Ruth Soukup's Blog, page 79

Quick & Easy 7-Layer Salad

 

I’ve always wanted to learn how to make a 7-layer salad.  I remember going to potlucks & church picnics as a kid and always being SO impressed with the pretty layered salads that my own microwave-loving family would never even consider tackling.  I guess that’s why I never dared attempt it until now.

Well.  Can I just say that I am kicking myself for not trying this sooner?

Not only was this quick & easy 7-layer salad just as delicious as the ones I remembered from my childhood, it was a snap to throw together!  It seriously took no more than 15 minutes from start to finish, and that included making the dressing and chopping the vegetables.  I think I’m hooked!

Here is what you need:

1 head iceberg lettuce
1/2 red onion
2 tomatoes
1 10 oz bag frozen peas, thawed
1 small bag matchstick carrots
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
3-4 hard boiled eggs
1/2 lb cooked bacon, chopped (optional)
salt & pepper
 
 Dressing
1 Hidden Valley Garden Green Onion packet
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
 

Step 1: Make dressing; whisk together Green Onion dip packet with sour cream, mayonnaise, and milk until blended.  Set aside.

Step 2:  Chop lettuce, tomatoes, & onion.

Step 3: Peel eggs & slice with egg slicer.

Step 4: Layer vegetables in large clear bowl (Depending on the size of your bowls, you might have to use 2).  It’s best to start with the lettuce on the bottom, but the rest of the order doesn’t matter that much.  I did lettuce, then carrots, then peas, then onion, then tomatoes, then a little more lettuce.

Step 5: Add a layer of dressing.

Step 6:  Add a layer of cheese.

Step 7: Add sliced eggs & bacon; sprinkle with salt & pepper

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Recipe: Quick & Easy 7-Layer Salad

Summary: This salad is super easy and fancy looking enough to serve at a party!

Ingredients

1 head iceberg lettuce
1/2 red onion
2 tomatoes
1 10 oz bag frozen peas, thawed
1 small bag matchstick carrots
1/2 lb cooked bacon, chopped
3 hard boiled eggs
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
salt & pepper
Dressing
1 Hidden Valley Garden Green Onion packet
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup milk or buttermilk



Instructions

Make dressing; whisk together Green Onion dip packet with sour cream, mayonnaise, and milk until blended. Set aside.
Chop lettuce, tomatoes, & onion.
Peel eggs & slice with egg slicer.
Layer vegetables in large clear bowl (Depending on the size of your bowls, you might have to use 2). It’s best to start with the lettuce on the bottom, but the rest of the order doesn’t matter that much. I did lettuce, then carrots, then peas, then onion, then tomatoes.
Add a layer of dressing.
Add a layer of cheese.
Add sliced eggs & bacon; sprinkle with salt & pepper.

Preparation time: 10-15 minutes

Number of servings (yield): 16

 

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25 Awesome Tools for Getting Organized

Let’s face of it–most of us, when it comes right down to it, wish we could be more organized.  As hard as we try to shuffle our things around, to put them in the right containers, with the right labels, to figure out the best solutions for limited storage spaces, it seems like much of the time we just aren’t making much headway.

We’ve discovered that there must be more to getting organized than to simply rearrange our closets, but what are we missing?

What’s the secret?

A few years ago I read a book called The Organizing Sourcebook: Nine Strategies for Simplifying Your Life by Kathy Waddill that totally transformed the way I started organizing my stuff.  I can’t recommend it highly enough!  In it, Waddill shares 9 strategies for getting–and staying organized.  They are:

Make your systems fit you and your life.
Sort everything by how you use it.
Weed constantly.
Use the right containers and tools.
Label everything.
Keep it simple.
Decide to decide.
Get help when you need it.
Evaluate honestly and often.

The beautiful thing is that these guidelines can be applied to almost every area of your life that needs organizing, including digital data and information, which is often one of the hardest things to keep organized!

Of course learning to utilize strategy number 4–use the right containers and tools–means knowing exactly what tools are useful (as well as which ones you don’t need.)   It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the options, but apply the simplicity principal here and choose one or two tools to embrace and use fully.

Finances

Nothing can make our lives feel out-of-control faster than having our finances in a disarray.  While taking the time to set a budget (and stick to it) might seem scary, it doesn’t have to be!  There are some great tools out there for getting your financial life in order.

You Need a Budget (YNAB)-You Need a Budget is by far LWSL readers’ most highly recommended budgeting program.  It is a comprehensive software that allows you to sync all your devices, helps you set a realistic budget, and also allows you to monitor your progress in real time, instantly, every time you make a purchase.


Mint–Mint is another secure app that helps you manage your spending and your money. You can categorize your spending, synch your accounts and view everything in one place. You can also pick a budget, set your goals and view your progress from your desktop or smartphone.

Kids Stuff

As every parent knows, kids just seem to come standard with a massive amount of STUFF!  And even if you end up getting rid of all your toys, it never really goes away forever–between birthday, holidays, & who knows what else, the stuff keeps trickling in!

Front-Facing Book Shelf -Standard bookshelves are really difficult for kids to manage, and often end up becoming a jumbled mess.  Solve the problem with a simple, front facing book storage system that allows kids to easily find what they are looking for.  (Available in both primary or pastel.)


A Simple Lidded Toybox–while a wall full of neatly labeled bins might seem more organized in theory, the truth is that most kids won’t keep them neat or organized in practice.   A simpler solution is to use a single lidded toy box that kids can throw everything back into when playtime is over.  And if the toys don’t all fit?  Either rotate them out or get rid of the ones your child no longer plays with.


Wall Locker -An easy place to store coats, shoes, & backpacks is an often forgotten–but critical–component to keeping kids stuff neat and organized.  A simple wall locker like this one gives kids the perfect place to stash their gear.  (Got a big family?  It also comes with five cubbies )

Calendars

While most of my life is digital, I am still a big fan of using a paper planner.  I think there is something that clicks in my brain when I actually take the time to write things down.  Whatever works best for you (which you will use frequently) fits the bill. If you love a wall calendar and can fit birthdays on there or if you have a pretty routine schedule, by all means keep your wall calendar up. If you like a purse-sized calendar or a Day-Timer—just stick with that. Some of us like Google Calendar, Outlook or other simple programs that work with email. Having a calendar is a vital part of being organized and a calendar is quite possibly your most important tool. Find what works and use it!

DayViewer -DayViewer is an online calendar that includes contact management and an online journal. You can share your calendar with family and friends or keep it private. Similar to Outlook or Google Calendar, the advantage of DayViewer is that it’s not tied to a larger program, so it works for those that have privacy concerns.

Coolendar -This calendar program gives you your day view in a list format, which some of us prefer. You can use custom tags to share plans and it syncs with friends via Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites. You can also set up multiple reminders through various applications, including email and Twitter, to help you better keep track of tasks.


SpotOn.it  SpotOn.it is an interactive calendar you can use for event planning for small business, seminars, fundraisers and ticketed events. You can use it to imbed calendar entries on your own website or as a tool to help you keep track of events you’d like to attend. The app will search sites that you visit for events and quickly add them to your Google calendar. You can also use it to remember community events, scheduled games, sports and other happenings going on in your area.

Home

One thing I DON’T recommend when it comes to getting your home organized is to continue buying more bins to fit all your stuff, especially when the real problem is usually too much stuff, and not that you don’t have enough bins.  That said, there are few tools I have found to be invaluable in getting my home in order.

Label Maker. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of labeling EVERYTHING!  The key to getting–and staying–organized is having a home for everything, and then letting everyone in your home know where that home is!  Labels make it crystal clear.


Triple Laundry Sorter . Presorted laundry makes the task just that much quicker!  My engineer husband was worried that it would fall apart, but we’ve used this heavy duty triple laundry sorter for more than four years now, and it is still as sturdy as the day we put it together–even he is now a fan!  We labeled the bags with printable iron-on labels that say “whites, lights, & darks,” which means there is no excuse for putting clothes into the wrong basket!


OXO Pop Top Storage Containers -I’ve had so many people ask about these OXO storage containers over the years that I actually included the info on my FAQ page!  While they are definitely an investment, I honestly can’t say enough good things about these containers.  Not only are they airtight and BPA-free, they come in a ton of different sizes that all stack together perfectly.  I originally bought mine in 2007 and I have not had a single one break or crack so far.

Garage

Is there any space in our lives more in need of organization than the garage?  Ours has been a work in progress for years, but after a big push this spring, we were finally able to park our car in there for the first time since 2004!  Woot!

Closet Maid Heavy Duty Wire Shelving. We recently installed this along one wall of our garage and were incredibly impressed, not just with the ease of installation, but in the quality of the materials (which are made in the USA!)  These shelves use a track system which allows you to change the configuration as needed–definitely a nice feature!


Heavy Duty Bin Storage .  If your husband is anything like mine, he has an endless number of small tools and garage-type items that need some sort of easy storage solution.  We have found that heavy duty bins similar to these are simple enough that he will actually use them, and neat enough to not drive me crazy.

File Sharing and Storage

There are several “cloud” sharing programs that store information and help you send it from computer to smartphone to tablet and back. Many of these storage plans offer free storage and then additional more robust storage for a fee.

Dropbox. Dropbox is very user-friendly and saves you from emailing yourself files. You can use it to back up important files, and you can also store and send photos, documents and videos to anyone with a Dropbox account. (This is great for files too large to email.)


Google Drive.  As part of the Google line of services, Drive syncs files with all your Google programs: Gmail, Picasa, Blogger, etc. Formerly Google Docs, Drive files can be easily read and modified and it’s compatible with most file formats.

To-Do Lists

I’m a list maker and I love referring to lists for lots of things. It’s just a great way to visualize data and categorize everything. You can number items and cross them off as you go, assign dates and timeframes, and even color code like items. Some of us use paper lists and some prefer electronic lists. Whatever you use, keeping your lists in one place is key. (Nothing like realizing you left your grocery list in the car or you left your weekend to-do list at the office!)

Google Tasks -A component of Gmail, Google Tasks is a simple, great, easy “to do list” program. It can be viewed right from your email or from your calendar—and you can use it from your smartphone as well. Tasks are easily customized with a timeframe, assigned a reminder or due date and crossed off when completed. This is an easy option to adapt to if you’re a big fan of your paper lists!


Notebooks -Notebooks synchronizes with Dropbox, so you can turn any note into a to-do list. It’s a very simple app, but you can create memos, jot down items and use it just like you would use your trusty Moleskine.


Wunderlist -Wunderlist lets you share lists, work together with your spouse on planning, add items from texts, comments and emails to your to-do list, and manage all of your lists in one place. If you’re a list person, this is the program for you! Use it to plan out blog posts, for housekeeping, for bills, or even for journal prompts. (Keep your daily gratitude list right in your phone!)


Todoist – Todoist has a beautiful design and a heavy following. Users like the ability to share tasks with family and friends, plus the usability, simplicity and the ability to use it on a myriad of platforms. They also have a cool Karma feature that helps you visualize your productivity with graphs and view trends over a period of time. You can add labels and filters to tasks, which can help you organize workflow.

Reminders

Sometimes you just need a simple ol’ reminder—literally, a sticker or sticky note to help you keep track of things. Post-its are the old standby of course and they’re an easy way to give yourself or your loved ones a little reminder. Unfortunately, sticky notes can get lost and fall off. They can also become so numerous that they get overlooked.

Stickies . There are a plethora of sticky-note programs that let you add notes to your desktop, tablet or screen with one click. Just like a traditional sticky note these are great little reminders, especially for all those quicky small tasks. The great thing about e-stickies is that you can set alarms or other pop-up reminders so they don’t become such a part of the landscape that they’re overlooked.


Squareleaf .  Squareleaf takes sticky notes to the next level by letting you arrange all your notes in a “virtual whiteboard” format. For those of us super-visual people who like to move things around, this program is a lot of fun and a great planning tool. It’s also helpful for fluid planning—you know, when you have to change things around a bunch as a project progresses? This is a super-fun option when you need a lot of flexibility. (Imagine being able to move sticky notes around on a big board or calendar. Neat!)

Project Management

For those who blog, run a home business, or need a tool to manage project collaboration of any sort, using a simple project management product can help you keep track of who’s doing what and how progress is coming along. Many of these are a bit “robust” for general home needs, but can be simplified for everyday use. (That school bake sale won’t know what hit it!)

Asana . Asana is a collaborative product where users can share tasks and work together on projects. It gives you a constant overview of each step and where everyone is in terms of productivity. You can exchange files, synch with your calendar and emails, and plan tasks together as a team.


Evernote . Evernote is a great way to exchange files and notes on a project. You can take your notes offline and it’s strong enough to handle images and larger files. You can “clip” web articles and keep digital snapshots of items to refer back to. It’s great for people who like to plan out projects or “storyboard” activities before diving in.

Everything Else

There are so many great tools out there that can be used for couponing, grocery lists, home organization, childcare and more. I could go on for days, but it’s best to start with just a few great apps and go from there.

Dragon Dictation.  This little dictation program comes as software or as an app. For those of us who don’t LOVE typing things out (or who worry about carpel tunnel problems when we’re on the computer all day), this dictation app is a lifesaver. Simply speak and Dragon types out your words. You can use it for notes, texts, blog posts—any and everything you would normally type out. Hands-free and easy.


Feedly Feeling a little overwhelmed by the Internet? Wondering how to keep track of news articles, blog posts and websites, plus stay up on the latest trends? Feedly is an RSS feed manager that lets you read articles and posts—but you view it all in clips, just like reading your morning newspaper headlines. You can quickly get an overview and read the articles most interesting and applicable to you, so you can be sure you aren’t missing a thing.

Just as in organizing your house, you wouldn’t use a box that was too small, broken, or didn’t fit your needs. When you choose tools to organize your home or your data, use the same strategy. Only use them if they work for you. Success is based on finding what works for you and actually using it.

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What are your favorite tools for getting (and staying) organized?

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5th Annual LWSL Reader Survey

Once a year we host an annual survey to give our readers an opportunity to let us know exactly what you like, what you don’t like, and what you’d like to see more of here at Living Well Spending Less.  Your feedback is super important to us, and we use it to help improve this site and to make sure we are meeting your needs!

Would you mind taking a few minutes to answer the following questions?

Thank you so much!

Create your own user feedback survey

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Weekend Wandering

Happy Weekend! Can you believe Monday will already be June 1st? Where has this year gone?  In case you missed our announcement on Thursday, starting next week, we will be taking an extended break from both Thrifty Thursday & Weekend Wandering.  I hope you all have a WONDERFUL summer!  If you are interested in guest posting here at LWSL, please email us at admin@livingwellspendingless.com for our guest post guidelines!

And now, without further ado, here is what I loved this week:

First of all, these Homemade Blueberry Muffins from Dish About It sound so good!  We still have a ton of blueberries in our freezer from when we went blueberry picking a few weeks ago!

 This Banana Bread French Toast with Cream Cheese Frosting from Foodie and Wine sounds SO amazing!  YUM!

This Southwest Chicken Salad from Crafty Allie looks like the perfect summertime meal!

This Sausage and Steamed Veggies with Pineapple Sriracha Sauce from Almost Supermom sounds really yummy too.  I just love a good sweet & spicy combo!

And speaking of sweet & spicy, these Sweet N’ Spicy Drunken Ribs from Thinking Outside the Sandbox sound like a recipe my husband would go crazy for!

Mirlandra’s Kitchen shares her Best Burger Recipe and Burger Tips just in time for grilling season!

Onto the sweet treats…these Honey Lemon Cupcakes from Home Made Interest look so pretty and delicious!

These Campfire S’mores in a Cone from Simplee Thrifty are such a clever and neat way to eat your s’mores!

 Mmm…these S’mores Cupcakes from Annie’s Noms also look incredible!

All in All shared her recipe for homemade Cream Puffs with Raspberry Filling. YUM!

 Onto some super cute projects…..these Summer Mason Jar Luminaries from A Little Claireification are a decorative way to keep the bugs at bay!

 This End of the School Year Free Printable for Teachers from Easy Green Mom is such a great way to say thanks!

Father’s Day will be here before we know it! These fill in the blank My Dad Printables from Morning Motivated Mom are such a sweet idea!

Summer can be a busy and expensive time of year for a family. Overstuffed’s Summer Snack Solutions for Kids will keep the kiddos satisfied and help you stick to your budget.

 Sarah Titus spills the beans on How to Get Kids Clothes Free. This is a great resource to keep on hand!

These 5 Painless Ways to Save Money from The Budget Mama can help you pay off debt or build up your nest egg!

These tips from My Stay at Home Adventures to Help Save Money When Money is the Last Thing on Your Mind.  Tip #4 has saved me a bunch!

 Finally, The Orthodox Mom shares One Simple Secret to Getting More Done.  I love lists like this!

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

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How to Keep Your Summer Spending in Check

Today I am happy to welcome back my friend Cherie Lowe from the Queen of Free, who has graciously joined us here at LWSL as a regular monthly contributor.  Cherie is the author of the amazing book, Slaying the Debt Dragon, which she wrote after paying off more than $127,000 in debt!  I am so excited to have her bringing her wealth of knowledge & experience on this subject to LWSL–please join me in making her feel right at home!

*   *   *

I remember it like yesterday. The summer sun was shining bright and I had just stepped inside to cool off midway through mowing our lawn. Sticky and flecked with grass, I poured a tall glass of ice-cold water immediately guzzling it down. I feel to the floor and popped open my laptop to see what everyone else had been doing while I sweated my way row by row through the front yard.

Mistake #1.

Everyone else was having all of the fun on Facebook. They were on vacation, getting ready to do go out for a fancy dinner dressed in a brand new dress, riding roller coasters with their kids, headed to the newest summer blockbuster, throwing a party for their friends and family, blessing their kids with fun family activities . . . on and on the feed continued with picture after picture of happy face after happy face, all doing something awesome. My face was neither happy nor awesome.

Instantly, I threw a pity party for my present state. Wearing a stained t-shirt and stretched out running shorts, I felt miserable. In the pursuit of paying off $127K in debt, I was exhausted. Yes the hot summer sun depleted my energy, but the long days had sapped my soul, too.

Mistake #2.

Thoughts of the good ‘ole summertime conjure up days filled with lemonade, sunshine, family time, parades, and weekend adventures. But with the cookouts, amusement parks, camp fees, higher energy costs, and extra money needed to care for your lawn, summertime can put a damper on your finances especially if you’re in the process of paying off debt. I don’t mean to be alarmist but you need to make a plan NOW to combat the fatigue and unique challenges summertime presents to your financial pursuits.

Here are a few ideas that might help keep you focused on paying off debt during the budget-tempting summer months:

Stop Being So Social (Media)

Perhaps you’re like me. Trolling Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and sometimes even Pinterest can stir up feelings of malcontent. Summer might be the perfect time to eliminate or simply clean up your social media feeds. For some, the simple solution of removing apps from a phone might provide relief. For others, hiding particular people or sites could eschew the digital green-eyed monster of envy. Hit the unsubscribe button on e-mails that cause you to routinely overspend. Scale back the hours you spend trolling Facebook. You don’t have to cancel your accounts but be smart and don’t make my mistake of looking longingly into the lives of others.

Find Free Fun

While summer presents unique expenses, it also provides plenty of activities that don’t cost a dime. The weather in most places is more temperate and provides longer hours of daylight. Head to your local library to see what sorts of summer reading programs are provided (after all, you’ll need to fill all of the hours you won’t be on social media). Remember, reading a great book (I would suggest this one and this one) can refocus your eyes on your journey to pay off debt. Look into movie theaters’ special summer offerings for kids. Check out the community center’s calendar for free concerts and festivals. Look on the nearest metropolitan destination’s convention and visitor’s site for free activities. Create a bucket list of parks to visit in your town or city and hit one or two each week. Your resources might be limited but the fun doesn’t have to be.

Return to Simpler Times

Pause. Take in a deep breath. Reflect on the summers of your childhood. Where did you go? What did you do? Were you on the swing set for hours on end? Did you capture lightening bugs in a jar during the twilight hours? Did you run through the sprinkler, play at the park, or sit in your grandmother’s lap as she read your favorite bedtime store? Maybe it’s time to harken back to the experiences that truly make summer magical. Instead of being whisked away into the hurry and scurry of summertime fun, be intentional about creating moments that last a lifetime but cost very little. Above all else, when it comes to your children, spend time and not money. You can always make more money. You can never recapture missed days and moments.

Plan a Small Splurge

In my book, it is OK to take a small break from the pursuit of paying off debt to celebrate a milestone. After paying off a specific bill or percentage of your debt, plan to splurge a little. Whether a nice dinner out or a weekend away, or even a Staycation, save up the cash to bankroll your reward. A small splurge from time to time can prevent you from going overboard after long periods of deprivation. Take heed that your splurge doesn’t turn into a spending spree, though. Set a budget and use cash (instead of plastic) to prevent overspending.

Realize You Only See Half of the Story

Remember my pity party that cropped up from my jealousy of others’ photos? In my shortsightedness, I failed to take into the bigger picture. Social media presents a slick one-sided telling of a story. While it may appear that others are happier, wealthier, closer with their spouse, kinder to their children . . . you fill in the “er” blank, that might not necessarily be true. We all have struggles and somehow we typically present the shiniest parts of existence for the world to see – whether that’s on social media or out and about in public. It could be that you really don’t want the fancy dinner out, expensive vacation, or even the trip to the movie theater if it comes at the cost of your marriage, finances, or faith. Contemplate the full story before mistakenly thinking you’re missing out. And realize that your current position of paying off debt is literally a season of your life. It won’t last forever. There will be summers to come when you can choose costly summertime fun. However, you just may discover that you prefer the simple pleasures more.

Stay focused this summer. Even when it’s difficult, resist the urge to quit. Put your best financial foot forward and focus on what you have instead of what you lack. By the time the autumn leaves fly, you’ll have plenty of fantastic memories and greater success with your money.

 

Cherie Lowe is an author, speaker and hope bringer. Her book Slaying the Debt Dragon details her family’s quest to eliminate over $127K in debt in just under four years. As her alter ego the Queen of Free, Cherie provides offbeat money saving tips and debt slaying inspiration on a daily basis.

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Thrifty Thursday {Week 111}

Happy Thursday! As I mentioned last week, this will be our last Thrifty Thursday before summer break! If you are interested in guest posting here at LWSL, please send us an email at admin@livingwellspendingless.com to get a copy of our guest post guidelines!   Happy summer!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Taylor Made Ranch { Closing the Loop in Charitable Giving }
2. Always Learning { Owning Less is Great; Wanting Less is Better }

3. My Stay at Home Adventures { How to Save Money When Living Paycheck to Paycheck }

4. Outside the Box Mom {How You Can Easily Save Money on Fashionable Clothes}

5. Sarah Titus {Organizing Principles Everyone Needs to Know}

6. My Mothermode {How We Have a Paid for Home}
7. The Green Homemaker {The #1 Thing That Saved Me Money in 2014}
8. A Cultivated Nest {When Your Budget Just Isn’t Working}
9. Frugal Debt Free Life {How We Lowered Our Bills and You Can Too!}
10. Frugally Blonde {20 Snack Ideas Under$.25 Each}
 
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!

An InLinkz Link-up

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10 Freezer Meals in One Hour: Part 6

Here at Living Well Spending Less we are 100% committed to bringing you 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 (and avoid eating out when we can!)

Over the past year we have shared five different 10 Meals in One Hour plans, which have each included 5 great freezer recipes that can be prepared together in about sixty minutes. (You can find the previous plans here: Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3 , Part 4 and Part 5 )  They have been a huge hit, not only with our own families, but with many of your families as well, and we’ve absolutely loved hearing how much you all are enjoying these tasty recipes!

Today I am super excited to share with you a new series of internationally inspired recipes–we’re calling it “Global Flavors.”  And believe me when I tell you it is our yummiest–and easiest–plan yet!

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
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:

Easy Thai Chicken
Easy Pesto Chicken
Grilled Steak Tacos
Easy Greek Chicken
Easy Freezer Bacon & Blue Cheese Burgers

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
 

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Produce
2 sweet onions
2 bunches green onions
5 limes
2 lemons
2 packages shredded lettuce (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
2 avocado(optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 bunch fresh rosemary
12 cloves garlic
2 plum tomatoes ( optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
1 beefsteak tomato (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
1 head lettuce (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
 
Pantry Staples
Olive oil
Worcestershire sauce
Ketchup (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
Mayonnaise (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
Rice (optional; only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
Black pepper
Salt
McCormick Grill Mates Montreal steak seasoning
chili powder
Red Pepper Flakes (optional)
ginger(freeze dried or fresh)
apple cider vinegar
 
Canned/Dry Goods
1 13.5oz can coconut milk
1 bottle fish sauce (found in Asian food section)
1 bottle Sriracha
1 can cola
1 16oz jar chunky salsa (only needed for cooking day, not for prep)
2  8oz jars pesto
 
Bread
hamburger buns (cooking day only)
taco shells (cooking day only)
 
Dairy
1 package shredded mozzarella cheese (optional,cooking day only)
5oz blue cheese crumbles
1 package shredded cheddar cheese (optional, cooking day only)
 
Meat
6-8 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2-3 pounds lean ground beef sirloin
1 pound bacon
2 3-4 pounds skirt steak 
 
 

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:

Easy Thai Chicken
Easy Pesto Chicken
Grilled Steak Tacos
Easy Greek Chicken
Easy Freezer Bacon & Blue Cheese Burgers

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!
Cook bacon and set aside
Chop onion and set aside
Chop green onion and set aside
Juice lemons and set aside
Juice limes and set aside.
Chop rosemary and set aside.
Peel and mince garlic and set aside
Prep raw chicken

PREPARE

Prep Easy Thai Chicken using instructions found here .  Divide mixture into 2 freezer bags, press out excess air, and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Easy Pesto Chicken using instructions found here . Divide mixture into 2 freezer bags, press out excess air, and seal well.  Place bags in refrigerator.
Prep Grilled Steak Tacos 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 Greek Chicken 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 Easy Freezer Bacon & Blue Cheese Burgers 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.
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?

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The post 10 Freezer Meals in One Hour: Part 6 appeared first on Living Well Spending Less®.

Weekend Wandering

Happy Weekend!  My youngest daughter turns 6 on Monday which has me in a bit of shock–can my baby really be that old already?  Happily for us, she is good with having a low-key day–her only requests were to play with Legos and have a cake that she can stick her whole face into.  I think I can handle that!  What are your plans for the holiday weekend?

Here is what I loved this week:

First of all, this recipe for the Best Ever Homemade Pizza dough from The Orthodox Mama sounds really good!  Pizza on the grill in the summer is my favorite!

This Crab Roll Slider Recipe from Cooking in Bliss sounds like the perfect summertime meal!

This Rainbow Salad in a Jar from What Mommy Does is almost too pretty to eat!

This Roasted Portobella Mushroom Sandwich from To Simply Inspire sounds like the perfect alternative to burgers!

These Banana Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting from This Silly Girl’s Life sound absolutely amazing!  We’ve got a ton of bananas in the freezer from our banana tree (that’s Florida life for you!) so I am always looking for ways to use them!

This Key Lime Pie Dip from Life With the Crust Cut Off  requires only 2 ingredients! That is my kind of recipe!

These Red White & Blue Jell-O Cups from Raining Hot Coupons would be fun to make!

Mmm…this Strawberries and Cream Shake from Simplee Thrifty sounds so delicious!

Savvy Saving Couple shared their recipe for Delicious Starbucks Coffee Bean Chocolate Bark. Coffee & chocolate? Yes please!!

Onto some super cute projects…..This DIY Wooden Doormat from H2O Bungalow is pretty and functional!

This Pottery Barn Flag Hack from The Honeycomb Home would be perfect for both Memorial Day and the Fourth of July!

Living Chic on the Cheap shares her tips to making your own “I Spy” Bottles. I love this idea!

This free Printable Vacation Packing List from Freebie Finding Mom is a must have if your planning a family vacation this summer!

These Budgeting Basics from Loving Littles can help you start a budget and keep to it!

Feeling overwhelmed by debt? A Mitten Full of Savings shares 4 Ways We Conquered Debt! Number 3 is key!

Finally, My Stay at Home Adventures shares Last Minute Frugal Ideas for Memorial Day Weekend!

*   *   *

What did you love this week?

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15 Smart Ways to Earn Money at Home

If you would have asked me ten years ago whether I believed I could earn a full time income–one that would allow my husband to become a stay-at-home dad–I would have probably laughed you right out of the room.  Even just five years ago, after I started writing LWSL, when I told my husband I wanted to make enough money from blogging that he would be able quit his job, he did laugh me right out of the room.

It sounded crazy.  In fact, sometimes it still sounds crazy.

Not a day goes by that I don’t realize what an amazing privilege it is to be able to work at a job I absolutely love, one I am totally passionate about, and wholly devoted to, one that that gives me flexibility and freedom and one that changes every day.  I feel so fortunate to live in a world where opportunities to support our families and make a living are literally right in front of us—right in our own home.

And while my own business is based on blogging, starting a blog is only one way to earn money from home! There are an almost infinite number of legitimate opportunities available for starting a home-based business, whether you are looking or a career change, want to supplement your current budget, or want to save for a specific purpose, such as building an emergency fund.

Keep in mind that making a living from home is NOT easy. It requires self-motivation, organization and lots of focus.  It also requires plenty of drive and the ability to keep going, even when you feel like quitting, or when others question why you are spending so much time on something that might not work.

Before you begin, assess your talents, your network and your organizational skills—it’s the best way to figure out what money-making at-home activities will work best for you.  You may even want to consider taking a personality test for additional insight into your strengths and weaknesses.  You will also need to take into account how much time you have available, how much money you are willing to invest into a business, and how much risk you are willing to take.  After all, with greater risk comes greater reward, but also a bigger chance for disaster.

1. Start a Blog

You knew I had to start here, right?  Given that it is how I support my own family, I am a huge proponent of blogging.  Not only is it fun and interesting, it is always changing–I am never bored!  That said, it is by no means easy money.  It takes a lot of work, strategy and effort to get a blog up and running, and sometimes it can take years before you see the results of that hard work. Still, if you have a flair for writing and a plan in place for how to grow your audience, the rewards are fantastic.

For some practical tips on how to get started blogging in just five easy steps, check out this post.  You may also want to check out my book, How to Blog for Profit (Without Selling Your Soul) for honest advice on what it takes to make money blogging.

2. Become a Virtual Assistant

If you have good verbal and technical skills, are extremely organized, and understand the responsibilities of blogging or running your own business, there are plenty of business owners who could use your help!  A virtual assistant helps other business owners stay organized, answer emails, manage their schedule, book travel, proofread documents, and perform any other number of tasks that can be done from home.

Lisa Morosky’s book, The Bootstrap VA, is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to get started.  You can also consider applying to work with a professional Virtual Assistant company, such as eahelp.com, or setting up your own freelance profile and applying to jobs on elance.com.

3. Sell Products from Home

While multi-level-marketing (MLM) companies sometimes get a bad rap, they can actually be a great way to earn additional income from home, as well as an excuse to connect with other people, and even a chance to earn trips and other rewards.  MLM opportunities run the gamut of interests from nails (Jamberry) to cooking tools  (Pampered Chef) to scented oil warmers (Scentsy) to purses (31 Bags).

I am personally a huge fan of Young Living Essential Oils, and they have been a great source of supplemental income for my family.  (You can read more about how I got started with essential oils HERE.)

If you’re very organized, enjoy connecting with other people, and have a strong network of interested friends and family members, multi-level marketing might be right for you. However, there can be some serious drawbacks. If you are considering getting involved with a MLM, definitely do your research to make sure the company is reputable, has been around for at least five years, and doesn’t have any minimum sales requirements.

4. Start an Etsy Shop

Are you crafty or an expert garage saler?  Do you have an eye for graphic design?  Ever heard, “you should sell these” after giving a handmade gift? You may want to consider setting up an Etsy shop.

The most successful Etsy shop owners treat their business like a real storefront. Present your products in a loving and beautiful way and use great photography to showcase your handiwork. To determine the cost of your products, first be sure you’re offering value to the buyer (and that you’re making a profit). Don’t forget to consider shipping and other fees.

To be successful on Etsy, offer a truly unique product—yes, that something special. While everyday beaded earrings can be lovely, your handcrafted jewelry should fit a unique niche and be crafted with an idea in mind that’s original to you. Look at your shop as a buyer would, and make sure you use descriptors and language that accurately portrays the product.

5. Sell Your Stuff on eBay

Running a full eBay store takes time and energy—and it can be tough to get started. However, if you want to make money selling your collector items, handbags, unique small antiques or other sellables, eBay can be a great resource!

First, gather the items you’re hoping to unload. Next, determine if eBay is the right place to sell those particular items. If you’ve bought and sold on eBay before, you should have a rating—and (assuming it’s good) that will help you immensely. Try to focus on small, easy-to-ship and collectable items.

There are many sellers out there who’ve made a business reselling thrift store finds online. This kind of buying and selling takes a lot of time and dedication, but if you have an excellent eye for value and a love for thrifting, it can be a very lucrative business. (But expect a lot of trips to the post office and a lot of time spent researching.)

6. Rent It Out!

Rent Out Your Home

Visiting the relatives? Family vacation? Why not make some extra money when you’re away from home?  If your house is already kid-proof and kid-friendly due to your own little ones, try Kid & Coe. It’s just like Airbnb.com (another well-known home rental site), except all residences are for families traveling with children. You set your rates and you pick your guests. Depending upon where you live, you can make a pretty penny renting out your house for a few days or a few weeks.

Rent Out Your Car or Boat

If you have an extra, idle car that spends a lot of time taking up space, why not put it to use? List your car for rent on RelayRides. Set your own availability, then qualified renters work on your schedule, so you don’t have to worry. In certain markets, if you’re not using your car at all (or perhaps you or your spouse are traveling for the week), you can simply park your car at the airport for guaranteed money just for parking your car.

Getaround is another option for renting out your extra car. Backed by a million dollar insurance policy and safe-driver screenings, Getaround could be your ticket to making an extra few thousand dollars a year. You can even set your own rental rates. (Though I recommend first comparing rates in your area to determine your best, competitive car rental price.)

Have a boat? Unless you’re living on it, you probably don’t use it all that often. Great news: put that idle time to work for you and rent it out with Boatbound. This service pre-screens all boat renters for you, but you can view each renter’s profile and chat with each applicant to determine if they’re a good fit. You always have the final say on who can rent out your boat.

Rent Out Your Shed/Garage/Attic Space

If you’re going for a clutter-free life, this option isn’t for you. But if you have an extra bedroom, or extra attic, garage or shed space, try renting it out. This could be as simple as posting an ad on Craigslist. There’s a ‘parking/storage’ category for every major city, so you can easily research what space is going for in your area.

This option also allows you to create a reliable passive income stream. Regular, monthly cash with minimal work? Sounds good to me!

7. Provide Child Care

Becoming a certified daycare provider requires a lot of documentation and regulation, plus, it’s a huge responsibility. Federal law requires that each state has guidelines in place for certified home child care providers, so be aware that each state’s licensing requirements are different. To learn about child care in your state, start by looking it up on this NACCRRA map. You can also learn more about licensing here.

That said, you don’t usually need a license if you care for children related to you or for children from only one other family. (But again, check guidelines in your state.) To run a preschool or nursery school from home, you’ll need to have both state certification and an early childcare license.

If you have children at home already or if you stay at home all day, watching kids can be a great source of extra cash. You can also start child care sharing with other moms who may want to trade off days (saving YOU money on child care, too). You can list your child care services on Care.com to be more easily found by moms in your area.

8. Walk or “Babysit” Furry Friends

If you have your own dog or if you’re looking to get some extra exercise, consider offering a dog-walking service. While this isn’t a huge income-earner, you can still earn $50-100 per week just by picking up a few pups. Dog owners who travel or work long hours often have a hard time finding someone to care for their pet when they are away, so offering a consistent, reliable service will be greatly appreciated!

To start your dog walking service, all you need is a good demeanor with animals and a willingness to be consistent. It can be a great opportunity to get in your exercise and you’ll have a companion for your afternoon walks. Find opportunities on Craigslist or simply strike up conversations with dog owners in your area.

9. Help with Housecleaning

While it might not be something you can do “from home” per se, you can earn some fast cash by offering to tidy up friends’ and neighbors’ homes once a week. If you want to keep things casual, simply put yourself out there by word-of-mouth. You can also try local advertising (think church bulletin or daycare center newsletter) to land a few houses.

Be up front with potential clients about what you’re willing to do and what days or times you’re available. Good housekeepers are often hard to come by, so if you are able to prove your worth as an efficient and thorough cleaner, you can not only charge a premium–anywhere from $15-25 an hour–but you will also probably find that word of mouth will travel faster than you can keep up!

10. Teach a Skill

Get creative and search your bag of talents to find things you can share with others, then seek out places where people want to learn.

If you play a musical instrument, sew or have another teachable talent, offer your services to a few students per week from your home. It can be fun and you’ll love the opportunity to revisit the hobbies you enjoy.

You can also offer tutoring services from your home. Check with local schools and private instructors in your area. See if they have any struggling students who could benefit from some one-on-one assistance. You don’t have to be a teaching expert to help a first or second grader with reading and mathematics, but time-strapped parents will be grateful for the help.

11. Social Media, Web other Consulting

If you’re a former professional or if you have a lot of social media savvy, consider reaching out to businesses who need a little of your expertise. A word of warning: social media consultants are a dime-a-dozen right now and promoting yourself as an expert can be tricky, especially because the latest trends in social media are ever-changing.

Tax services, billing/clerical/administrative work and research can all be done from home, if you have the know-how. Network with professional connections and friends. Chances are, someone is just waiting for you to offer a little assistance (and they’ll be willing to pay for it).

If you have website design experience, look for local businesses with out-of-date websites or poorly managed social profiles. Give them a call or send an introductory email offering your services. Offer to provide a free consultation and clearly and realistically explain your skill set and how you can help their organization. Many small businesses are floundering when comes to branding, marketing and keeping up their online presence—so if you have expertise in that area, by all means use it.

12. Grow and Sell at Farmers Markets

Green thumb? Enjoy gardening? Get involved at your local farmers market. It’s ok if you don’t have a massive garden producing bushels of tomatoes. You don’t even have to run your own booth. If you have an herb garden or a prolific orange tree, strike up a conversation with some of the farmers and sellers to see if you can supply them with some of your organic produce and split the profits.

If there’s a special item you make at home, consider selling it at your local farmers market. However, be aware that each market has its own rules and there may be food safety guidelines that vary from state to state. Call your city to request information about farmers market regulations in your area.

13. Provide Customer Service or Tech Support

Have you ever been aggravated after calling a company and getting horrible customer service or technical support?  Wouldn’t it be nice to change that experience for someone else?  You actually can!

While there are a lot of unscrupulous companies offering “call center jobs from home,” there are also some legitimate companies offering call center tech support and customer service opportunities.  Apple-at-Home and Accolade that you may want to check out.

If you’re bilingual and you have experience with certain types of software or technology products and a landline, these jobs can pay $10-$20 per hour—a fun way to earn a little extra income.

14. Medical Dictation and Editing

There are a plethora of training programs and advertisements about how “easy” it is to do medical transcription from home and for profit, but the truth is that it’s not easy at all. You’ll need specific training and classes can cost $3000+. Once you’ve completed the classes, you may find it difficult to find work-from-home transcription opportunities—especially nowadays with plenty of voice-recognition and transcription software out there.

However, if you’re determined that medical transcription and editing is right for you, here are some tips… Consider joining your local AHDI (Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity) and networking with other professional transcribers in your area. Getting in with a healthcare group or hospital can help you find opportunities.

One of the best ways to find transcription and editing jobs is to look at your current network. If a friend is a doctor or nurse, ask the name of their transcription service. Are they happy with the company they work with? Reach out to small private practices in your area. Also consider law firms and other groups who may need transcription services. With today’s complicated medical privacy laws in place, doctors are much more careful about who’s typing and viewing their patients’ medical records.

Whatever way you’re looking to earn extra money and provide for your family, be smart and savvy and do your research. Unfortunately, there are many scams out there that offer get-rich-quick schemes and “tricks” rather than real tips. Earning money takes work, it’s just a fact of life. Yes, in life we occasionally stumble upon an opportunity or we’re blessed with talents that can help us earn more, but there are very few times when money just falls into our laps.

Approaching your earning with purpose, research and integrity will help you avoid those who might take advantage of you. Always investigate opportunities with a critical eye and consult with other experts who’ve been successful earners, whether it’s through blogging, Etsy, or even dog walking. Find your opportunity and bring home a little extra bacon right FROM home, today!

15. Earn Extra Money Online

While many of the ideas listed require quite a bit of effort and some serious commitment (not to mention time, and in some cases, even money or additional education), if your goal is simply to earn a few extra dollars in spending money, there are some relatively painless ways to earn money or gift cards online.

Companies like Inbox Dollars and Swagbucks allow you to earn cash or points for searching online, completing surveys, or even by shopping.  You can also earn cash back when you shop online through Ebates.

There are also some great apps that allow you to earn rewards as well.  For instance, Ohmconnect is a free app pays you just for reducing your energy usage. You can make between $50 and $150 per year (yes, they pay you just to turn off the lights!), plus you get cool tools for analyzing your home energy use, allowing you to save BIG on your utility bills, too! Viggle is an app that lets you earn points for watching TV, while Ibotta offers cash rewards AND helps you save on groceries.

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Milton Friedman once said that “there is no such thing as a free lunch,” and this is absolutely true!  Working from home is convenient and it can be really fun, but at the end of the day, it is still WORK, and it will require you to work at it!  That said, for those who are willing to buckle down, the possibilities really are endless, and the sky is the limit!

 

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Thrifty Thursday {Week 110}

Happy Thursday! Is it just me or has this week gone extraordinarily fast?  I feel like time is speeding up on me!  Today is my kids’ last day of school, which is just fine with me!  I am definitely looking forward to a more relaxed schedule!  On that note, I want to let you all know that next week will be our last Thrifty Thursday, at least for the summer months!

If you are interested in guest posting here at LWSL, please send us an email at admin@livingwellspendingless.com to get a copy of our guest post guidelines!

Here are the most clicked links from last week:

1. Adventures in Coupons { From Six Dollars to Six Figures }
2. Earning & Saving with Sarah Fuller { 20 Ways to Save Money This Summer }

3. Pulling Curls { Dress Your Truth- Beginning }

4. Frugal Debt Free Life {Paying Off Debt While Living on One Income}

5. Six Figures Under {Hoarders and Minimalists: Two Faces of Frugality}

6. Taylor Made Ranch {Saving Money on the Grocery Budget}
7. The Frugal Navy Wife {How We are Saving $50 a Month}
8. Just Another Mom {How to Stretch a Paycheck}
9. Snail Pace Transformations {How to Get a Smartphone Service for Under $20 a Month}
10. My Stay at Home Adventures {The Make Believe World of Having Money}
 
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!

An InLinkz Link-up