Tuesday, September 24, 2013

MONEY TIP FOR TUESDAY

Hello, fellow Internet surfers!  Welcome.  On Tuesday, I make an attempt to give a simple way to save money, cash, the green stuff. 
 
Today is:
 
Watch out for the expiration dates on purchased food items!  Yes, I am guilty of throwing away unused food!  Why?   Because the expiration date has passed.  
 
If you stock pile your food, watch those dates! 
 
What is the point of having food that ends up in the trash?
 
Think on this: 
 
Don't worry about what you don't have and appreciate what you do.
 
 
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Monday, September 23, 2013

FRIENDS

--copied from some where on the web
And you expected me to remember from where?
 
Ahahahahahahha
 
Nuff said.
 
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Friday, September 20, 2013

PINK LAUNDRY ROOM

Today is Friday.  It's the last day of the week for the working public.  The Hubbie is off tomorrow.  Since I am retired, I loose track of the days. 
 
I plan to do some sprucing up of the pink laundry room.  I would like to have a mini chandelier but the cost is not worth it.  The ones you make yourself look like you made it yourself.
 
At Family Dollar, I purchased a cute picture for the room.  De junking the room will go a long way.
 
The Daughter game me a nice hook board.  It's going up along with some pics of the grand kids, may be.
 
I would like to have a stack able pair of washer and dryer some day.  It would make the room seem larger.  I like having a laundry room. 
 
Did I say that it is pink?  grin
 
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Thursday, September 19, 2013

GLUTEN FREE SOUP MIX

Years ago, our boys, when they were little, could not have gluten in their diets.  It wasn't as hard as it seemed at first.  Today, being gluten free is more common.  I personally think it's because so much of our food is processed, has fillers and perservatives which have gluten included.

This is a recipe that I have had for years.  It is gluten free and replaces one can of cream soup for casseroles, etc.

Cream Soup Mix

2 cups powdered nonfat milk
1/4 cup instant chicken boullion
1 teaspoon basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons dried onion flakes
1 teaspoon thyme leaves
Combine all ingreadients, mixing well.  Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
To substitute for 1 can of condensed soup:
Combine 1/3 cup mix with 1-1/4 cups cold water in saucepan.
Stir to moisten, then heat over low to medium-low heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
Add to casserole as you would canned soup.
Can be used in a casserole or as the base for homemade cream soups but with much lower fat and sodium
This recipe is equivalent to 9 cans of soup or 18 servings
Per serving: 43 calories, 0g fat, 1mg cholesterol, 63 mg sodium

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

SAVING MONEY TUESDAY TIP

HINT:
 

This is a strange money saving tip.  I do not even know if it is legal.  I do not know if it isn't considered stealing.  It may or may not.  It may be okay because on the other hand, the store is charging for garbage.
 
Here it is:
 
Last week, while shopping at my favorite Publix store, I was browsing through the produce section, when I saw something very strange!
 
A young Asian woman was standing right next to the trash bin with several ears of corn.  She was shucking/peeling off the husk and putting them all into the trash can! 
 
This was a first for me in my entire life! 
 
She proceeded to remove all of the husk, neatly putting each into the trash can, then with her clear plastic bag, placed all of the corn into the bag without the husks!
 
So, if this is legit, then she is saving a bunch of money by having the corn weigh only what the actual corn costs!  Why should the customer pay for the husk which is only garbage?!
 
If the price is per ear, then the husk would not matter.  If the price is per pound, that could make a big difference!
 
I have been known to pick out the rotten grapes and trash them but never shuck corn in the middle of the produce aisle.
 
It was an interesting concept! 
 
Plus there were two workers in the produce department.  No one said a word to her.  They let her stand there, cleaning all of the corn, until she was finished and walked away to finish her shopping. 
 
I'm not saying do this or don't do this.  It's up to you. 
 
We, as American shoppers, pay so much for packaging, why not save a little bit when you can?
 
It's the tip of the day. 
 
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Monday, September 16, 2013

SHOE MONDAY, OH OH SHOE MONDAY

Years ago there was a song titled Blue Monday.  Today was Shoe Monday for me.  Strange, right?  But here is how it went.

I slept on the floor again last night because the back was paining.  We sit on a pew at church that has a big enough, for two people, sagging seat.  We've sat on it for several years now because it is close to the front.  The Hubbie needs to be near the piano for the invitation.  So, we have endured that pew.  Time to change pews.

I slept later than I had planned, got up quickly dressed, drove to Hardee's for a biscuit and Diet Coke.  The medium drinks are still one dollar.  I made it in time. 

However, before I buzzed out the garage, I was looking for a certain pair of flip flop shoes.  As I searched, I realized I had five (5) different pairs of shoes spread out through the house. 

One was in the Master bedroom.  One was on the couch in the Master bedroom.  One pair was in the kitchen.  Two pairs were in the garage.  That's five pairs.  I finally found the desired pair in the closet, where it was suppose to be in the first place. 

I realized I had five different pairs laying around, cluttering the house. 

After I came back from breakfast, I put them all away where they are suppose to be, in the closet.

I wonder why I cannot make that a habit?  It would make life so much easier. 

Hey, it's Monday so that's an excuse I'll take. 
 
Zipadeedoodah!

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Friday, September 13, 2013

GARAGE JUNK

Today is a cooler day in Dixie.  Well, the humidity is lower so it seems cooler.  I decided to work on the garage.  Tomorrow is suppose to be in the eighty degree range but I have indoor stuff to do, too.
 
You may remember that when we started living on the envelope budget, I set out to reduce our outgoing cash by fifty percent.
 
I did that to the garage today.  Yep, reduced all of the junk by fifty percent, well, my part of the junk.  The Hubbie has car stuff that needs to be reduced.  I don't know enough about what he uses or needs to start throwing out his stuff. 
 
It's interesting to see how much more room is in the garage!  It is also, after several hours of sweating like a horse, freeing.  Less junk, less stress, is what I am discovering. 
 
It's a good discovery, too!  Ahhhhhh.
 
What's the point of keeping stuff that only collects cobwebs and dust?
 
No point at all.
 
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Thursday, September 12, 2013

FALL DECORATIONS

 
 This is simple but lovely at the same time, don't you think?  The table is made of twigs and could easily be glued together.  It would work as an indoor or outdoor table scape.  Don't want to waste money on real pumpkins?  Buy plastic ones or make fabric pumpkins.  Those can be used for years and years without rotting.  Or just buy one pumpkin and  find other things you could use as filler like logs on the floor or porch in place of the two larger pumpkins. 
 
Look around, maybe you have something that could go with this decoration.  It doesn't have to be just like the picture for you to enjoy it.
 
Fall is coming so get ready!  Summer will be gone soon!  Hooray and boo at the same time.

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Wednesday, September 11, 2013

9/11/2013

Twelve years later and it still hurts my heart.  No, I do not know of any one, personally, that died,  but on that day we ALL lost fellow Americans.
 
Twelve years later, it isn't any easier and we're still at war.
 
God help our Country.  PLEASE.
 
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Tuesday, September 10, 2013

TUESDAY MONEY TIP

This is pretty simple.  Don't know why I have not thought of it before now!  After all, I've been grocery shopping for over 45 years. 
 
I was shopping at my new favorite grocery store, Publix, last night.  I needed to pick up a few things.  I spotted the NY strip steaks on sale.  The down part was there were only packages of four or more.  Since there are only two of us, why pay double? 
 
I picked up the package, walked to the meat counter window and asked if I could buy only two of the steaks in the package of four.  The answer was yes.  Which two would you like?  I pointed to the two I wanted.  The kind employee took the package, opened it, took out the two, reweighed, packaged and labeled the two steaks with the new weight and new price. 
 
The price dropped from over $20 dollars to just over $10.  Plus I was able to get the best of the four to put into my cart!  Plus, I was still given the sale price!  Bingo!
 
So, if you only have a certain amount of money to spend on packaged items, there is no harm in asking if the items can be repackaged and reduced in number, as well as cost. 
 
Why spend it on something that you really don't want to freeze or keep for future use or if your cash is limited?!
 
No picture.  Grin.  Just take my word for it.  It's your money.

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Monday, September 9, 2013

PROPERTY TAX @ 65

Well, we are both 65 years of age.  Being 65 has it's ups and downs.  One of the ups is living in a state that, when you do hit that big six five and qualify, you no longer are required to pay state property tax.
 
Yep, read it again if you want but it's true.
 
Yes, this is a money saving tip for the the senior citizen.  Even if you are not, you may know someone who is.  Take the extra effort to see if they, too, qualify to not pay property taxes.  Go to your county tax assessor and check it out or call the office.  Every state has their own rules so it may require a seek and find attitude.
 
Why pay when you don't have to pay?  You've earned it, agree? 
 
A local radio show talk host has a relative that lives in a far north east state.  He said on the radio one day that his she pays $4,000 per year in property taxes.  Actually, this is a view tax because she lives in a place where there is a view of the mountains.   He did not say if she had to pay other property taxes on the actual property.
 
Ready to move? 
 
 
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Friday, September 6, 2013

CHLOE BELLA

I copied this pic off of the daughter's Facebook page.  Her name is not Chloe Bella but we call her that for fun.  Her Momma started it.  She repeats it back.  Daddy says it, too.  Me, too when I am around her.

 It's just fun.

 
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Thursday, September 5, 2013

CHILDREN

I woke up this morning thinking about a quote I heard in Proverbs class years and years ago in college.  Here it is:
 
What parents allow in moderation, the children will do in excess.
 
Is that true?  I do see that there are children doing things their parents never did or would consider doing.  Why did their parents not choose those things?
 
 As an example to them on how to live. 
 Because it is harmful to the body. 
 It is like an anchor around their necks dragging them into addiction.
Because the Bible teaches against it.

But how do handle it when this happens?  Do you consider yourself a failure as a parent?  Do you try to convince them differently?  No, it is their life now.  It is no longer your responsibility or your choice.
 
Here is another quote from that same class:
 
A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
 
So, what do you do?  The best you can.  The best in teaching and living before your children.  Teaching them to live a clean life before God.  Why?  So their children will.  You see, it's not just a matter of preference.  It's a matter of future generations.  Think about it.
 
When children are grown, the parents are no longer responsible for their choices or their decisions.  They are.  Good or bad.  Harmful or helpful. 
 
Years ago, I heard another illustration.  A child's life is like a basket.  In years 1 - 5, the parents are putting everything into that basket.  In years 6 - 13, the parents and the child are putting things into that basket. The teen years, the friends put things into the basket, too.   At age 18, the child starts taking things out of the basket.  Which things will the child choose?   Which things will their child pick out of their own baskets?  Will friends be a bigger influence than parents?
 
Sure, every parent makes mistakes.  I for one certainly have!!  I lost myself along the way of life and only could get myself heard when I was angry.  Thank the Lord, I know that now.  I was in a system that smothered me.  I am free now.  I am me now. 
 
Enjoying life and breathing!!
 
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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

SAVING MONEY TIP

Today is Tuesday and it's time for a money saving tip!
 
Shop on the Internet.  There you go. 
 
Many times, there is no tax.  You save gasoline by not going from store to store.  You can see lots and lots of websites in a matter of minutes compared to going store to store that can take hours.   Your item or items will be delivered to your very own front door! 
 
Be sure that your credit card will remove any unauthorized charges in case there is a problem, which is rare, but it does happen, let's be real.
 
Never, ever give any website access to your checking account or debit card.   There's more to this statement which I should probably share with you all.
 
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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

FAT IS SERIOUS

Think this came off of Pinterest but not sure.  Not even sure if all of it is legit but very much worth considering!!


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Monday, September 2, 2013

LABOR DAY 2013

Today is the day that all American workers are honored.  A day to rest for being laborers.  The Hubbie was off after all.
 
We goofed off.  We rested.  We deserved it.
 
Oh yeah!
 
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