Eek!

To my handful of readers:

Sorry I have missed several days of posting! I am taking a small (1 week) break from my blog. My hope is to get caught up on some other things and to return with a menu this Saturday.

"See you" on Saturday!

Free Literature- Delivered through your e-mail or RSS Feed

Ahh, the best things in life are free. On the super-cool website Life Hacker, I found a link to a wonderful service that will deliver chunks of classic literature to you for free! The site is called Daily Lit, and you can receive literature daily (as the name suggests) through your e-mail or RSS Feed. There are some books that you must pay for, but all of the classics that are public domain are absolutely free.

Pros:

1. No late fees. (Good news for me!)
2. Did I mention it's free?!
3. Keeps you on track.
4. Delivered right to your computer-how convenient!

Cons:

1. You have to wait for more reading material--even if you'd like to read on! (But seriously, did I mention it's free and there are no late fees?!)

Isn't the internet just the greatest?

Cost Analysis: Spaghetti Squash with Spaghetti Sauce

As promised, here is a price breakdown of a meal from this week's menu.

• 2 cups mozarella cheese $2.52
• 1/2 lb. ground beef $1.30
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce (bought on a BOGO offer) $1.29
• About 2.5 lbs spaghetti squash $1.58

Total: $6.69

There are 4 servings for this recipe, so for each portion it will cost you:

$1.67!

I didn't stick to the menu exactly, so James and I had corn with this meal rather than a salad like I had intended. The cost of the corn (because I bought it on sale WITH a coupon) was only 30 cents. So, I am adding fifteen cents per serving, rounding each meal out at a cost of $1.82!

Trying to use coupons?

I know I have been focusing a lot on coupons these past few weeks, but trust me when I tell you there is good reason! Obviously, it's the money saved. I know from experience that starting out with coupons can be a daunting task, and I found a wonderful tool called Grocery Guide. It scans the ads of your local grocery stores so that you can match up your coupons.

If you're just learning to save on your grocery budget with coupons, Grocery Guide can be a great tool for you!

Spartan Monday

"We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs."

-Gloria Steinem

I did my weekly grocery shopping tonight since I was unable to do it this weekend. James went with me and we had a great time together, and we had some GREAT savings! Let me preface my savings by reminding you that we only purchased things that we use and need.

Tonight we spent $36.26...

and SAVED $65.73!

• We spent $. 97/box on Lucky Charms that normally costs $4.79.

• We spent $1.74/16 oz. bottle on Olive oil that normally costs $5.49.

• We spent $. 99/Lysol Mold & Mildew bathroom cleaner that normally costs $3.49.

• We spent $. 98/50 count Advil that normally costs $6.49.

• We spent $. 99/bottle of Pert Plus that normally costs $3.39. (There's also a mail-in rebate I will send in!)

• We spent $ .45/bottle of A1 Steak Sauce marinade.

• We spent $ .29 on Cover Girl nail polish that normally costs $3.29.

All of these great deals were combinations of coupons and BOGO sales, except for the nail polish.

See what you can accomplish with a little work each week?

I sure hope you're inspired! Please share your great deals... I'd love to hear about them!

Sunday Savings: Blast from the Past

I am sharing a post that I wrote on 1/22 of this year, when I had just discovered the art of clipping coupons. It's the perfect reminder as to why we spend time cutting out these little money savers!

"This week, I once again spent about an hour clipping coupons and researching
the Publix sales ad. I went grocery shopping and bought sixteen items that I
needed. Now, some of these items were staple items that there are not coupons for, generally speaking. Milk and eggs, for instance, you rarely get a break on.

Anyhow, This week I spent $16.44 on $38.67 worth of groceries! That's a savings of $22.23 (thankfully, this is broken down on my receipt!) and I ended up saving more money than I actually spent. I actually got 2 huge boxes of delicious and healthy Total Raisin Bran for only $1.34 per box--the regular price of these is $4.79. It's kind of exciting to save so much money."

Now tell me that isn't crazy exciting! To spend more than you save on groceries (something you have to buy anyway) is wonderful--and once you realize the money you can save it's something you'll be excited to keep up with.

So, have you bought your newspaper today? Get those scissors out and get clippin'!

Next Week's Menu

It's the time of the week to start planning for next week's meals. SO much money can be saved by choosing to eat at home and by shopping for the specific meals that you plan.

This week, we'll be enjoying:

Sunday: Belgian Waffles (I'll be using a mix-I won't lie!) and strawberries
Monday: Grilled Chicken & Pinto Bean Burritos & Fresh fruit
Tuesday: Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches & Fresh fruit
Wednesday: Layered Spaghetti Squash with Spaghetti Sauce and Salad
Thursday: Cashew Chicken in lettuce cups with brown rice
Friday: Leftovers, I'm sure!

Monday's burritos don't get much easier; for the two of us, I slice a grilled chicken breast and mix it with some pinto beans, and add the rest of the necessities like lettuce, salsa, cheese and sour cream onto a tortilla and wrap it up. Simple and delicioso! (If you follow my menus, just pop those leftover tortillas in the freezer because we'll be making chicken enchiladas next week!)

The buffalo chicken sandwiches are just a grilled piece of chicken dipped in Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce, sandwiched on a keiser roll with a piece of lettuce and a tablespoon of ranch dressing. It's quick and oh-so-satisfying! (I know, I know, it's awesome when the chicken is fried, but for health reasons the grilling is a better alternative!)

The layered spaghetti squash with spaghetti sauce is something that my mother-in-law makes that I adore. You start by halving a spaghetti squash. Drizzle each half with a little olive oil and liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper, then roast the squash cut sides down (375 for 30-45 minutes or until easily pierced by a knife).
While the squash is roasting, make a batch of your favorite spaghetti sauce. You'll need to yield about 3 cups (one jar of sauce will suffice, and I like to add about 1/2 lb. ground beef).
When the squash has cooled for about 15-20 minutes, use a fork to pull the "spaghetti" strands away from the hard outer skin. Divide into two equal portions.
Spray a 2 quart casserole dish with a non-stick spray. Place half of the squash down in the dish, covering the bottom. Cover with about 1.5 cups of spaghetti sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella (or get fresh mozzarella and slice it and place the slices all over the sauce.) Top with remaining squash then add another layer of sauce and cheese. Bake (covered) at 375 for 25-30 minutes. What a yummy meal!

I will try to do another cost analysis of a meal this week as I did with last week's pork chop meal. It's important to know how much we are spending/saving in order to make the best financial choices. Analyzing the cost of a meal is an encouraging reason to eat at home and prepare your own food.

Frugal Friday: Free music!

Internet radio is not new, but I'd like to share one of my favorite internet music sites. It's Pandora! They feature what is called the Music Genome Project, where you create a station that is lead by your musical likes and dislikes.

Simply start with a favorite song, artist or composer and mark each song with a thumb-up or thumb-down to specify your preferences. After a few songs, you'll be blessed with a personalized music channel Best of all? It's free!

Thought I'd include my favorites:

• Nat King Cole
• James Taylor
• System of a Down
• Frank Sinatra
• Counting Crows
• Harry Connick, Jr.
• The Steve Miller Band
• Billy Joel
• Foo Fighters
• Jack Johnson
• Michael Buble
• Jimmy Buffett

Eeek... I realized that list utterly left out anyone with ovaries. Let me think for a sec...

How about:

• Bonnie Raitt
• No Doubt (the old stuff w/Gwen Stefani on lead vocals when she still kept it "ska". I mean seriously, what's with her new stuff?!)
• Diana Krall
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Allison Krauss (and Union Station)

Go make your own free station- or several. There's no limit!

Monday Night's Meal in Pics and Dollar Breakdown

If you recall, Monday night's dinner was Center cut pork chops with fruit salsa, Spanish rice and grilled asparagus. I thought it would be interesting to do a cost analysis of this delicious meal for two.

2 Boneless pork chops $2.50 ($1.25 each; I bought a pack of 12 pork chops for about $15)
Strawberries, 1 cup $ .64
1 Mango $. 99
Asparagus $1.32 (This is the cost of 2/3 lb @ $1.99/lb--I reserved the remaining 1/3 lb for another meal)
Mahatma Spanish rice mix, 5 oz. size $ .69

Total cost: $6.14

Cost per meal: $3.07

Can you get a dinner combo at a fast food drive-thru for $3.07? Can you name any restaurant where you can get such a healthy and quality meal for $3.07?



Cooking at home can be delightful if you keep it simple. Bonus: from start to finish, this meal was less than 25 minutes (cough, cough, eat that Rachael Ray)!

A Good Resume: Priceless

There's no better way to secure a good job than by having a good resume for the simple reason that a good resume gets you into an employer's door while a bad one does not. At my office, we're reviewing many resumes to find the perfect suitor to replace me as I take on my new position. I have come across many great resumes, and an overwhelming number of poor-quality resumes. In the current job market, there can be hundreds of people applying for any given job--which begs the question, how can I stand out?

I am no expert, but here are my tips for a good resume and smooth resume submission.

1. Choose a format that best suits you. For many, listing jobs and duties will suffice--however, for those who have had many jobs or perhaps jobs with a large scope of duties, it may be best to list key categories/skills with specific, quantifiable bullets. Also, if you're applying for more than one kind of job, you may consider having a few different resumes that highlight the varying aspects of your expertise. If you need inspiration for a new format, use google to search other people's resumes. It can be extremely helpful.

2. If possible, quantify. People reviewing resumes LOVE to see numbers because it gives them a better idea of the workload you have handled.

Which bullet is stronger?:

• Prepared bimonthly payroll for entire staff.

-OR-

• Prepared bimonthly payroll for staff of 80.

Numbers are (almost) always a good thing.

3. Goodness, please check your spelling and grammar! Since a resume is an effort to "sell" yourself, make it your best effort. When I come across a resume with spelling or grammar errors of any kind, it is tossed out. Why? Because it tells me that I can't trust you to send out a decent e-mail to a client, or that you won't be able to create error-free correspondence. We're all humans though, and I am by no means perfect. All I am trying to emphasize is the importance of putting your BEST into your resume.

4. What e-mail address are you providing the potential employer with? My advice is to keep it conservative. "Daddysgirl4ever@ananymous.com" may be a cute e-mail address, but does it instill confidence in your potential employer? I would suggest a name-based e-mail address, like "john.doe@anonymous.com". If you don't have an e-mail address like this, you can easily set one up for free with gmail, yahoo, or hotmail.

5. Submit your resume in the format that the job poster requests. If an employer asks for a .doc attachment, send a .doc attachment. If it asks for your resume pasted into an e-mail, by all means just paste it.

6. Always include a cover letter. When I was applying for jobs, I had about 3 versions of a cover letter that I would tweak to highlight the skills needed for the job I was applying to. For instance, when I applied for a job with an Air Force contract, I emphasized my previous experience with the Air Force. When I submitted a resume for a Human Resources position, I highlighted the amount of HR coursework I had completed during my college career in the cover letter. A cover letter sets you apart from other applicants because you are taking time to do a step that 80% of other applicants are skipping. It shows that you're not out just posting to every job opening you see, but that you're a discerning employee who takes your time to evaluate the job description and to compare it to your skill set and strengths.

What is your advice for a good resume?

I'd like to offer my help to anyone reading this post. Want a second set of eyes to review your resume? Let me know, and I'd be glad to help. I am by no means an expert, but I am a seasoned editor and I have a decent grasp of what employers are looking for.

To the woman with the flashlight: Thank you.

Tonight I intended to post about the worth of a good resume, but I am distracted by something that happened this evening that I simply must share.

James and I took a bike ride to my parent's new house this evening and it was already dark as we were cycling home. About a block and a half away from our street, a bolt came off of James' bike and his pedal fell off! Although it was dark, James just had to find his bolt. I, on the other hand shrugged and figured we'd just get another one. Being the supportive and awesome wife that I am (and since James suggested it), I hopped on my bike and rode home to fetch some flashlights. In a few moments I returned and helped James resume his search, although I was highly skeptical that the bolt was even nearby.

Several minutes into the search, I saw a woman come out of the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex on foot and cross the street toward me. She had her purse on her shoulder and a flashlight in her hand, and approached with an offer to help. Apparently, this sweet woman passed us, turned around, parked her car and came over to assist us in our search--across a busy road, when it was dark outside, and she was by herself! I briefly explained to her that what we were looking for was nothing valuable or sentimental and let her know that I was only out there to be a supportive wife--not because I thought we'd actually find anything. I thanked her for her kindness and willingness to help and she walked back to her car.

Naturally as soon as she left James (who had been much farther down the road than I was) came into my view holding up his arms in victory--with a bolt in his hand! Of course...
Anyway, if by some strange coincidence you are the woman who helped and you happen to be reading my blog... (again, HIGHLY unlikely-but since James was able to find the bolt I know that this, too, is possible) thank you for stopping. That act of kindness will not soon be forgotten.

Splurges

There are many things that I sacrifice for the sake of frugality. There are still some things, however that I am adamant about, no matter what the cost.

1. Good cheese. It may sound funny, but good cheese matters to me! On a day-to-day basis, Kraft is fine, but for those special occasions or special uses, gourmet cheese is a must. I love to buy a chunk of good quality parmigiana-reggiano and grate it myself. Also, if we are having fondue, good-quality Gruyere and emmenthaler are necessary.

2. Mattress and bedding. Since about a third of your life is spent in bed, shouldn't it be luxurious and comfortable? James and I have a good quality mattress that we both adore, a feather bed, a down comforter (with a duvet) and 600 thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. My pillows are also feathers-because I love them that way! Sure, the cost initially is more than what you put out for lesser quality, but I promise you it is worth it to have your bedroom be a sanctuary if you can spare the extra cash. It makes a huge difference to us! I also make a large effort to keep our room spotless. Sleep is SO much better in a clean and clutter-free area.

3. Good-quality bras. They look better, feel better, and last longer. Need I say more?

4. Good shoes. I am not really a shoe-a-holic and I tend to keep my shoes for a loonng time, so it doesn't bother me to spend a pretty penny on a pair of shoes that I LOVE! For instance, my Nikes. I had my last pair for over 5 years, and replaced them with a very similar-looking pair. I actually took pictures of the shoes because I was so sad to have to throw them out-but the soles were detaching from the rest of the shoe and a replacement was WAY overdue! To the right is one of the old (back) and one of the new (front)!

What are things that you splurge on and why?

Sunday Savings

Did you buy a newspaper today?

I haven't clipped my coupons yet today, but I look forward to seeing the sales ads and clipping the coupons that correspond with the sales. If you're willing to make the small investment of time, the savings can be phenomenal!

This week, I will be focusing on getting my house under control because my mess is out of hand right now! (Well, it's really not that bad, but I really like coming home at the end of the day to a clean house!) I will be getting back into the habit of "blessing my home" on Mondays like the Flylady suggests. She offers great housekeeping tips and really keeps you on track if you can follow her system! I use many of her principles, but found that I get too obsessed and borderline neurotic if I follow her list of chores to do! Anyway, the house will get back in shape soon--so I ought not worry about it.

Happy Cinco de Mayo tomorrow!

Next Week's Menu

I can't believe that the weekend is over tomorrow--that means that it's time to post next week's menu!

Here's what we'll be enjoying this week:
Sunday: Mexican Cornbread Salad (I am taking this to a "Cinco de Mayo" themed party)
Monday: Grilled boneless pork chops with fruit salsa, grilled asparagus and Spanish rice
Tuesday: Baked Corn Dogs, baked beans and mac-n-cheese
Wednesday: Grilled chicken with asparagus and lemon risotto, spring mix salad
Thursday: Dinner at Ma and Pa's (since they're only a few miles away now!)
Friday: Brinner and a Movie (That's breakfast for dinner-James has been begging for it! We're having sourdough pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon.)
Saturday: Who knows?

The fruit salsa I am making on Monday is simply a whole chopped mango and a handful of chopped strawberries with a tablespoon of lime juice. Fresh fruit compliments grilled meats very well, and since it's pretty much Summer here in Florida we may as well eat like it's Summer! When I grill the asparagus, I first toss them in a small amount of olive oil and balsamic vinegar and sprinkle generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. I will grill a whole pound of asparagus but I'll set aside a few spears for the risotto on Wednesday night. As a time-saver, I will also be grilling the chicken for Wednesday on Monday when I already have the grill lit for the pork chops and asparagus. Why not save some time?

The risotto recipe I linked to is a basic recipe--no frills--and the beauty is that you can add whatever you want to make it your own. This time it's asparagus and lemon, but the possibilities are endless.

The reason for posting these weekly menus is to offer inspiration to my handful of readers. It's not for the purpose of giving guidelines for others to follow, rather it is about providing new ideas. Often people get bored eating at home because they get in a dinnertime rut. The same few recipes cycle through and people get bored. One of the things I personally love is to make up and prepare new meals-so the least I can do is share the work that I do with others who want to eat good food at home!

Frugal Friday: My Love of Periodicals!

I love newspapers, magazines, newsletters, etc. I have been reading Archie comics since I learned to read and I love those mindless publications, too. One of the things I look forward to every month is my magazine subscriptions. Currently I receive Real Simple and Gourmet magazines monthly. I consider magazines to be a cost effective purchase because the information in them justifies the purchase. Frugally speaking, however, you can spend a lot of cash by purchasing 3-4 magazines a month in the grocery line.

The solution? Subscriptions! When you subscribe to a magazine you are given the same product at a fraction of the price. I pay $12/year (only $1 and issue—although it's $3.99 at the news stand) for Gourmet magazine and I used to receive the sister-publication, Bon Appetit for the same price. I let that subscription lapse because I was too inundated with reading materials—but now they're begging me to resubscribe for the price of $10 for the whole year...broken down that’s 83 cents per magazine! (On a side note...isn't that a crazy ridiculous price? Think with me now—a stamp costs 41 cents, but I can receive a monthly magazine for only twice the price of standard postage? Isn't that a little odd? I mean, where's their profit?!) I am definitely going to take full advantage of the deal Bon Appetit is offering me.

The Real Simple gift subscription was given to me as a gift from my mother-in-law and I am still grateful to her everytime I receive a new edition. Magazines make a great gift because they can be relatively inexpensive but they're the gifts that keep on giving all year long!

My favorite blog, The Simple Dollar makes mention of a magazine that’s new to me called Make. It’s for “geeks” who like DIY projects, hacking, learning new technical tricks, and all that jazz. I am going to get it for my husband so that he can experience the joys of periodical anticipation and reception.

You may wonder about the additional paper clutter that is added to a home because of monthly magazines. My new policy is to enjoy the magazine until I get the next month’s edition, and then to collect a stack that I donate to my OB/GYN’s office. (They only have Parenting magazine and Highlights…not exactly stimulating to me!) The clutter stays out of my home and others are enjoying the reading material. Any recipes or projects that I am interested are available through each magazine’s respective website, so really there’s no need to hang on to all those outdated issues. (The food magazines even offer the capability of making an online “recipe box” for you to organize and maintain the recipes that you collect. Genius! Plus there’s the added benefit of the tips from other readers…) Keep your current issues and then donate the older magazines—it’s foolproof.

Declutter!

I have found that one of the best ways to keep up with my house is by dealing with the mail AS SOON as it comes in. If I just leave it on the kitchen counter, it somehow multiplies and attracts other crap!

Since all of our bills are on auto-pay, we review the statements and file them away immediately. Junk mail goes in the trash with NO exceptions. I have gotten in the habit of throwing away catalogues as they arrive for three good reasons. First of all, they tend to make their way to an end table, multiply, and then make me crazy until I run around like a madwoman trashing anything resembling a catalogue! Secondly, catalogues are NOT necessary because everything that is in them is available online. Third, they just get me into that state of "want want want" that I am working to escape! Bottom line? I don't need them! Out of guilt, I used to hang on to cards and letters that I received from others. Why?! Few things I receive in the mail have lasting sentimental value so I read what someone is telling me (Happy B-Day, thinking of you, etc.), store it away in my mind, smile, and toss it! (Sometimes they stay on the fridge for a few weeks, too.)

Anyway, along with making my bed on a daily basis, this routine sets the tone for me to keep a clean and clutter-free home.