Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 102

5 Smart Ways to Control Impulse Spending

 This is a guest post from Kalyn Brooke of Creative Savings

Whether you’re amazingly frugal or just starting out on your journey toward financial freedom, there’s probably one area most of us still struggle in — impulse spending. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to learn how not to impulse spend from one of my not-so proud-impulse moments. My husband and I made a huge TV purchase that I knew we shouldn’t have bought, but I happily went along with it anyway because my emotions completely overpowered the practical side that is usually in control.

If you know me at all, this was very much out of character for my personality! Yet for that split-second moment, I just couldn’t resist the draw of my wants over actual needs.

Does that sort of thing happen to you too?

Overcoming that desire for more is hard, especially when you stumble upon an irresistible deal, or a friend’s recent purchase creates all sorts of green-eyed feelings inside. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is totally possible to keep those yucky emotions under control.

These 5 action steps will not only create a healthy attitude toward spending in general, they will also help curb those impulse spending habits for good.

 

1. Wait Before You Buy

Did you know you can prevent almost any impulse purchase just by waiting a full 24 hours before finishing the transaction?

This idea of waiting gives our brain a psychological boost that convinces us we don’t need an item as much as we think we do – and we can totally work this to our favor.

For example, I am notorious for shopping online and transferring items to my cart, then waiting to see if I really need to buy them or if I’m just having an emotional shopping spree. After 24 hours, I almost always forget that I was going to purchase something, and by the time I do remember, the sale is often long-gone or the item isn’t even available anymore!

 

2. Avoid Tempting Situations

Much of the desire to impulsively spend stems from a situation that tests our limits of self-control, but this can be avoided just by putting a few extra rules and checkpoints into place.

Here are some ideas:

Unsubscribe from all deal related emails and store subscriptions – If just seeing a good deal, coupon, or sale is enough to make you spend, get those emails out of your inbox! You will feel so much more freedom and control knowing that you aren’t tied to those weekly alerts.


Stay offline – Give yourself some time to unplug from technology. Advertisers are all over social media and website offering services and wares for “one low price”, and you can avoid these entirely by putting limits on your screen time.


Stay home – The more I stay home, the more I stay out of stores, and the more I stay out of stores, the less I spend. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Plan your errands for just one day a week, and commit to keeping your schedule free so you aren’t out and about fighting the temptation to pop in somewhere just to see what’s hanging on the clearance rack.

3. Plan Ahead with Lists

Most impulse purchases can be prevented with a battle plan, aka sticking to a list. I know I personally throw way more things in my cart when I forget that list at home. I want to make sure I don’t have to make another trip, but as a result, I almost always go over our grocery budget for the week!

But it’s not just grocery lists we need to be keeping — I would encourage you to start some personal and family Wish Lists too. These can be anything from birthday gifts, home improvement ideas, furniture, and/or appliances that you would love to have.

Start a separate savings column or cash envelope for each of these items, then purchase things on your list according to priority. If a great deal or sale pops up, you can either purchase it with the money you’ve saved up, or store the link for later when you do have that money. Because spending isn’t bad in itself….we just have to be intentional about doing it!

 

4. Give Yourself Fun Money

Likewise, start a fund for you and your spouse to set aside “no strings attached” kind of cash, or Fun Money. It might just be $5-$10 per paycheck to start, but having a little bit of income that you don’t have to be accountable for can give you the extra high that normally accompanies impulse spending.

My husband chooses to spend his on take-out and soda, whereas I prefer to add to my book collection. The key is we’ve already planned ahead for these types of purchases, and when the money is gone, it’s gone.

 

5. Develop Contentment

Lastly, if we dive right into the root of impulse spending, I honestly believe it has to do with our level of contentment. No matter what your financial situation looks like right now, you and I probably have it pretty good compared to much of the world.

It has been proven over and over again that more possessions does not equal happiness, and if there is one thing I want you to take away from this post, it is this: Satisfaction comes in being thankful for what we have, not what we can get. 

Tight grocery budgets and small incomes hurt — I’m not downplaying that, but enjoying those precious family and friends around us, and taking stock in the unexpected blessings will ultimately be what curbs that desire for more.  If this is something you really struggle with (and don’t we all?) these seven ways to be more content can help a LOT!

So next time an unused coupon gives you anxiety, or a red clearance sticker starts calling your name, remember you control your spending, not the other way around. Spot your weakness, then create an action plan to control it.

You can do this!

Kalyn Brooke is a full-time writer and blogger at CreativeSavingsBlog.com. Where she gives a fresh perspective on frugal living, and the kick-in-the-pants you need to create a budget from scratch. She lives in beautiful Southwest Florida with her news-photographer husband and the most adorable bunny you’ve ever seen. She loves making to-do-lists, reading good books, eating chocolate peanut butter ice cream, and pursuing big big dreams… all carefully planned out, of course.

*   *   *

How do you control that urge to spend?

Living Well Spending Less®.

Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday!  I hope you are having a wonderful & relaxing weekend!  It has been a little crazy around here as my team and I have been busy wrapping up the final details for a couple of BIG projects!  The first is preparing to open the doors for my new advanced blogging course, Elite Blog Academy, which happens in just THREE days!   SO much work has gone into making this course absolutely amazing, and I am so, so excited to share it with you all!  If you are interested in finding out more, you can check out the trailer on Facebook, or you can get more details here.  If you want to be notified when registration opens, you can subscribe here.

Our OTHER big project is our Clutter Free Challenge, which is happening here at Living Well Spending Less the entire month of October!  I’ll be sharing more details about it next week, but if you are ready to join and want to have the daily challenges sent straight to your inbox, you can sign up HERE.

Now moving on to our Weekend Wandering……here is what I loved this week!

  *   *   *

First of all,this Maple Bacon and Caramelized Onion Pizza from Carmel Moments would be right up my youngest daughter’s alley–bacon and maple syrup is her favorite!

Atkinson Drive is speaking my love language with this Grown-Up Chilled Caramel Apple Cider!

I love easy recipes that only call for a limited number of ingredients and can be made in the crock-pot!  This 3 Ingredient Soy Sauce & Coca-Cola Chicken Drumsticks recipe from Coupon Karma looks like a great one to try!

This Peanut Butter Granola Cereal from Kleinworth & Co. sounds so good. Perfect with yogurt, fresh fruit or both!

These Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Whipped Cream Frosting from Sunshine and Hurricanes are calling my name! Wow, do those sound good!

Moving on to DIY….These DIY Photo Coasters from The Teacher’s Wife would make a perfect holiday gift!

This easy Rustic Wood Frame from Home. Made. Interest. requires only 3 items to create. So adorable!

Ooh, these Anthropologie Inspired Mr. & Mrs. Dish Towels from View From the Fridge are so cute!  What a great wedding gift idea!

Money saving tips for food are always so popular. Especially since food prices seem to continually rise. Creative Savings has 8 Real Food Meal Planning Resources that Won’t Break the Bank!

Moving is another expensive necessity! Kosher on a Budget has several practical tips on How to Save Money on Moving. What a great resource!

Eat, Pray, Read, Love has tips on How to Get Free Clothes by hosting a clothing swap! What an awesome idea.

Looking for activities that won’t break the bank? Millennial on a Budget has 12 Cheap(ish) Hobbies that will appeal to everyone in the family. Number 2 is definitely my favorite!

Lastly, Mums Makes Lists has 5 strategies for Avoiding After School Meltdowns. This is a must read!

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

Pin It

The post Weekend Wandering appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

10 Freezer Meals in One Hour 3: Comfort Foods Edition

As you all probably know by now, I am pretty much hooked on easy recipes that taste great and don’t take a lot of time, effort, or expensive ingredients to throw together.  As a busy mom, I also want meals that can be made and frozen ahead of time to save time on hectic weeknights, especially as part of a Sunday Prep plan.  My goal is to spend less time in the kitchen, not more, but I still want to be able to provide tasty meals that my family loves!

Over the past few months I have shared two different 10 meals in an hour plans, which have each included 5 great freezer recipes that can be prepared together in about sixty minutes. (You can find those plans here and here.)  They have both been a huge hit, not only with my own family, but with many of your families as well, and I’ve loved hearing how much you all are enjoying these tasty recipes.

Today I am super excited to share this Comfort Foods Edition of 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour, which includes five delicious home-cooked meals that are perfect for fall.

As usual, in order to make the cut, each recipe must meet ALL of the following criteria:

Deemed delicious by both my kids and husband
No pre-cooking required (aside from browning ground beef)
Freezer friendly
Easy to cook
Uses budget-friendly ingredients and pantry staples

In this one post you will find everything you need to prep 10 awesome freezer meals in about an hour of hands-on time (not including grocery shopping.)   Just think, in just one quick weekend session you could have almost two weeks worth of absolutely delicious, family-friendly meals all ready to go!

Before you begin, you will need to gather your tools & supplies and also make sure that you have all your groceries on hand. I find it is easiest to go grocery shopping the day before I do my cooking.  To save time unloading, only put away the items that need to be refrigerated.  Finally, make sure your kitchen counters are cleared of clutter and sanitized and empty your dishwasher and sink of any dishes.  (Check out this post for more tips on freezer cooking like a pro!)

Here are the five recipes we will be making:

Grandma’s Sloppy Joe’s
Herb Roasted Chicken Breast
Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Easy Tomato Parmesan Chicken
Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin

Here are the supplies you will need:

10 gallon size zipper freezer bags
labels or permanent marker
large mixing bowl
cutting board
sharp knife
garlic press
can opener
dry measuring cups
liquid measuring cups
dry measuring spoons
liquid measuring spoons
12 inch frying pan
stand or hand mixer

  

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Produce
14 cloves garlic
1 bunch Fresh parsley (optional)
2 large sweet onions
2 16oz bags baby carrots (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
4 pounds baby red potatoes (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
 
Pantry Staples
Olive oil
Seasoned salt
Black pepper
Cayenne pepper
Dried minced onion
Chili powder
Brown sugar
Apple cider vinegar
Ketchup
Worcestershire sauce
Soy sauce
Dried Italian seasoning
Dried thyme
Dried rosemary
Dried ground sage
Dried oregano 
 
Canned/Dry Goods
1 jar tomato sauce
1 15 oz can diced Italian tomatoes
2 boxes dry pasta, your choice (only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
1 can chicken gumbo soup
1 can tomato rice soup
4 envelopes dry onion soup mix
8 cups chicken broth
3 cups Red wine
2 cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
2 cans condensed cream of celery soup
 
Dairy
Shredded parmesan cheese
Shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
 
Meat
2-2-3 pound pork tenderloin roasts
3-4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
8 bone-in chicken breasts with skin
2-3-5 pound chuck roasts
4 pounds ground beef
 
Bread
2 packages of hamburger buns (only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
 
Deli
1 package deli coleslaw (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)

 

PRINT

Be sure to print the following pages before getting started:

Printable labels (designed to work with Avery 8163 shipping labels)
Printable Shopping List
Printable Prep & Prepare Instructions

Be sure to also print the following recipes:

Grandma’s Sloppy Joe’s
Herb Roasted Chicken Breast
Easy Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Easy Tomato Parmesan Chicken
Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin

 

PREP

Prep your bags—either print labels using these ready-made printable labels or use a permanent marker to label each bag with the name of the recipe, date prepared, and cooking instructions.  DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!  While you might think that you’ll remember what is in every bag, I promise you will forget!
Brown ground beef and set aside
Chop onion and set aside
Chop parsley and set aside
Peel garlic and set aside, (or mince if not using garlic press, then set aside.)
Prep chicken if necessary

PREPARE

 

Prep Grandma’s Sloppy Joes using instructions found here.  (Use only 1 cup or about half of the already chopped onion.) Divide mixture into 2 freezer bags, press out excess air, and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Easy Freezer Pot Roast using instructions found here. Place meat into 2 freezer bags and cover with marinade, then press out excess air and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Easy Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin using instructions found here. (Use remaining chopped onion.)  Place meat into 2 freezer bags and cover with marinade, then press out excess air and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Easy Herb Roasted Chicken Breasts using instructions found here. Place chicken into 2 freezer bags and cover with marinade, then press out excess air and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Tomato Parmesan Chicken using instructions found here.  Place chicken into 2 freezer bags and cover with cream cheese mixture, then press out excess air and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Once all prep is complete, place all bags in freezer until needed.  After you’ve made your meal plan for the coming week, consider setting an alert on your phone to remind you to take your bag out to thaw the day before you plan to make it!

*   *   *

Have you tried making 10 meals in an hour yet?  What tricks or tips can you share?

This post was written on behalf of Frigidaire®. All opinions are mine.  Frigidaire® has been designed to help families make the most of their time and space with high-performing, easy-to-use appliances with time-saving features. Their 2-in-1 Upright Freezer or Refrigerator offers simple organization and better storage with the flip of a switch. 

Pin It

The post 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour 3: Comfort Foods Edition appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Thrifty Thursday {Week 77}

Happy Thursday!  I hope you are all having a fabulous week!  This has been a very busy week as I count down the days (6!) until the doors open for my new advanced blogging course, Elite Blog Academy.  SO much work has gone into making this course absolutely amazing, and I am so, so excited to share it with you all!  If you are interested in finding out more, you can check out the trailer on Facebook, or you can get more details here.

Also, be sure to check your inbox for an email I sent out yesterday with a link to a free webinar called The 3 Elements of a Perfect Pin™.  It has some fantastic super practical tips for maximizing your effectiveness and traffic from Pinterest!  If you are not currently receiving my blogging emails, you can subscribe here.

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Sarah Titus { Money Saving Tricks: 30 Days to a Better Life }
2. Thrifty Little Mom { The Lose a Turkey by Thanksgiving Challenge }

3. A Cultivated Nest { Getting Out of Debt by Using The Snowball Method }

4. Six Figures Under { August 2014: Debt Repayment Progress Report }

5. Save to Splurge {How I Paid Off $30k in 1 Year}

6. Retired by 40 { 5 Things I Won’t Sacrifice to Get Out of Debt }

7. Pulling Curls { September Menu Planning }

8. The Beautiful Useful Project { The Easiest Way to Sell Your Stuff on Line }
9. Coupon Crazy Girl { What to Buy in September }
10. Creative Savings { I’m Changing My Lifestyle, and So Should You }
 
Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my blogging guide, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize, and the expanded 2nd edition is now available in paperback!  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out Elite Blog Academy.

An InLinkz Link-up

Pin It

The post Thrifty Thursday {Week 77} appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin

I don’t know about you but I think at this point I am fully addicted to simple, delicious freezer meals.   Even my husband, who first balked at the idea of freezer cooking and insisted he wouldn’t like any of the meals, has whole-heartedly embraced this freezer friendly lifestyle.  It has not only saved us a ton of time and stress, but a ton of money as well.

Now that fall is upon us and school is in full swing, I love serving down-home comfort-food type meals, especially those that can be thrown in the slow cooker for a completely effortless meal.  This slow-cooked pork tenderloin is a great alternative to beef or chicken and comes together in just minutes.   It can also be frozen ahead as part of a freezer cooking day!   The recipe below makes two roasts, so if you only want one be sure to cut the ingredients in half.

Here is what you need:

2 (2 pound) pork tenderloin roasts
2 (1 ounce) envelope dry onion soup mix
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups red wine
1 large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
freshly ground black pepper to taste
 

Step 1: Chop onion and mince garlic.

Step 2: Whisk together soup mix, chicken broth, wine, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic and black pepper.

Step 3: Label bags; place one 2 lb pork tenderloin in each bag and divide marinade evenly among bags. Then freeze.

Step 4: Thaw meat; add carrots and potatoes and cook in crock pot on low for 4-5 hours.

 

    Print This!    




Recipe: Freezer Pork Tenderloin

Summary: Full of flavor, tender and no oven required. This recipe is sure to be a winner!

Ingredients

2 (2 pound) pork tenderloin roasts
2 (1 ounce) envelopes dry onion soup mix
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups red wine
1 cup large onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
freshly ground black pepper to taste



Instructions

Mince garlic and chop onion.
Whisk together soup mix, chicken broth, wine, soy sauce, Worcestershire Sauce, onion, garlic and black pepper.
Label bags; place one 2 lb pork tenderloin in each bag and divide marinade evenly among bags. Then freeze.
Thaw meat; cook in crock pot on low for 4-5 hours.

Preparation time: 5-7 minutes

Cooking time: 4-5 hours in crock pot

Number of servings (yield): 6 for 2 lbs of meat

*   *   *

What are your favorite freezer friendly meals?

Pin It

The post Slow Cooked Pork Tenderloin appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

How to Create a Morning Routine That Works for You

Do you ever wish you could run your mornings on autopilot?

Sometimes the sheer number of things that have to get done before the day officially begins can feel like a full day’s work!  This is especially true if your morning routine includes not just getting yourself out the door, but one or more little people as well.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were some way to plug in a simple, easy-to-execute approach that would literally function like an autopilot? While your mornings may never run themselves, getting things to run a little smoother is possible.  Like most things in life, it is a matter of some forethought and a little pre-planning, paired with a determination to make it work.  Here are six steps to help you gain control over your morning melee and help create a morning routine that truly works for you and your family:

1. Know what you’re up against.

The first key to a workable morning routine is allowing enough time for it, which often depends on how many people you have to see out the door! If all you’re dealing with is getting yourself out of bed and presentable, you can probably afford to sleep a tad longer than a mom with four school-aged children to take care of before she leaves for work herself. But start there.  First write out a list  of everything that needs to be done for everyone.  Next, determine your family’s “ZERO” hour–the time you have to be out of the house–and then work backward…and that’s the hour you need to “start the ball rolling.”

This handy morning routine brainstorm countdown sheet can help you determine your family’s own zero hour, plus figure out exactly what needs to happen to get all of you out the door on time.

Click here to download the Morning Routine Brainstorm Countdown

Be sure to allow for the unexpected in your schedule as well: Murphy’s Law strikes more often in the morning than at any other time of day. (We have no data on this; we just know.) So once you’ve decided on a crawling-out-of-bed time, set your alarm for fifteen minutes earlier than that, with a back up just in case.   If getting out of bed in the morning is a big problem for you, you may want to try the SleepCycle app, which uses your iPhone to track your sleep cycle and wakes you up during your lightest sleep phase within a specified time period.  I have been using it for about a month and I have to say, it is pretty amazing!

2. Keep it simple

This may sound like a contradiction to #1 above, but it’s not.  There is a big difference between what you need to do and what you’d like to do every morning. If you think ought to work out first thing, but it means you have to rise bleary-eyed at 4 a.m.—assess whether you can’t work out later in the day. You don’t have to clean the bathroom from top to bottom after everyone’s showered—just wipe it down and neaten a bit. You don’t have to do all the dishes before work…just load the dishwasher ready to go for evening.

There are some small home details you’ll want to attend to, of course, such as checking your dinner menu, moving things from freezer to fridge for defrosting, or assembling items in a crockpot will make sure the end of the day runs well, too. And certain things (walking a dog, caring for livestock on a farm) will always be non-negotiable—but keep those must-dos to a minimum and you won’t be tired or stressed before the day actually starts!

3. Prepare in advance.

Coordinating a morning routine for several people can be daunting if too much is crammed into a narrow time frame. So once you’ve got your tasks for zero written out, figure out which items can be done the night before, or even on the weekend as part of a Sunday Prep plan.

For instance, if five people are getting ready for school or work with only one bathroom, some should shower or bathe the night before. If your kids are old enough to make their own lunches, have them do so before bed. Lay out your clothes for the next day in advance—something that also allows you to make any needed repairs before you’re too pressed for time to do so. If you can’t see straight without coffee, program the coffeemaker to start when the alarm goes off. In other words, a little anticipation can be a great time and energy saver for everyone.

Click here to download the Morning Routine Countdown

Once you’ve brainstormed and worked backwards with the first worksheet, you can use this Morning Routine Countdown worksheet to create your actual morning routine.  Once it is ready, post it on your fridge or bulletin board so your entire family knows just what needs to happen!

4. Let the outside world wait.

Of course once you have your routine in place, there are a few other steps to keep in mind to make sure your routine actually works for you.  One is to limit your access to the rest of the world, at least temporarily.  Many people like to wake to the news every day or watch a morning show while they get ready.  Unfortunately it can be all too easy to get sucked in to an interesting story and lose track of time. Being informed is commendable; being late for work or school because of it isn’t! If you must start your day with the news, try to get it through some means that doesn’t slow you down. Better still, put it off until the morning rush is over unless it’s information that actually affects feet-on-pavement, such as school-closing or delay information in bad weather. World events will still be there when you pause for your second cup of coffee!

By the way, the same thing goes for interruptions from the phone or other electronic media. You might not believe what a difference turning OFF cell phones, PDAs, or other communication devices can make until you do it. Once again, it’s not only possible — it’s advisable. Morning isn’t the time to get embroiled in the soap opera that is your best friend’s life, return duty calls to in-laws, or settle a PTA issue with a fellow room mother. If you must have your phone on, screen callers; if nothing’s on fire or no one’s on the way to the ER, catch up later.

5. Leave things the way you want to come home to them.

There are few things nicer to step into after a busy day than an orderly house—and few things more depressing or discouraging than one that’s not. You can have the former, and not the latter, by seeing to a few tiny details every morning. Once you’re dressed, make your bed. The bed is the center of the room and the first thing your eye sees. If it’s messy, your whole room looks bad; if it’s neat, the clutter on your dresser’s less obvious! Same goes for your kitchen sink: give it and the counters a quick swish and it makes the whole kitchen look better. Fold towels neatly, dispose of junk mail…you get the idea.  (For more ideas, check out this post on how to create a cleaning schedule that works for you.)

Look around. Where are the places your eye lands first when you walk in the door? If those are neat when you leave, they’ll give you an instant lift when you get home. Remember, too, these are quick tasks. You don’t have to spend more than five to ten extra minutes—if that—to have a much cleaner feel to your home. 

6. Refine, Tweak, Repeat.

Once you’ve determined the best wake-up hour, discovered what items you can accomplish the night before to make the morning run more smoothly, and broken in the rest of the family on this new morning approach, consistency becomes your friend. Routine is called that because it is routine:  It’s predictable, reliable, and repeatable. If over time you discover that certain things need to be done in a different order, feel free to adapt them—but give yourself enough repetitions of the first way before you decide on a second or third.

Remember, it takes anywhere from 21 to 30 days to form a new habit. At first, your new schedule will feel uncomfortable and maybe a bit awkward, but that’s no reason to assume it doesn’t work.  You’ll know soon enough if it truly doesn’t; until then, give it a chance.

Ready…Set…Wake Up!

You may never be a morning person, but you can still have pulled together days with the help of an effective morning routine. Use the worksheets above to visually lay out your battle plan, lessen your stress, and keep you on track, and before you know it, your mornings might actually be running on autopilot.  (Well, okay, maybe not!)

*   *   *

What’s on your morning routine list?

Pin It

The post How to Create a Morning Routine That Works for You appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Weekend Wandering

Happy Sunday!  I hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!  Ours has been relatively uneventful, which has actually been really nice!  For the past two months I have been a little obsessed with watching reruns of House, MD on Netflix, and I am happy to say that I have almost finished the series!  Maybe now I can finally get my life back!  Have you ever watched an entire series on Netflix?  If so, which one?

Don’t forget that there are only a few days left to enter the Frigidaire Time Saving Freezer Cooking Sweepstakes.  THREE lucky readers will win a Frigidaire 2-in-1 Convertible Upright Freezer/Refrigerator, and entering is super easy–you just have to submit a link to your own freezer cooking Pinterest board.  You can get all the details here.

In the meantime, here is what I loved this week:

  *   *   *

First of all, this  Vegetable Lo Mein from The Woks of Life looks absolutely amazing. YUM!!

My family would love these Slow Cooker Copycat Chipotle Carnitas from Cincy Shopper. I love that they can be made vegetarian friendly too!

This Tomato & Dill Soup from Life Love Liz sounds like such a great flavor combination!  It would be a great accompaniment to my delicious Easy Beer Bread.

This Spinach and Mushroom Crustless Quiche from Simply Playful Fare would be amazing for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Love it!

These Honey BBQ Chicken Wings from Flour on My Face are perfect football-watching fare. Go Seahawks!

Anyone else think that croutons are the best part of a salad?  Kleinworth & Co. has a recipe for homemade Garlic & Herb Croutons. Yes, please!

Mmmmmmm……Apple Butter…..this Crock-pot Apple Butter from Practical Stewardship is the perfect project to ring in fall!

On the non-food front, do you ever feel like your budget is constantly getting off track?. Don’t panic…Smallish Blog has 5 Ways to Drop-Kick Un-budgeted Spending!

Six Figures Under has 3 Ways Our Budget Can Handle Unexpected Expenses. Tip number 2 is super helpful!

The Teacher’s Wife has 5 tips to help you Determine Your Clothing Budget. I might need to read this one twice!

Saving the Family Money has the secret scoop on How to Obtain Coupons. These tips are for the super serious couponer!

Finally, Coupon Crazy Girl has a practical list of What to Buy in September from produce to airfare! What a great resource!

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

Pin It

The post Weekend Wandering appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

20 Smart Ways to Save on a Disney Vacation

Ahhhh, Disney.

Where else can an otherwise rational, perfectly frugal set of parents throw every ounce of common sense out the window and happily pay $15 for a balloon that deflates almost immediately, $40 for their 4-year-old daughter to dine with Princesses, or $10 for the exact same disposable rain poncho they sell at the dollar store without batting an eye?

There’s just something about the Happiest Place on Earth that makes spending ridiculous sums of money seem, well, fun.

Until, of course, the vacation is over, the Visa bill arrives, and suddenly all that fun seems a little less magical.

Don’t get me wrong, I love vacationing at Disney! Over the years my family and I have spent a lot of time at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World and we’ve even been Annual Passholders once or twice. I honestly can’t wait to go back. But I also know from personal experience how easy it is to get caught up in the magic and spend too much.

With some careful planning, though, any family can experience the full fun that Disney (or any theme park, really) has to offer without breaking the piggy bank—and without paying 10-15% in interest fees on that credit card. As with any vacation, be realistic and only plan what you can truly afford—but if Disney is your siren song, there are smart ways to save on your trip.

SAVE on Entrance Fees

Disneyland or Disney World may be one of the few places where a ten year old requires an “adult” ticket. Nevertheless, there are still several ways to save.

1. Military Discounts

Members of the US Military can receive discounted rates for themselves or their spouse and up to six family members with Disney World 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets (which include Park Hopper) or Disneyland 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets. This is only valid certain times of year and the military discount might change, so check the Disney World Special Offers page or the Disneyland Offers & Discounts page for current military (and other) promotions.

2. FL & CA Resident Discounts

Off-season periods (less people and shorter lines!) are a huge opportunity for local residents. Florida residents receive great Disney World discounts and Southern California residents can typically find Disneyland discount passes during the off-season as well. These discounts often apply to the Annual Pass as well. (But, while the standard Annual Pass offers NO blackout dates and free parking, your discounted pass may not.) Dates and deals do vary, so be sure to check the website(s) for current offers.

3. Undercover Tourist

Be aware that Disney ticket fraud is common practice, so always be sure you’re buying from a reputable dealer.Undercover Tourist is one of the few reputable discount ticket sites. It offers discountd tickets to SeaWorld, Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort. The site also offers trip-planning help and advice, complete with maps and crowd predictors.

4. Skip the Park Hopper

While it might seem like visiting more than one park a day is the best way to get the most bang for your buck, in reality the opposite is true.  This ticket upgrade allows you to visit multiple parks in one day, but it’s an additional $40 to $60 or more.  That’s a lot!  Trust me, there’s plenty to do in each park without having to jump around between parks in the same day.  At WDW, the theme parks are not all that close together, which means that if you really want to make the most of your time, you won’t want to waste an hour or more in travel time between the parks.  The only exception to this rule: it might be worthwhile at the California Disney parks, as Disneyland and Disney California Adventure Park are literally right next to each other, so if you’re only on a 2-day stint, Hopper can help you can maximize your mouse time.

Speaking of,  be sure you plan which parks you want to see, especially if you’re headed to Disney World, where there are four (BIG) parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. Without the Park Hopper ticket, you can still easily spend a day in each park. Consider the Annual Pass if you visit Disney World more than two or three times a year, depending upon the length of each visit.

SAVE on Lodging

Now that you’re all set to save on park admission, one of the biggest dreaded Disney expenses is lodging.

5. Visit During the Off-Season

Planning your trip around the off-season and during weekdays can really save you a bundle. If the time seems right and the kids can miss a few days of school, you’ll save quite a bit by not going during typical vacation times. If you can’t bear the thought of pulling the kiddos from classes mid-week, there are other options, too.

Disneyland: Best Off-Season Dates

January 15th through March 15th
After Easter through mid-May (skip Spring Break, of course!)
After school starts in September through mid-November (avoid Halloween)

Walt Disney World: Best Off-Season Dates

January through the first week in March (avoid President’s Day/Week)
Late April to early June (skip Memorial Day weekend)
Post-Labor Day through the beginning of Thanksgiving week
The first 2 weeks in December

Highest attendance levels are always around the major holidays, so it’s best to schedule your vacations between holiday breaks. Note that temps can be as low as 45 degrees, even in California, so bring coats and hats when it’s chilly. Always look up current park hours during off-season, as they may be different than the summer schedule.

6. Go Camping!

How does your family feel about camping? These days, renting an RV can give you the comforts of home at a reasonable price. If you enjoy roughing it for a few days, there are several campsites in close proximity to both parks. Ok, in California, it’s more like camping in a parking lot (after all, you are in the city), but it can still be a great adventure the kids will enjoy. Most sites offer showers, close access to fast food, and electricity—so even “roughing it” won’t seem quite so rough.

If you’re Disneyland bound, try Anaheim Harbor RV Park. It boasts clean bathrooms (a necessity, if you ask me!) and it’s only a 15-minute walk to the parks. In Florida, it really doesn’t get better than the campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. Despite the Disney name, campsites are a reasonable $50/night and offer beautiful woodsy scenery and really fantastic amenities, including a fun boat ride right to the Magic Kingdom and a nighttime campfire sing-a-long with Chip and Dale.  One note of caution–the campground is BIG, so either pick a site close to the dock or plan to do a lot of walking!

7. Stay Outside the Park

Even if you can’t stand the thought of camping, staying offsite can help hold the bottom line as well. Hotels outside, but near the park, know they have to attract frugal tourists by offering discounted rates and better deals.

Watching sites like Priceline, Hotels.com or Kayak can help you get the best deals around. Keep in mind, while you might find hotel rooms for $60/night or less, you do get what you pay for. (Read reviews on Yelp and decide what you’re willing to pay for the experience.)

If you really want to get creative and adventurous, try Airbnb. There are some really nice hosting options that are affordable and very close to the parks. Remember, while a good night’s sleep is important, your real vacation activity is during active hours in the park anyway.

8. Rent DVC Points

If you love being part of the Disney Magic and you must stay in the park, try renting DVC Points. DVC Points are perks of membership in the Disney Vacation Club, where Disney’s most affluent regulars pay loads of money to stay at the BEST accommodations for the next 40 to 50 years. Think Disney time-share club. …it’s kind of a big deal.

Often Disney Vacation Club members have extra points that they won’t be able to use within the allotted time-frame. There are several websites where members can “rent out” their points to “renters” like you, often at a discounted rate (currently about $12 per point). And it’s worth it. Renters report saving thousands on top notch accommodations.

Club members don’t waste expired unused points and others get to use them up—it’s win-win. To be honest, the DVC system can be a little involved and somewhat confusing. To get started, read this Renting DVC Points guide.

SAVE on Food

Food at the parks is notoriously expensive…and appealing. I’ve spent $30 in a single family trip to the “snack” bar ($4 pineapple whips and $3 bottled waters anyone?). All I can say is plan, budget and go in with a full stomach.

9. Pack a Lunch & Snacks

First of all, be sure you get a good breakfast before you start. Pack a reasonably-sized cooler with lunch and keep a portable haul of snacks in your purse. (You can bring in outside food.) You can keep your lunches in the park’s lockers for easy access. They’re not free, but definitely worth a few bucks.

Try to pack easy-to-eat (but filling) snacks like nuts, energy bars and whole fruit. Try making the most of your pre-vacation prep by cooking up some of these snack items with the kids. Try these easy-to-prepare DIY Uncrustables or these kid-friendly White Chocolate Rice Crispy Treats for great grab-and-go eats.

Often, in the hot sun, on the pavement and in line, dehydration can hit hard and fast (making those pineapple whips irresistible). There are plenty of bathrooms and drinking fountains, so refilling a water bottle can really help. Keeping your parched family well-hydrated will help avoid a case of the “hangries” as well.

10. Grocery Delivery

Try a grocery delivery service to the hotel and skip the meal plan. Even if you just get some basics (bread, peanut butter, bananas) you will, at the very minimum, save yourself from major breakfast purchases and hold out for lunch.

Most surrounding hotels will offer a list of local grocery delivery services, so just ask for this amenity at the desk, or better yet, before you check in. In California, go for the popular Vons Online Grocery. Your first delivery is free! Just enter code EASY7 at checkout. In Florida, opt for Garden Grocer. The delivery fee is only $2 for orders over $200—a deal for a long family stay.

11. Vacation Package Meal Deals

The Disney Dining Plan is a component of Disney’s Magic Your Way vacation packages. These packages are worth checking out, depending upon when you travel you could save a bundle. They’re also a stress reducer for many people because you can take care of budgeting out everything (flight, hotel, airfare, park tickets, food)—all before you go.

Watch for Free Dining offers that come with these vacation packages. You could get all your food FREE. For example, visitors who booked before 8/8/14 receive Free Dining deals from 8/31/14 to 12/23/14. (Shoot, just missed it!) No worries, the next promotion is sure to run soon.

Be smart about choosing your vacation package benefits. As part of the Magic Your Way package, you may end up with a choice between 25% off your hotel room OR the Free Dining deal. Check which offers save you the most money at the time of purchase.

12. Eat One Big Meal & Make it Count!

Rather than fritter away cash on snacks or use meal points on small items, save up your dollars (and appetite) and go all out for one big meal a day. While most people think dinner is the “big meal,” try going for a big lunch. It can give a great chance to rest and take a little mid-day break, plus you’ll get better deals from ordering big off a lunch menu. As a bonus, there’s plenty of time to burn off extra calories while getting more time in at the park in the afternoon.

SAVE on Memories

Disney can turn once reasonable, budget-conscious parents into spendaholics on things that will be strewn on the playroom floor and forgotten in a few months. 

13. Bring Costumes from Home

Kids love to dress up, especially when they see so many other kids in costume.  Save money by letting them go to the park already dressed up. Halloween costumes or DIY mermaid outfits can be just as cute, creative and fun as anything the park has to offer, and trust me, the costumes at the park, while beautiful, are also priced at a premium.  Your child probably won’t know the difference between the Elsa dress you found at Target and the deluxe version they are selling for upwards of $100.  Your child will feel festive and you won’t be guilted into outfitting your little princess once you’re inside the park.

If you are adamant about having a “real” Disney park costume, try eBay ahead of time.  I once found an authentic deluxe Ariel costume for $20–just a quarter of what they were asking at the park.  Simply search “Authentic Disney Park” + the name of the character you are looking for.

14. Bring Your Own Souvenirs & Get Creative with Autographs

By the same token, bring along your own souvenirs or items. A treasured book or favorite shirt can be a great way to collect autographs from all the characters you meet while walking around the park. Get creative on this one—try a pillowcase, a photo mat, or even your child’s favorite Princess or Pixar Characters storybook–each of the characters can sign on their own page!

Your kids will love collecting the signatures and they’ll go home with a great (free) souvenir. Be sure to take photos! For additional fun, try a photo theme with each character your child meets. Perhaps your little superhero saves the princesses or your family’s animal lover pretends to be each new animal character you meet. (Even if your theme falls apart halfway through your trip, it’ll still be a ton of fun to try.)

Capturing photos, and even keeping a small travel journal with your kids, can prove to be one of the most valuable souvenirs of the whole trip. When you spend time at the end of the day, talk about and write down everyone’s favorite activity. Think of a few prompts—what was the funniest thing that happened? What was the best thing you ate? What was your favorite ride? Who did you like meeting the most?

15. Give Your Kids a Budget

Work with your kids beforehand to set a budget. Children respond surprisingly well to this and I have even seen them get quite into it. (“I would like this item, but I only have $8 left, and I know I’ll want this other thing more, later…”) It’s a great opportunity to teach some valuable life lessons and it will help them value the items that they purchase just a little more.  This works especially well if you have already established a commission system in your home.

SAVE on Everything Else

The most important part of a Disney vacation is that magical feeling, the wonder, innocence and excitement. Avoid the little mishaps that can be expensive and derail your time by packing a few emergency essentials and planning ahead. 

16. Pack an Emergency Kit

Check the weather and bring a rain poncho and don’t forget bandages, wipes, tissues and some Tylenol. Sunscreen is mandatory to avoid red, sticky, tired and pained misery on the way home. Hydrate like it’s going out of style and remember medications, asthma inhalers, and any other health necessities. If possible, slip a small, dry top and pair of knit shorts in your bag, just in case you experience any “wardrobe malfunctions.”

17. Budget Your Time

Another great tip is to plan ahead and budget your time. Realize that you can enjoy the park’s offerings, rides and activities without also bringing home “stuff,” or paying for extras. Talk together about what you really value and remember that the memories of your Disney trip are the most important part.  My favorite book for making the most out of our time and money at Disney is the Unofficial Guide, which has actual action plans you can follow to maximize your time and energy in each park.  It also ranks each attraction and each restaurant, and offers the very latest in insider tips so you can tackle the park like a pro, even if it is your first time.

18. Plan a Free Day

Plan ahead, but don’t overdo it. Give yourself and your family a little wiggle room by adding a free day into your scheduling. Pick a day in the last two thirds of your trip, so you can decide as a family on the most important bits and pieces no one wants to miss. Go exploring a bit and be sure to let the kids have some free play time, too, so YOU can relax and enjoy the moment!  Most of the hotels in the Orlando and Anaheim area are family friendly and have great pools, and if you are staying at an actual Disney property, you will definitely want to have time to enjoy the facilities!

19. Use Swag Bucks

If you’re planning a trip next summer, start earning Swag Bucks now that you can redeem for gift cards to be used for food, entertainment, or even travel.  In a nutshell, Swagbucks is a search engine which rewards you just for searching. You can use it just like you would use Google or Bing, and you will be randomly awarded Swag Bucks for searching, usually around five to 10 Swag Bucks once or twice each day. Your Swag Bucks can then be redeemed for a variety of different free items, such as Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards and much more.  Signing up is super easy. Just fill out the form here.  BEFORE YOU SUBMIT, be sure to click the link that says “I have a sign-up code,” then enter the code LWSL (case sensitive!) to be rewarded with an extra 70 Swag Bucks at sign up!

20. Just Don’t Go

Disneyland and Disney World are best when your kids are just the right ages to really enjoy what the parks have to offer. If your little ones are too tiny, why not wait a few years until they’ll be old enough to cherish the memories?

Create your own family memories to love and remember year after year—wherever you are. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a fantastic family vacation elsewhere. Decide what your priorities are, as a family, now and in the near future. If now isn’t the time for a big family trip, try a staycation or a local campground or just a special day at the zoo instead.

Years from now, when the sunburn has turned to freckles and the tiara has long since been forgotten, togetherness and warm memories are what your family will look back upon as the real magic of your family vacations, whether at Disney or wherever you wander.

*   *   *

How do you save at Disney?

Pin It

The post 20 Smart Ways to Save on a Disney Vacation appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Thrifty Thursday {Week 76}

Happy Thursday!  I hope you are all having a fantastic first week of September!  I don’t know about you but fall is always my favorite time of the year.  There is just something about it that makes me happy!

And speaking of happy, you haven’t already, be SURE to enter the Frigidaire Time Saving Freezer Cooking Sweepstakes!  THREE lucky readers will win a Frigidaire 2-in-1 Convertible Freezer/Refrigerator of your very own, which means this is one sweepstakes that you will seriously NOT want to miss!!  Entering is easy–simply sign up with your email, then submit a link to your own Freezer Cooking Pinterest board.  Check out all the details HERE.

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Family Balance Sheet { Debt Free Stories: That Motivate & Inspire }
2. Snail Pace Transformations { The One Question That Saves Thrifty People the Most Money }

3. Aspired Living { Five $1 Breakfasts }

4. Sarah Titus { How to Live Debt Free in a Debt Filled World }

5. Retired by 40 {5 Things I’m Giving Up to Get Out of Debt}

6. My Mothermode { 5 Ways We Saved This Week }

7. A Life in Balance { How to Start Organizing Your Home }

8. Six Figures Under { Debt Fatigue: Getting Out of a Debt Payoff Funk }
9. Intentionally Pursuing { Frugal Chicken Buying }
10. All in All { 15 Tips to Save Money Painlessly }
 
Never linked up before? Here’s how:

Scroll down, find the little blue “Add your Link” Button and click on that.
Follow the instructions on the next page – add a great image of your project and an interesting title. Make sure you link to the direct page of your budget friendly post – not the main page of your blog!
Try to visit at least a few other blogs at the party. Be sure to leave a comment to let them know you stopped by!
Please link back to this post somehow. There are badges available here; a simple text link is just fine too.

Feel free to tweet about Thrifty Thursday so others can join the fun, and don’t forget to check back here Sunday morning to see which posts have been featured this week at Weekend Wandering!

If this is your first time here I also invite you to check out my blogging guide, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul).  It is a fantastic resource if you are interested in building your blog, getting more traffic, or learning how to monetize, and the expanded 2nd edition is now available in paperback!  Or, if you have read the book and are still looking to take your blog to the next level, I encourage you to check out Elite Blog Academy.

An InLinkz Link-up

Pin It

The post Thrifty Thursday {Week 76} appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Tomato Parmesan Chicken

My family loves Italian-style food, especially Chicken Parmesan.  And while I love making them happy, what I don’t love is the time, effort, and mess involved in making the traditional breaded-then-fried-then-baked version.  Not. Gonna. Happen.  Because, as you probably already know by now, I much prefer simple meals that whip up fast and can be frozen ahead as part of a freezer cooking day.

Luckily this yummy and SUPER easy Tomato Parmesan Chicken gives us the best of both worlds.  It’s the flavor my family loves with the convenience that I crave! And let me tell you, this recipe is a home run.  No one will ever know you didn’t slave for hours!  As always, you can use any type of chicken but my family much prefers the boneless, skinless chicken thighs, which are a darker, juicier meat and also tend to be cheaper than the boneless skinless breasts.

(By the way, in case you missed it last week, right now you can enter to win one of three Frigidaire 2-in-1 Upright Convertible Freezer/Refrigerators in the Time Saving Freezer Recipes Sweepstakes.  Get all the details HERE.)

Here is what you need:

1 jar tomato sauce
2 cans tomatoes, drained
1-1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella, shredded (optional)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
1/3 cup fresh parsley
3-4 lbs skinless, boneless chicken 
 
 

Step 1: Press or mince garlic and chop parsley.

Step 2: Combine tomato sauce, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, seasoning, parsley and garlic.

Step 3: Remember to label bags then divide chicken into bags. Pour sauce over chicken.

Step 4: Thaw if frozen, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese (optional) and bake, covered, at 425 degrees for approx for 25-30 minutes or cook in crock-pot for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.

 

    Print This!    




Recipe: Easy Tomato Parmesan Chicken

Summary: This super flavorful chicken recipe can’t get much easier. Prep time is 5 minutes and it cooks in the oven in just 30 minutes!

Ingredients

1 jar tomato sauce
2 cans tomatoes, drained
1 1/2 cups Parmesan cheese
1 cup mozzarella, shredded (optional)
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4 cloves of garlic, pressed or minced
1/3 cup fresh parsley
3-4 lbs chicken



Instructions

Press or mince garlic and chop parsley.
Combine tomato sauce, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, seasoning, parsley and garlic.
Remember to label bags then divide chicken into bags. Pour sauce over chicken.
Thaw if frozen, sprinkle with shredded mozzarella cheese (optional) and bake covered at 425 degrees for approx for 25-30 minutes or cook in crock-pot for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes in oven or in crock pot for 4-6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on high.

Number of servings (yield): 8

 

This post was written on behalf of Frigidaire®. All opinions are mine.  Frigidaire® has been designed to help families make the most of their time and space with high-performing, easy-to-use appliances with time-saving features. Their 2-in-1 Upright Freezer or Refrigerator offers simple organization and better storage with the flip of a switch. For a chance to win one of your very own, enter the Time Saving Freezer Recipes Sweepstakes.

Pin It

The post Tomato Parmesan Chicken appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.