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Shared May 24, 2012 comment

How I Reduced Our Grocery Bill By $80 In One Month

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 24, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Guest post from Rebecca of D & R Tabb

For the past year or two, I have regularly spent $80 per week on groceries (not counting household items) for our family of two (that recently became of family of three!)

The only preparation beforehand included menu planning. I did minimal coupon-clipping and only occasionally price matched on milk.

I decided to spend four weeks trying to reduce my grocery budget — just to see if I could save money without a huge investment of time.

Here’s what happened:

My totals before and after looked like this:

Before

$80 week x 4 = $320/month on groceries

After

4 weeks of shopping sales = $240/month on groceries

Savings: $80

Here’s how I did it:

I switched stores.

I was a loyal Walmart shopper, not because I liked shopping there, but because I was convinced it was the cheapest option. A friend of mine told me she saved money shopping at Kroger. After shopping there for four weeks I believe this made a big impact in my savings, but only if I shopped the sales.

I used the ads.

Every week I got out the circular and looked at it before planning my dinner menu. This forced me to plan recipes based on ingredients that were marked down that week.

I stopped being brand loyal.

I started buying a different brand of chicken that is regularly on sale for $0.99/lb for split, bone-in breasts, or $1.99 for boneless, skinless breasts. When it was on sale, I bought several packages to last me until it was on sale again.

I used the sales.

I only bought produce that was on sale, usually for $0.99/lb. I have occasionally even found organic produce on sale for less than regular produce. For example, this week organic oranges are on sale for $0.99/lb. I had to laugh when I saw regular oranges listed at $1.29/lb. just a few feet away!
I bought the side items for our dinners (i.e. corn and other vegetables) that were on sale.

I have been very pleased with the impact I have been able to make on our grocery budget with minimal changes. I am planning to put the money we save on groceries toward paying down our mortgage debt. Having this goal gives me an even greater incentive to spend a few hours each week mapping out our grocery trip and meal plans.

I know many people have been able to reduce their grocery budget by much more than this, but I am very pleased to see that little changes can produce big results!

Rebecca is a former educator turned stay-at-home mom. She enjoys exercising, reading, and blogging about her life as a wife and new mom at D&R Tabb.

photo credit

Shared May 23, 2012 comment

Q&A: How do you stay motivated to get housework done?

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

How To Stay Motivated to Get & Keep Your House Clean - with free printables!

You are always so motivating that I am hoping you can help me. It seems like I try and try to get my “chore list” done each day and it just doesn’t happen. I used to be motivated by my checklist method and I spread the tasks over several days, but that’s just not working anymore. Thoughts? -a reader

1. If It’s Not Working, Change It

At the end of last year, I switched over to a paperless planning system. I really, really wanted to make a paperless system work, as it works so well for my husband and it seems like it’s the “smart” thing to do when you’re running a business. But, after five months of really trying to make it work, it just wasn’t working.

My motto is “Do what works for you”, and while it seems like a paperless planning system works well for many people, it was pretty obvious it wasn’t working for me. So, earlier this month, I gave up on the paperless planning system (at least for now!), pulled out my homemaking binder, downloaded the Motivated Moms Printable Chore List, and started in afresh.

I’ve been amazed at how this changed has re-ignited my love of cleaning! Sometimes, a fresh change of scenery is just the boost you need to get inspired to clean again.

If your current cleaning system isn’t working, try implementing another cleaning system. If you don’t want to start from scratch, at least rotate things around a bit so that it feels new and different.

4 Different Cleaning Systems

1. A Cleaning Schedule for People Who Hate to Clean — A weekly task list you can pick and choose from depending upon your time and motivation each day.

2. 4 Weeks to a More Organized Home — 20 days of simple cleaning tasks to whip your house into shape. You can download a printable list or sign up for daily email reminders.

3. Motivated Moms — A year-long printable list of chores and home management tasks. I just started this two weeks ago and am loving it so far! They also recently released an app, if you’re more of the paperless type than me. 🙂

4. FlyLady — Daily email reminders and tasks to help you get rid of clutter and find more order and peace in your home.

2. Get An Accountability Partner

It’s amazing how effective regular accountability can be! Find a friend or neighbor who is struggling to stay on task with keeping their home in order and ask them to be your accountability partner. Check in daily or weekly via text, email, over the phone, or in person.

Don’t know anyone locally who will be your accountability partner? There are many different online groups you could join to help you stay on task. Or, you could blog, Facebook, or tweet on a daily basis about your successes and failures.

3. Reward Yourself

Set up a reward system to celebrate your success. I’m always much more motivated when there is something to look forward to at the finish line!

My reward for accomplishing my tasks is often relaxing with a good book for 30 minutes at the end of the day. For some of you, that might not sound too exciting, but it’s something I love to do. And I can enjoy it even more when I know that my tasks are caught up!

Shared May 23, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Day 16)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Frozen chocolate chip cookie dough can be a bit dangerous to have on hand as it’s really yummy to eat straight from the freezer… but if you can have a little self control and wait for the cookies to bake, you’ll see that they taste just as delicious as if you made the dough fresh that day!

Cookie dough is SO easy to make ahead of time and freezer for later! And you'll always have cookies ready to pop in the oven when company comes over!!

My sister concocted this recipe many years ago and it’s long been our favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. It definitely wouldn’t win the prize for being a low-calorie cookie, but it’s a delicious and hearty cookie recipe.

If you’re not a fan of most freezer meals, can I encourage you to try making cookie dough and freezing it? I can almost guarantee you won’t be able to tell a difference between frozen cookie dough and fresh cookie dough.

Frozen cookie dough makes it so easy to make a batch of freshly-baked cookies when you have drop-in guests or need to bring a dessert or snack to some event at the last minute.

It’s also very handy for those times when you get a late-night craving for chocolate. Oh wait, I may be the only person who has that happen to them. Ahem. 😉

1 cup butter or shortening (softened)
1/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (or raw sugar)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (or raw sugar)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (you can also use half or all whole-wheat)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups oats (rolled or quick oats)
1 12-oz. package chocolate chips

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.

2. Add in eggs and vanilla and whip until very smooth.

3. Add in flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Mix well.

4. Stir in chocolate chips.

5. Roll dough into 1-1 1/2-inch balls and place on a cookie sheet (either to freeze or to bake.)

To freeze:

1. Place cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet (they can be quite close together) and freeze for one to two hours.

2. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer bag.

3. Freeze for several months (if you have enough self control!)

To bake:

1. Preheat oven to 375ºF.

2. Put desired number of cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, approximately 3 inches apart.

3. Let sit while oven preheats.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until done.

5. Transfer warm cookies to cooling rack.

6. Eat and enjoy!

Recipe

Freezer-Friendly Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Author Crystal Paine

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 10

Ingredients

1 cup butter or shortening softened
1/3 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup brown sugar or raw sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar or raw sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour you can also use half or all whole-wheat
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups oats rolled or quick oats
12 oz chocolate chips

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar.
Add in eggs and vanilla and whip until very smooth.
Add in flour, baking soda, salt, and oats. Mix well.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Roll dough into 1-1 1/2-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet (either to freeze or to bake.)

To freeze:

Place cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet (they can be quite close together) and freeze for one to two hours.
Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight freezer bag.
Freeze for several months (if you have enough self control!)

To bake:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.
Put desired number of cookie dough balls on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, approximately 3 inches apart.
Let sit while oven preheats.
Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes or until done.
Transfer warm cookies to cooling rack.
Eat and enjoy!

Nutrition

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Did you do any freezer cooking this week? If so, I’d love to see the results of your efforts! Link up your blog posts below or tell us about your success in the comments.

Want to cut your grocery budget? Go here and sign up (it’s free!) I’ll send you my 10 Easy Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill By $50.

Shared May 23, 2012 comment

Ask The Readers: Meatless or inexpensive meal suggestions that guys would love?

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 23, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Today’s question is from Alicia:

My family consists of three boys, my husband, and myself. With the cost of food rising, I have let my meat stockpile diminish. I was wondering if your readers have any budget-friendly recipes for meatless or inexpensive recipes that will satisfy and fill the bellies of a house full of meat-eating males!? -Alicia

Do you have a question you’d like to ask Money Saving Mom® readers? Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

Shared May 22, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer: Italian Chicken (Day 15)

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 22, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This is one of our go-to meals. It is so, so easy and delicious.

You could skip the freezing part altogether and just make it the day of, but some times it’s nice to pull a bag out of the freezer, dump it into a pan or crock pot and dinner is done.

It’s a great summer recipe because you can grill it or cook it in the crock pot and not heat up your kitchen at all. We love it served over rice or sliced and served on a big salad.

While I was making the Italian Chicken on one end of the table, the above picture is what was happening at the other end of the kitchen table. Seeing my husband so intently working with Silas on his preschool and Silas just soaking it up melts my heart.

{My husband has been doing one or two of each of the children’s homeschooling subjects with them each evening after he comes home from work. It was his idea — and the children love it!}

{I think one of the reasons they enjoy it is because Daddy’s homeschooling often involves snacks, too. ;)}

Freezer-Friendly Italian Chicken

One bottle of your favorite Italian salad dressing*
6 frozen boneless, skinless chicken breasts

To freeze: Put frozen chicken breasts in a freezer bag. Pour the Italian dressing over the chicken. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal it up. Freeze.

To thaw and bake:

Quick Method: Pull frozen chicken out of the freezer and run the freezer bag under cold water to thaw slightly. Pour all the contents of the bag into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes.
Longer Marinating Method: Pull frozen chicken out of the freezer, stick the bag in a bowl and let it thaw in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Pour all the contents of the bag into a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes or grill until done.
Crock Pot Method: Pull frozen chicken out of the freezer and run the freezer bag under hot water to thaw slightly. Pour all the contents of the bag into the crock pot and cook on high for 4-6 hours, until thoroughly cooked through.

This is delicious served over rice with steamed vegetables on the side. Serves 4-6.

*Want to change things up a bit? You can also use barbecue sauce or any other favorite salad dressing. Let us know if your family has a favorite variation of this recipe!

Did you do any freezer cooking today? If so, I’d love to see the results of your efforts! Link up your blog posts below or tell us about your success in the comments.

WANT TO SAVE $100 FAST?!Join the FREE 14-Day Savings Challenge!

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Shared May 22, 2012 comment

Do-It-Yourself: Sunburst Flower Headband

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 22, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

SewCraftCreate.com shows you how to make this adorable sunburst flower headband.

Do you have a fun and frugal DIY idea to share? I’d love to hear about it! Read the submission guidelines and submit it here.

Shared May 22, 2012 comment

Cash4Books: Make an additional 15% back for selling your used books

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 22, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Have extra books around your home that you no longer need or use? Definitely check Cash4Books.net, MyBookBuyer.com, and Amazon’s Trade-In Program to see how much they would pay you for selling your books to them.

Cash4Books is also offering a 15% bonus on your buyback total through June 8, 2012. All you have to do to get the bonus is use bonus code SecretStash at checkout and they’ll automatically give you the 15% bonus when they send your payment.

If you decide to sell your books to Cash4Books, you can print out a free shipping label so that there is no cost to you to ship the book. After your books are received, inspected and marked as ‘processed’, payment will be made within three business days. You can choose to be paid via Paypal or check.

If your books aren’t worth much, you might also consider listing them on PaperBackSwap so that you can swap them for books you are interested in reading.

Related posts:

Make Money Selling Books With MyBookBuyer.com
Earn Amazon Credit For Used Books Through Amazon’s Trade-In Program

(Note: Some of the links in this post are my referral links. Read our disclosure policy here.)

Shared May 21, 2012 comment

4 Weeks to Fill Your Freezer: Week #4 Freezer-Friendly Snacks & Desserts + Shopping List

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 21, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Can you believe we’ve made it to the last week of freezer cooking? My freezer is getting so stocked and it has been wonderful.

With Memorial Day weekend coming up, I’m spacing out the recipes a bit more this week to give everyone a little bit more time to play along (should you so choose) and to also give myself the flexibility to not blog much on Monday. 🙂

My apologies in advance that all but one of these recipes has chocolate in it. What can I say? “Dessert” and “snack” is pretty much synonymous with “chocolate” at our house. 🙂 And no day is complete without at at least a little bit of chocolate!

Here’s this week’s list of Snack and Dessert Recipes I’ll be making to stick in the freezer along with a grocery list (let me know if you see any mistakes on amounts needed):

Freezer-Friendly Snack and Dessert Recipes

Wednesday — One batch of Whole-Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Thursday — Double batch of Easy Morning Glory Muffins {I’ll share my “health-i-fied” version of this recipe on Thursday.}
Friday — Double batch of No Bake Energy Bites
Tuesday — One batch of Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Wednesday – Double batch of Chocolate Banana Bread

Grocery List

(I rounded up on the amounts needed, just to be safe. You probably have many of these items already on hand. You’ll want to double-check that you have the correct amounts, though.)

16 eggs
8 cups sugar (or raw sugar)
3/4 cup brown sugar (or raw sugar)
6 cups rolled oats
1 1/3 cups peanut butter (or other nut butter)
1 (16 oz.) can pureed pumpkin
3 1/2 cups oil
12 cups flour
3 packages chocolate chips
2/3 cup honey
3 cup coconut flakes (For No Bake Energy Bites or Easy Morning Glory Muffins — could substitute something else if your family doesn’t like coconut.)
1 cup flaxseed (For No Bake Energy Bites — could substitute wheat germ or something for this.)
4 cups shredded carrots
1 cup raisins
6 bananas
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 apples
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4 sticks butter

Staple Ingredients:

Vanilla
Salt
Baking Soda
Baking Powder
Cinnamon

Freezer Storage Items Needed

Foil
Plastic Wrap
8-12 large ziptop freezer bags
Something to label packages with (marker to write on bags, labels, and/or tape)

Click on the “Print This” tab at the top of the list to generate a printer-friendly list. (If you’re reading via email or a feed reader, you may need to click through to the post to print the list.)

Shared May 21, 2012 comment

Chicken Broccoli Rice

Published: by Crystal Paine on May 21, 2012 | This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Need another weeknight staple to add to your meal planning rotation? This easy casserole is it. Plus, you can easily double or triple the recipe as it freezes wonderfully!

Why we love Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole is delicious, filling, frugal, and freezer-friendly!

It’s the perfect family-friendly meal for busy weeknights when you just want to defrost something and bake it ASAP.

And thanks to the delicious cheesy sauce, your kids probably won’t even complain about eating their broccoli!

Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole Ingredients

10 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
4 cups cooked chicken, chopped (I bake mine in the oven like this.)
4 cups chopped broccoli, lightly steamed (frozen or fresh)
2 cans cream of mushroom soup (or 2 batches of homemade cream of mushroom soup)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (or 2 batches of homemade cream of chicken soup)
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste

NOTE: This recipe makes 4 freezer bags worth of casserole — or roughly around 15-20 servings as each freezer bag serves 4-5 people.

Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole substitutions and variations

This casserole is not an exact science by any means — please feel free to mix up the ingredients to fit your family’s taste preferences or whatever you already have in the house.

Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

substitute turkey for chicken (perfect for post-Thanksgiving leftovers!)
swap HALF the chicken for cubed ham and substitute Swiss cheese for cheddar (a.k.a. chicken cordon bleu)
use cooked quinoa or barley instead of rice
use mixed vegetables, chopped spinach, or even green beans in place of (or in addition to) broccoli
sprinkle the top of the casserole with breadcrumbs for a crunchy topping

How to Make Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.

2. Divide mixture into 4 zip-top freezer bags. Label and seal them tightly.

how to freeze chicken broccoli rice casserole

3. Freeze the bags flat.

4. TO COOK: Thaw one bag overnight (or for 8 hours) in the refrigerator.

5. Dump the contents of the bag into a greased casserole dish (one bag fills an 8×8″ pan; two bags fills a 9×13″ pan).

6. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Recipe Tips

If you’re planning to make a big batch of this casserole for the freezer, you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of large mixing bowls handy — as well as a variety of freezer containers or bags.

Also, make sure all the ingredients are fully cooked before adding them to the casserole — you don’t want to be surprised by raw chicken or crunchy rice when it’s time for dinner!

Remember to grease whatever baking pan you use to cook the casserole as this recipe can be a bit sticky.

And feel free to let your kids help — this is a great recipe to let them dump and mix!

What to serve with Chicken Broccoli Casserole

This meal technically contains all your food groups, so if you’re short on time, you don’t really need anything extra… however, here are a few serving suggestions our family enjoys.

fresh fruit
applesauce
homemade bread or rolls
more cooked veggies
a lettuce or spinach salad

Recipe