't realize is that not only do I use them because I like them, they also nicely fill out a dish so I don't have to use as much meat. I add them to chicken for chicken soft tacos, to ground beef for taco salad. I make chicken burritos by adding black beans AND rice and only use a small amount of chicken. And we add them to our fish tacos.

Plant a few vegetable plants ~ This year I (read hubby) planted a cherry tomato plant and a yellow bell pepper plant. We used containers so they were low maintenance. It sure was nice to have yellow bells in our tossed salad without having to shell out $0.99 a piece. Next year I'm planting two cherry tomatoes, one regular tomato and an orange and yellow pepper plant. Again in containers.

Salad Greens ~ I never buy bagged lettuce UNLESS it's FREE or very inexpensive. I buy head of iceberg, green leaf and romaine and wash it myself. This saves alot of money. If I plan to use lettuce for several diffent meals throughout the week, I'll wash and chop it all at once. Let it dry in a single layer on a towel and then put it in ziploc bags in the crisper drawer. It's ready to use when I need it.

Freezer Bags ~ Re-use them! Just wash in hot soapy water and let dry thoroughly. I only do this with the sturdier freezer bags, not with sandwich baggies. And I do not reuse bags I have stored meat in.

Around the house...

Hydrogen Peroxide ~ I no longer pay the extravagant prices for carpet stain removers. I put hydrogen peroxide in a bottle, spray the stain, let it soak for a bit, then mop up with a clean towel. The stains disappear. It's also effective in removing some stains from clothing. I always try it first before using the more expensive laundry stain remover.

Alcohol ~ Alcohol removes ink from fabric, most of the time. I try to buy the highest concentration of alcohol I can find. In times past, they used hair spray because of it's high alcohol content, however, the fixatives in hairspray can actually cause stains to set.

Baking Soda ~ You know those little grease spots that get on your clothes that no stain remover or laundry detergent seem able to get out? Try mixing a small amount of baking soda with water to form a paste and rub into the stain. The baking soda will neutralize the grease so you can rinse it away.

Goo Gone ~ This stuff is my best friend. If you're not familiar with it, it removes all kinds of stains from fabrics along with any kind of gummy substance whether it's gum in clothing or the adhesive from a price sticker. A little goes a long way. In fact, I've had the same bottle for several years and it's still half full.

Toothpaste ~ Looking for a way to use all the FREE toothpaste we get? I use it to polish my silver whether it's jewelry or platters. It works like a charm and it costs way less than special cleaners.

Cold Water ~ I wash almost all my laundry in cold water except hubby's work clothes and our towels. Everything else gets washed on cold and guess what? It gets clean just the same...and saves money too!

Dryer Sheets ~ My good friend Lynn taught me to cut these babies in half. Half a sheet works just as well as a whole, you'll never be able to tell the difference, but your pocketbook will.

What do you do to save money around the house?

Savvy Saving Solutions ~ Minced Garlic ~

One of my favorite ways to save time in the kitchen is by using Ready to Use Minced Garlic. You just open the jar and spoon out the desired amount. No time spent chopping or dealing with the food processor.

I found this huge jar of it at Buy for Less a couple of weeks ago for only $3.44. One half teaspoon is the equivalent of one clove of garlic and there are approximately 384 cloves worth of garlic in the jar. That works out to just $0.009 per clove.

So you end up saving both time and money.

Savvy Saving Solutions ~ Gardening

If you're reading this blog, then I assume you do all or some of the grocery shopping for your household. And it doesn't take a genius to figure out that fresh produce can add up quite a chunk to your grocery bill.

May I suggest doing a little gardening?

"What?!!!" you screech. "What kind of time does she think I have? I don't have the room! I don't even know where to begin!"

Let me start by saying that I am as far from what I'll call an "avid gardener" as you can get. That would be more my husband and he tends to lean toward flowers and shrubs. But this year we started out really small and really slow and.....well, let me just start from square one.

My husband has always been a lover of flower gardening (which is so UN-stereotypical of my mountain of a man, builder of oil rigs husband). If I'm ever looking for him I know I can always find him either watering his flower beds, weeding his flower beds, cleaning leaves out of his flower beds or just standing there contemplating his flower beds. I have spent more time traipsing after him trying to envision what he envisions and oohing and aahing over the little green sprout you can barely see poking through the dirt than I care to recount.

One day my husband calls me from Under the Sun. He stopped by to check out their stuff and stumbled across some vegetable plants. So he calls me and asks me if I want a cherry tomato plant. "Sure" I say. What about a bell pepper plant? "Do they have an orange one?" I ask.

So my husband comes home with a cherry tomato plant and an orange bell pepper plant in tow. We planted them in big square plastic containers like you find at Lowe's or even Walmart and they have sat in the sunniest spot on our back porch ever since (see photo above). My husband waters them, we watch for bugs (which they haven't had) and I pick the harvest.
Yes, those dandies are from my "garden". They're in my fridge right now along with three green ones I had to pick because I broke a branch off. We've also already eaten five or so in salads and there's about five more on the plant with lots of little buds just waiting to mature.

Now, the cherry tomato plant is another story. It's doing really well, but it had a minor set back. We were able to harvest quite a few tomatoes earlier this summer but then the "baby" raccoon who lives in our back yard and who is now a "big" raccoon decided to harvest a branch of lovely "green" cherry tomatoes before it was time. So we lost lots and lots of tomatoes. The plant recuperated and is now loaded with more just waiting to ripen.

We are already planning for next year and have decided we need TWO cherry tomato plants, one regular tomato plant and another orange bell pepper plant, maybe two.

Next year we are going to try this method for our tomatoes:
You use a five gallon plastic bucket with holes drilled in the bottom. This is definitely a space saver but can also deter "critters" from getting your tomatoes.

We'll continue to use containers for the rest.

The plants, unless you plant them from seed (we choose not to), cost around $5-$6 each and you can further save money by preparing your own soil, but we'll get into composting another time.

The best thing, even over saving money, is that the children LOVE fresh veggies. They'll gobble down the orange bell peppers dipped in ranch dressing and they pop the cherry tomatoes like grapes.

Do you have a garden? What do you plant?

For more tips on easy gardening or gardening in tight spaces, check out Passionate Homemaking.

Savvy Saving Solutions ~ Meal Planning ~

Whether you use coupons or not, you can save quite a bit off your weekly or monthly grocery budget simply by planning your menus.
Grocery shopping without a determined list or impromtu meal preparations can cost you a mint.

Planning your menus allows you to utilize store sales and what you already have in your pantry. It also helps to curb impulse purchases.

I plan my menus 1-2 weeks in advance. I try to serve an assortment of beef, chicken and pork dishes with fish and ground turkey thrown in. I also serve alot of one pot dinners and casseroles to cut down on meat portions. Many homemakers I know have introduced meatless dinners to their families. More power to you gals...my husband would never go for that.

I also make up my own recipes from time to time based on what I have on hand.

Here is my menu from last week and this week (I plan Tuesday thru Monday):

Tuesday ~ Taco Salad
Wednesday ~ Beef Stroganof/Salad
Thursday ~ Turkey Burgers/Salad/Fruit
Friday ~ Grilled Pork Chops, Stuffing, Broccoli
Saturday ~ Spaghetti, bread
Sunday ~ Pork Stir Fry/Rice
Monday ~ Chicken & Black Bean Burritos/Fruit

Tuesday ~ Italian Chicken Pasta/Salad
Wednesday ~ Beef & Bean Burritos/Fruit
Thursday ~ Poppyseed Chicken/Rolls
Friday ~ Turkey Loaf/Mashed Potatoes/Green Beans
Saturday ~ Mexican Layered Casserole/Fruit
Sunday ~ Pork Roast/Potatoes/Carrots/Rolls
Monday ~ Mandarin Almond Chicken/Rice

As you can see, we eat well and you know our budget!

I do not strictly plan my menus according to what meats are on sale that week. Instead, whenever I find a great deal on meat, I try to pick up a couple extra packages. I also check Homeland for reduced meat sales. Buy for Less is another great place to pick up some awesome deals on meat. And if you eat lean, Aldi is your best bet for ground beef and turkey. By shopping ahead, I can keep my freezer stocked with at least an extra week's worth of meat and I can plan my meals from that and what's on sale that week. It gives me a little more flexibility.

I keep an inventory of the meat I have in the freezer and edit after each shopping trip. When I sit down to plan meals, I refer to my inventory. Once the menus are complete, I go through the days and make my shopping list accordingly.

During the summer, when the kids are home all day, everyday, I plan three meals a day and write it all out. During the school year, I don't get quite so detailed. I just make sure I have enough stuff on hand for breakfast every morning and fixin's for lunchboxes.

My favorite part of menu planning, aside from saving money, is that it makes my days stress free. I know what I'm serving every night and I can prep it early in the day which allows me more time for homework and hanging out with my kiddos and husband.

I even switch dinners around sometimes according to what we have going on that evening or if something unexpected comes up. I still know I have all the items on hand to make the dinners I planned for that week. No surprises!

Here is the chart I use to plan my meals. I have uploaded it to Google Docs to share with you.

Do you plan your weekly menus? I would love to hear your ideas!

Make Your Own Casserole Creation ~

I love casseroles! All kinds of casseroles. I grew up on them and I still make them although quite differently than my mother. They are a quick and easy yet nutritional and frugal way to feed my family of seven.

The fun thing about casseroles is that ANYONE can create their own casserole recipes by following a few basic guidelines.

First, start with the protein: meat, poultry, beans, etc.

Add vegetables and/or something inexpensive as afiller like rice, pasta or potatoes.

These ingredients should be held together by a creamy liquid like a cream soup or perhaps gravy.

The casserole can be topped with dough, pastry, or a crumb crust (such as crumbled crackers mixed with melted butter)or shredded cheese.

Use appropriate seasonings and spices to support the flavors you are combining.

Use your imagination and get creative!

Another great thing about casseroles is they can easily be frozen and reheated.

Savvy Saving Solution: Make two and freeze one for later.

If you are planning to freeze, undercook your pasta or rice so that it does not get mushy upon reheating. Do not add the topping until you are ready to reheat. To save on the number of casserole dishes you need, line the casserole pan with aluminum foil. When frozen, lift the foil wrapped casserole out of the dish, wrap it to exclude all air, return it to the freezer until needed. When ready to reheat, put back into dish, with the aluminum foil for reheating (this also saves time in cleaning the dish afterwards). Although I prefer to let mine defrost before reheating (I just remove it from the freezer early in the day), it doesn't have to be thawed before reheating, just be sure to plan your time accordingly. Casseroles can be frozen for about three months.

Here's a casserole I made up last night:

Meatloaf Pasta

1 lb ground beef
1 package onion soup mix
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 jar pasta sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
salt & pepper to taste
1 package pasta (cooked & drained)
1 8oz. package shredded mozzarella or other italian cheese

Thoroughly mix first six ingredients in large mixing bowl.

Transfer to large skillet and cook through.

Combine pasta and sauce in 9x13 baking dish and top with cheese. Bake at 350 until cheese is bubbly and mixture is hot throughout.

Serves 4-6

It was quite funny because a couple of my children do NOT like meatloaf. Everyone was asking if I had cooked this before. I simply said, "no, it's a new recipe" and waited. Once everyone went on and on about how much they liked it, I told them it was simply my meatloaf without the egg and with pasta and sauce. They all chimed "NO WAY"!

Do you have any casserole recipes you'd like to share? Email me and I'll feature it in a future post.