Save the Planet, Save Cash

Awhile back, the call-in show Radio Times on Philadelphia's WHYY Public Radio featured an hour-long discussion on the topic of making more environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices in an effort to save money and help conserve our planet's precious resources. If you’re interested in learning more about reducing energy consumption and cutting costs in your home, it’s definitely worth a listen!

To hear the show in its entirety, follow this link, then scroll down to the paragraph labeled "Tuesday, 5/20/08 Hour Two."

Marvelous Meatless Meals

Consuming less meat is a sure-fire way to save money, improve your family's health, and conserve our earth's limited food resources. Fortunately, it's easy to prepare delicious, hearty vegetarian meals that even the most avowed carnivores in your family will love. Why not try...

...rice, bean, and cheese burritos topped with sour cream and salsa?

...grilled cheese sandwiches, vegetable soup, and a fresh green salad?

...vegetable fried rice?

...baked potatoes topped with broccoli, cheese, and sour cream?

...English muffin pizzas?

...eggs cooked any way you like, whole wheat toast, and fresh fruit?

...hot pasta tossed with steamed veggies, tomato sauce, and grated cheese?

...cheese quesadillas topped with sour cream and salsa?

What frugal vegetarian meals does your family enjoy?

Homemade Whole Wheat Bread from Tammy's Recipes

This recipe for Homemade Wheat Bread from Tammy's Recipes is a staple in our house. In fact, Donnie loves it so much that he nicknamed it "Awesome Bread." We make at least one loaf each week, and eat slices with everything from soup to pasta. The soft, dense texture and slightly sweet flavor complement just about any meal. It also toasts beautifully!

The best part is, this recipe is foolproof. Donnie and I have each made dozens of loaves, and every one has been absolutely delicious. It's also a cinch to prepare, since we make the dough in the bread machine.

Making your own bread is just one more way to save money on groceries. Plus, a loaf of Homemade Wheat Bread is way more healthful and delicious than anything you can buy at the supermarket!

Photo courtesy of Tammy's Recipes.

Keep it Cheap

It really is possible to keep your grocery bill low, even as food prices rise. All it takes is a little creativity, a little flexibility, and a willingness to experiment.

Here are some quick tips to reduce your family’s food costs. Not all these ideas will work for everyone—but that’s okay. Even one or two small changes can make a big difference.

How are you cutting costs, even as food prices rise?

Make it yourself. Many packaged foods—like tortillas, tomato sauce, refried beans, and mashed potatoes—can be prepared more frugally and healthfully from scratch. Make big batches whenever you can, then freeze for later use. You’ll save a bundle!

Grow your own. Fresh-from-the-garden produce and herbs are key ingredients in many inexpensive, healthful meals. Even if you only plant tomatoes and basil, you’ll have the makings for pesto all summer long. Plus, you can preserve your garden’s bounty by canning, drying, or freezing excess.

Go meatless. Try incorporating one or two meatless meals into your weekly menu plan. Some tasty choices include baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli, rice and bean burritos, vegetable noodle soup, pasta topped with sauce and cheese, and hearty vegetable omelets. If your family wants at least a little meat, try preparing dishes that call for only a few ounces of meat, but lots of fresh veggies and whole grains (spaghetti with meat sauce and fried rice both come to mind).

Drink water. Fruit juice, soda, and drink mixes are not only expensive—they’re also unhealthy. You’ll save money and improve your health by drinking water at most meals. Just make sure you’re not buying expensive bottled water. Donnie and I use a Brita filter to remove impurities, but I grew up drinking plain tap water, and am no worse for the wear!

Be prepared. Create a shopping list and menu plan every week. Keep your freezer stocked a few with individual- and family-sized portions of your favorite foods, in case you need a quick last-minute lunch or dinner. If you work outside the home, make sure you have plenty of healthy snacks on-hand at your desk.

Terrific Tuesday Freebies

Bragg Liquid Aminos

Benny Bully's Pet Treats

Energizer Hearing Aid Battery Perf Pack

Blue Spa Select Cat Food

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 5/18

Monday - creamy broccoli and potato soup, homemade whole wheat bread
Tuesday - Berks hot dogs (a high-quality, local brand) topped with homemade 15-bean chili and grated cheese
Wednesday - Italian sausage and tortellini, homemade red sauce
Thursday - chicken and green pepper fajitas, homemade refried beans, homemade corn and flour tortillas
Friday - steak fried rice with lots of veggies
Saturday - homemade empanadas

For more great meal plans visit I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Check out the Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling

Sarah at Today's Homemaker was kind enough to include my post Brown Baggin' It in the first ever Carnival of Modern Home Dwelling. This multi-part, multi-day carnival is packed with great ideas and advice on a wide variety of topics. My post is included in Day Four: Food. Be sure to check it out!

Resolution Re-tread

At the beginning of this year, Donnie and I (not to mention millions of other people) set a New Year's resolution to eat healthier and exercise more. We've done well with the healthy eating part of the plan, but not as well with the whole "get active" thing.

Fortunately, spring is the perfect time of year to revisit the "exercise more" part of our resolution. You don't have to join a gym or buy expensive home fitness equipment to get started. In fact, you probably already have everything you need on hand.

To help get us (and you) motivated to move, I'm re-posting my Frugal Fitness tips from earlier this year. How do you stay fit without breaking the bank? Please share!

• Sweat the small stuff. Find little ways to replace inactive behaviors with active ones. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, get off the bus one stop early, or walk to a co-worker's desk instead of sending an email. Little changes add up to big results!
  

• DIY. Now is the time to tackle those big home repair projects on your to-do list. Work up a sweat by painting the living room, stripping your wood floors, rearranging your furniture, or even just steam-cleaning the carpet.
  

• Get walking. Start your day with a brisk walk (or jog) to set your heart pumping while you enjoy plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Begin slowly if you aren’t accustomed to physical activity. Even ten minutes a day will make a difference.
  

• Refuse to sit still. Pace the room, pump your calves, march in place, or do simple stretches as your read, sew, or engage in other sedentary activities. You can fidget your way to burning hundreds of calories a week!
  

• Check it out. Choose from a wide variety of exercise videos at your local library. Just don’t limit yourself to one type of workout! Try your hand at aerobics, Yoga, Pilates, dance, tai chi, strength training, and more. While you’re at the library, pick up a few books that show you how to develop a fitness plan that works for you.
  

• Play with your kids. There are literally hundreds of fun, physical games you and your children can enjoy together. Hop scotch, jump rope, Simon Says, tag, freeze dance, dodge ball, Red Rover, Ring-Around-the-Rosie and hula hoop are just the tip of the iceberg. For maximum family fitness and fun, try a new game or activity every day. You can even invent your own!
  

Spicy Italian Crockpot Chicken

This hardly qualifies as a recipe, but it's inexpensive, easy to prepare, and delicious, so I thought I would share. After all, who couldn't use more inspiration for preparing simple, frugal dinners?

Place one boneless, skinless chicken breast in your slow cooker. Add one 28 oz can of diced tomatoes; half a can of water; a little olive oil; a few minced garlic cloves; some salt, pepper, oregano, and basil to taste; and, most importantly, a healthy sprinkling of crushed red pepper flakes.

Cook on high for about two hours, then low for another 4-24 hours (this dinner cannot be overcooked; the flavors just get better and better). Serve over white rice, with melted cheese on top if you like.

See what I mean? Too ridiculously simple to be called an actual recipe. But who doesn't love an easy frugal supper suggestion?

"Fuel saving tips that just don't work" from CNN.com

If you happen to live on Planet Earth, you're probably aware that gas prices have been going up lately. :) This has led to the proliferation of lots of "common sense" tips for saving money on gas.

However, some of those hints you've been hearing aren't all they're cracked up to be. CNN.com debunks six of the most common fuel-saving tips in this article, "6 gas saving myths." Check it out before you waste time (or money) in a futile attempt to use less gas!

Simple Springtime Suppers

It's easy to prepare simple, healthful, frugal meals this spring. Be sure to take advantage of the season's bounty by incorporating lots of fresh produce!

Here are some of my seasonal favorites. What are your most successful springtime suppers?

• Sauté fresh diced tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, and peppers in a little garlic and olive oil. Serve over rice or noodles.

• Sprinkle chopped, fresh basil over a salad made from slices of ripe tomato and fresh mozzarella cheese.

• Sauté thick slices of eggplant in a little garlic and olive oil. Top with diced tomatoes, a handful of breadcrumbs, and grated mozzarella cheese before removing from the pan.

• Bring to a boil: two cups of rice, two grated carrots, a cup of raisins, two cups of water, and three cups of chicken broth. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for thirty minutes. Serve seasoned with fresh parsley.

• Sauté fresh broccoli, tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil until the flavors are well-combined. Serve over poached chicken or fish.

Diversify Your Income

In these uncertain economic times, depending upon a salary as your only source of income is a risky wealth-building strategy. Whether you work for a small local business or a Fortune 500 company, you can't possibly know what the future holds.

That's why it makes good financial sense to diversify your income. This is something I've been working on for the past year or so, and while I haven't even come close to earning as much as my current salary, I have brought home some extra money. This has been a tremenedous help to Donnie and me, as we seek to pay down debt, bolster savings, and secure our financial future.

Here are some ideas that have worked for myself or people I know. This list is by no means exhaustive. There are many other great sources of alternate income. After all, just about any talent or hobby can become a money-generating venture. All you need is creativity and a willingness to work hard.

• Sell garage-sale or thrift-store finds on ebay.
  
  


• Provide academic tutoring or music lessons to local students.
  
  


• Write or edit resumes and cover letters for job-seekers.
  
  


• Sell homemade baked goods or homegrown produce at a farmers' market.
  
  


• Baby-sit, pet-sit, or house-sit for the neighbors.
  
  


• Sing or play a musical instrument for weddings, bar mitzvahs, or other events.
  
  


• Start a dog-walking service in the neighborhood.
  
  


• Sell sewing or craft projects on etsy.
  
  


• Hold an annual garage sale, or particiapte in community flea markets.
  
  


• Act as a technical, customer service, or project consultant for local businesses.
  
  


• Sell baked goods to a local coffee or tea house.
  
  


• Start a small house-cleaning or office-cleaning service for local homes and businesses.

How do you earn extra income? Please share so we can all learn from your expertise!

Frugal Mothers' Day Gift Ideas

Before you go out and spend a ton of money on your mom this Mothers' Day, remember this: she doesn't want you to break your budget for her sake. Really. No mother wants to see her child place him or herself in financial jeopardy. Your mom would much rather receive a thoughtful, inexpensive present than something flashy you can't afford.

Here are some frugal Mother's Day gift suggestions your mom will be sure to love. I, personally, will be making my mom chocolate chip cookies, per her request. (I have to admit, I'm not crafty. But I can bake.) How about you?

• Homemade cookies, candies, or other sweet treats.
  


• A goody bag filled with some of your best CVS deals.



• A family photo in a frame the kids or grandkids decorated.



• A fashionable, handmade sweater purse.



• A beautiful scented sachet.



• A paperback book by her favorite author.



• Handmade jewelry.



• A pretty, decorative throw pillow.



• A beautiful potted plant (if she's a gardener; otherwise, it's best to skip this one!).

Homemade Mothers' Day Goodies

Why not try something new this Mothers' Day, and surprise your mom with a gift of beautiful homemade candles?

Erin at About.com: Frugal Living guides you through the candle-making process here. Be sure to check it out!

Sunday Evening Samples

Klean-to-Go Personal Protection Packets

Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce - coupon for a free bottle

Tide with Dawn Stain Scrubbers

Deseo Fragrance

Nature's Bounty Fish Oil Supplement

Festival of Frugality #123: The Supercapitalism Edition

A big "thank you" to Aryn at Sound Money Matters for including my post Friends, Family, and Frugality in the 123rd Festival of Frugality. Check it out for lots of great tips from the best personal finance and frugal living blogs on the web!

Insight into the Food Crisis from Cheap, Healthy, Good

If you only read one blog post this weekend, make sure it's The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the Food Crisis: How it Started, Who it Hurts Most, and How to Solve the Problem, from Kris at Cheap, Healthy, Good.

I have only one word to describe this post: excellent. Go check it out.

Check out the 61st Edition of Make it from Scratch!

Stephanie at Stop the Ride! was kind enough to include my post Five-Minute Homemade Pancake Syrup in the 61st edition of the Make it from Scratch Carnival. Be sure to check it out for lots of great do-it-yourself ideas!