Family Dating - Cheap to FREE Entertainment for the Whole Family

At one time there were FIVE kids in my house. When there are this many kids in one house it is TOO EXPENSIVE to do anything!!!! Go to the movies. Nah, that would cost us about $55.00 before any popcorn, candy or sodas were purchased. No way!!! But, from that little denial of funds to take all of these kids out on a regular basis, hubby and I got really creative on the FAMILY DATE NITES.



If movies are in your plans for the weekend--check this out:

• New Release Movie Theater in Indianapolis cost is about $9.00 per person

• Movies 8 in Greenwood is not a new release but if you wait a few weeks (sometimes less) it is about $1.75

• Drive-Ins--there are quite a few scattered throughout Indiana and their prices range from $4.00 to $7.00 for adults and about $3.00 to $1.00 for the kiddies.

Anyway you choose here are tips to save at the concessions...

     Going to New Releases? Please eat a healthy meal before you go. You will save money and you will save the calories/fat/sugar---you get the point.
     Going to the Movies 8 (second go round theater as i like to call these types)? Same rules apply, eat a healthy meal before you go because this is how these theaters make their money. At the concessions, it is soooooo strategic,  little eyes zero in on the candy treats that are aimed right at the eye level of these miniature people--AKA your kids.  And once they zero in on these delightful treats you know what happens next. $5 less in your pocket for something in the store that would have costed you maybe $1.30.
     Going to the Drive-In? Pop your own popcorn, take a cooler of your own healthier drinks and take your own cookies and candy if you really gotta have something sweet.



Retrieved this photo July 27,2011 from http://www.hwy21drivein.com/images/433_drive1_1_.gif


But if you do not wanna leave your house here are some ideas:

Redbox $1.00 per day per movie
Netflix--Watch TV Shows & Movies Online or Streaming to your TV via Wii, Xbox, PS3 & many other devices. For Only $7.99 a month.  ((Complaint from a coworker: They seem to show the OLDER movies))
PayPerView or OnDemand-Usually about $4.99 per movie (unless it is a promoted sporting event)
Library- Free!!!! FREE!!! FREE!!!! That is right...you heard me correctly.....free!!! But if you are late on the returning of these DVDs, there will be a late charge.  I will tell ya this much, our library in New Palestine,Indiana has a FANTASTIC selection of not too old of releases.  It was very surprising when i started going to the library to check out movies!!! BIG TIME MONEY SAVER!!!! Not to mention....have whatever you want to eat, stop the movie if ya need to let the dog out....if the kids start crying and you missed something, back it up and see it again!!!!  <--THIS ONE HAS BEEN USED OFTEN IN MY HOUSE!!!!


You can try a NITE OF CREATIVITY WITH CRAFTS, COOKING, AND BUILDING

Just stay in and find out What's Cookin' In The Kitchen.....Kids can build a homemade pizza, they can build up their own tacos or tostadas. Whatever the theme, be creative with it. Have them dress the part.  Mexican night....sombreros? Italian night......Red Aprons and mustaches....I don't know the specifics, those are in your head--be a kid with your kids.
  What is for dessert??? Have your youngsters build up a sundae or banana split. What about decorating their own cookies or cupcakes....or a cake for the whole family.

Before or after this lovely meal of creative madness, have the kids create some jewelry or some other craft they enjoy doing. Never too early to start making Christmas presents right? The boys can always be creative with building different structures of any size.  They can build a village as a Christmas gift for grandma and grandpa using Popsicle sticks or other things you can find around the house--let those imaginations fly!!!






More cheapy FREE --yes I said FREE entertainment!!!!

BOARD GAMES AND YARD GAMES.
     Cook up some great snacks and sit around the table and play the board games you got for your kids last Christmas.  Or, take it outside.  Corn Hole is a popular game that does not have to wait until Labor Day to enjoy.

TAKE A HIKE!!!
     Head over to your local city park with a backpack of snacks and water and take those youngsters for a hike. 

IN THE PARK
     Bike Ride
     Rollerblade
     Birdwatching  --take some paper and let the kids sketch the bird and then see if you can find it in a bird book.
     Name that Tree --look in a tree book to see if you can identify the trees in your city parks.
     (Take Note: For Birdwatching and Name that Tree--you may need to pick up a bird book and tree book at the library while you are checking out those DVDs)
     Gone Fishin' --Take those youngsters out in the back yard after a rain and let them dig up their own worms.  Boys will go wild for this one because it gives them a reason to get dirty!!!  And then the next morning head out for a fun morning of fishing at a pond you saw  in the park last week!!
     Frisbee--need I say more...well maybe I can because you could also get the dog involved in this one.

Gotta give credit where credit is due for this awesome picture of the mom and kid rollerblading--GO LADIES GO!!! http://childhoodobesityinamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/ROLLERBLADES-CARTOON-MOM-KID.jpg

MANY OF THE LOCAL PARKS AND LIBRARIES ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING GOING ON FOR KIDS. CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITES, FLIERS AND BROCHURES NEXT TIME YOU VISIT.


MOVING RIGHT ALONG.......

Head out to a high school sporting event.  You will have a blast watching these high schoolers dig in for the win!!! You may get caught up in a few of the cheers and run into a few friends while you are there.
This will support your local high school teams and their athletic department and maybe band/drama/journalism (whoever is running the concession stand) department.

Speaking of high school.....Do you love plays and musicals? If so, check out what the drama team is doing in your local high school.  I think you will be in awe when you see how much hard work and talent pays off in one of these awesome shows.  ((I am serious, you will be so surprised, you will forget they are teenagers))

HEADING DOWNTOWN.....

Throughout the entire summer and fall in Indiana they have festivals, events and free concerts in the parks.
There is a festival for every cultural background. There is a festival for every type of art and music.  There is a festival that will focus on strawberries in our Indianapolis area.  Check out your downtown area and local parks to see what events are FREE      FREE     FREE




Free Concerts in the Park
Greenwood Amphitheater has a band almost every weekend during the summer.  Check out this play list:
Tastes Like Chicken 7/30/11
Blonde Sonja 8/6/11
Zanna Doo! 8/13/11 
All FREE 
For more details about these concerts check out their website : http://www.greenwood.in.gov/egov/docs/1310583863_874359.pdf




Museums--the IMA (http://www.imamuseum.org/) Indianapolis Museum of Art is a place the family can visit and spend time indoors or outdoors on their Gardens & Grounds 100 acres.  It is donation style entrance fee and a great day of family fun. 
      Indianapolis has many museums but most of them cost money. The Children's Museum, the Eiteljorg and the Indiana State Museum to name a few.  These are wonderful places for families to explore.




You are probably exhausted from reading all of these options of things to do that you didn't realize were out there. But the ONE POINT I want to make on today's blog is......IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU SPEND ON YOUR KIDS.....IT IS THE TIME YOU SPEND WITH THEM. Quality time is what they will remember the MOST!!!!!


As I always say, please feel free to post your ideas to the comments so we will all benefit from as many creative ideas as we can with our families. 

Saving on Groceries and Your Waistline

Planning a Menu for the Entire Week


#1. Take inventory of what you have.

Usually we buy a lot more at the store than we need on a regular basis. I always have extra boxes of mac and cheese, canned beans, canned fruit etc.  Because of this (and limited space in an apartment sized pantry) I have learned to first take inventory before heading to the store--aha! Shop in your own pantry.  Look to see what meals you can make with what you already have.
     Example:     I have a box of mac and cheese in my pantry and oh look there, I also have a can of tuna= tuna helper (that usually costs about $1.59 per box) And check the freezer and see if maybe there are some frozen peas or carrots to go along with this meal--and voila! one less meal to buy.

#2 Plan healthy meals by using the next 4 tips.
      -Focus on the leaner choices of meats. Such as turkey smoked sausage opposed to the regular version.
      - Do not underestimate a vegetarian meal once and awhile. Beans are inexpensive and very nutritious. Make sure to pair them with a whole grain rice to get the best balanced protein source.
     -Whatever is on sale, whether it is cream cheese,cottage cheese or lunch meat look CLOSELY to the ad and make sure there is a more lean or low fat option.
      -If buying breads or cereals make sure the fiber content is AT LEAST 3 grams per serving for a more healthier selection.

Example of one meal planned the healthy way:

WHOLE WHEAT PASTA (usually about $1.19 per box-and when it is cooked your family WILL NOT know the difference unless they see the empty box in the trash can)
LEAN GROUND TURKEY (usually the same price and sometimes cheaper than hamburger)
LOW SUGAR/SODIUM(either or)  HUNT'S CANNED SPAGHETTI SAUCE (usually about $1.09 per can--gotta look on the bottom shelf though because it is less expensive and more healthy--I have read on different occasions that grocery stores do this one purpose...especially with cereal)
             THE MATH : 1.19+4.00+1.09=6.28    Now I will divide that by the 3 people in my family 
 
$2.09 PER PERSON FOR A HEALTHY DINNER  

((If you would like to see  more tricks like this example with the spaghetti....follow this blog.  One post is going to be "PHAT DISHES WITHOUT THE WAIST"))

You planned the menu, now let's go shopping


#1  Check every Sunday in the newspaper for coupons. 
ONLY CLIP WHAT YOU USE!!! <--very important message for saving money.  If you clip coupons and say "well I might use this" or "I could try this" DO NOT DO IT! Only what you would normally use is what you look for in these coupon listings.
  
  ALERT***  HERE IS THE BONUS TO CLIPPING COUPONS (and using the ones you can find online)
IF YOU KEEP THEM ORGANIZED, YOU CAN CHECK THE GROCERY STORE WEEKLY ADS...AND YOU WILL FIND THESE SAME PRODUCTS IN THE ADS ON SALE AND TAKE YOUR COUPON AND SAVE MORE MONEY-SOMETIMES DOUBLE OR TRIPLE THE SAVINGS!!! YAY!!!

#2 Check your grocery ads

We always get these in the mail around Thursday. For our house, that is a convenient day to plan out the menu for the week by using what is on sale in these ads. 



This is the ad for this week.  I went to the store this morning and spent $68.00 for a weeks worth of groceries for 3 people. By shopping  in my pantry first and using the coupons I  had with this add- I received-- Total awesome savings!!!    WOO HOO!

If you would like to ask me any questions please feel free to post to the comments because some one else may have the same question or feel free to email me at inapinchhelpout@yahoo.com

The Challenge of Buying What is in Season to Save More Money

 
One way to eat healthy on a budget is to find out what fruits and vegetables are in season for your area.  There are two websites that I found very helpful because to be quite honest I had no idea what was in season for summer before I went on my "field trip" for this blog.
 Here are the websites I found:

www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/CFS/CFS-755-w.pdf      <-summer
               If you want the spring version of this website it is the same except change the 755 to 754
               If you want the autumn version of this website it is the same except change the 755 to 756
www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=789

I found a lot of fantastic information on these two websites.  Not only do they explain what is in season but they also show you ways to prepare, store and shop for these fruits and vegetables.

Speaking of shopping......on my lunch hour yesterday, hubby and I decided to take a field trip and see what was available at our local produce stands.  The locations of these particular stands are 30th and Franklin Road on the east side of Indianapolis and the other is located on East Washington Street in the parking lot of Golds Gym near Eastgate in Indianapolis. During our visits,  I wrote down the prices to compare the stand's pricing against each other.



Here are the results:

30th and Franklin

Watermelon $2.99  (seedless and quite YUMMY because I had to buy one!!)
Cantaloupe $2.99
Strawberries $1.00 (1LB in the plasticc box container--These red beauties made quite a delightful smoothie)
1LB Green beans $1.49
Corn 6 ears $2.75
Cabbage $0.59
Tomato 1LB $1.99

East Washington at Eastgate

Watermelon $7.00 seedless as well
Cantaloupe $4.00
They were out of Strawberries but had blueberries
Blueberries $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00 plastic box container
1LB Green beans $1.99
Corn 6 ears for $3.00
Tomato 1LB $2.49
Cucumber $0.75 each
Red Pepper $1.50 each
Green Pepper $1.00 each

30th and Franklin seemed to have the better prices along with friendly people. (They were in really friendly moods considering the temperature was above 90 degrees --whew!)  On my way home from work, I decided I could not stop at just comparing the two produce stands. I would need to stop by two grocery stores to do more of a detailed price comparison to help my readers.


The two stores I chose were Marsh at Germanchurch and Washington Street and Meijer on Washington Street--again, staying on the east side of Indianapolis.  (Keep in mind that Marsh and Meijer are about one block from each other)

Here are those results:

Marsh

Watermelon $5.99 (seedless)
Cantaloupe $3.59
Strawberries $1.98 plastic box container
Blueberries $2.99plastic box container
1LB Green beans $1.69
Corn 4 ears for $2.00
Tomato 1LB either $1.28 or $2.49
Cucumber $0.88 each
Red Pepper $1.99 each
Green Pepper $0.88 each
Cabbage $0.69

Meijer

Watermelon $5.99 (seedless)
Cantaloupe 2 for $5.00
Strawberries 2 plastic box containers for $3.00
Blueberries 2 plastic box containers for $5.00
1LB Green beans $0.88
Corn 5 ears for $2.00
Tomato 1LB either $1.49 or $1.99
Cucumber 3 for $1.00
Red Pepper 2 for $3.00
Green Pepper $1.79 each
Cabbage $0.39

After doing the comparison shopping I came to this conclusion:
#1 Shop the season
#2 Know your local produce stand's prices
#3 Check your local weekly grocery store ads
            all BEFORE you head out to shop for fresh fruits and vegetables.

TOO EXPENSIVE TO EAT HEALTHY?

Every day we hear about them on the news.
We read about them on the Internet and they are a Hot Topic of discussion no matter where you go.
Who are they?

They are the TOP 10 AMERICAN KILLERS.

• Heart Disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Chronic lower respiratory disease
• Accidents
• Alzheimer's disease
• Influenza and Pneumonia
• Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis (acute or chronic inflammations of the kidneys
• Septicemia (Presence of bacteria in the blood and is associated with severe infections)

Information retrieved July 18,2011 from www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/deaths.htm

According to USA Today, 65% of Americans weigh too much--increasing their risk to heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Source: www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-03-09-obesity_x.htm

     I was alarmed at what I was reading in last week's news. It was being suggested by doctors that obese children would be better off being put in foster care than stay with their parents.
This information was found on http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/health/should-parents-lose-custody-of-super-obese-kids?-doctors,-ethicists-say-yes,-in-extreme-cases another doctor was saying the same thing on this website, www.news.yahoo.com/state-obese-kids-parents-us-doctors-022057756.html.  In this article it mentioned, "only a handful of states, including California, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas have legal precedent for applying this framework to over nourishment and severe obesity." Being overweight and obese has been and is becoming more serious by the day.



Everyone is quick to say when someone is doing something wrong or quick to point out problems but HARDLY EVER do they offer SOLUTIONS.

Hey, I heard that. "What are we supposed to do? It is TOOOOO EXPENSIVE TO EAT HEALTHY" 
I have heard this statement more than once in the last decade from different people in different circumstances of different cultures and backgrounds. This problem effects many people and they don't know what to do. Unless someone comes along and really works with the American population, yes, it would seem TOO EXPENSIVE TO EAT HEALTHY.


This week I am hoping to change that perspective. I am hoping to get your wheels spinning to come up with things you have used in the past when shopping for healthy food items on a tight budget AND POST THEM ON THIS BLOG. 
If you have not attempted healthy budget shopping in the past, then I challenge you to read this blog and try some of these helpful tips and tricks to a more healthy family.

Technologically Challenged--But I Still Do It

Anyone who knows me, knows I am NOT computer savvy. If you do NOT know me, as you read my blog from day to day keep this piece of information in the back of your mind and bear with me as this is all new to me. 

I need to write this short special blog of apology because yesterday was supposed to kick-off to a week of how to eat healthy on a tight grocery budget.  I had everything written out and typed on my blog. It would NOT save. I could not preview it and it would NOT publish. So, in order to keep my sanity (which is one of the points of this blog) I went to bed, but not before the assistance of my most spectacular husband. He found out what I was doing wrong and told me I cannot "copy and paste" font/text from the internet to my blog (even though I was citing the information). So, I made a mental note and went to bed because it was soooo late. I apologize for getting this topic started late, but I am passing along a bit of good information to those wanting keep their sanity while possibly starting a blog. 

Thank you for reading and check out the topic this week "Its too expensive to eat healthy!"

Dianne

Students with Style --the art of LOW COST salon services

     While I was in middle school it was the BIG HAIR ERA of the 1980's.  I was at my dad's house during the summer hanging out with my step-sister, whom I might add had the most gorgeous long HUGE hair I had ever seen--just like the girls on MTv (when MTV actually played music videos).  I asked her where she went to get her perms and her hair cut.  She told me APEX Academy of Hair Design (located in Anderson,Indiana).  WHAT? A beauty school?  Ok, so, being the free spirit, fun loving, off-the-wall, daring type (that I still am) ....next time she went, I went along.  I had NEVER had girls actually CARE so much about what they were doing and whether I LIKED what they had done to my hair.  Usually it was always the same ole "plop down in the chair- go wash- snip,snip,snip-blow dry-maybe curling iron-give too much  money for a hairstyle that most of the time I would have to go home and redo it because this was the 80's and they just didn't get the hair BIG enough.


     Today, I am 40 years old and I continue to use the services at my local beauty college (PJs in Greenfield Indiana). If for no other reason--YOU CAN'T BEAT AN AWESOME HAIRCUT FOR $5!!!!!!!
              Haircuts are NOT the only service that these beauty colleges offer.  I was in there yesterday (7/16/11) and asked the instructor if they had a list of their services and prices.  She said no and they were out of copies. Darn. But, I did ask her how much for a "mani&pedi".  $22.00 for both. Are you kidding me? That is an AWESOME deal.   They offer every service a full beauty salon would offer for a fraction of the cost.   BIG TIME $AVINGS

            You may be saying, "But I don't want someone cutting, styling, perming or coloring my hair that doesn't have their license yet" --All I can say are these 2 things:

1. Ask yourself this question, "have you ever been to a salon and received a bad color, perm or haircut?"
2. These students are not working on clients without supervision.  There is ALWAYS more than one instructor guiding and double checking the work of these students. This means to you the patron, more than one set of eyes watching your color or perm process making it LESS LIKELY to be OVER processed.

So ladies, next time you are looking for either a whole new look or root touch ups--or maybe just need pampering for the end of a tough week, call your local beauty college to see what services they have to offer at a better price than regular salons.

Teens, whether it is a modern prom up-do or highlights/lowlights for school pictures, save some $$$$$$ by visiting the students at your local beauty college for current looks in today's style.




**************Special Note About Visiting a Beauty College: Do not visit a beauty college if you are on a time crunch.  They are students that take pride in their work and strive to do a great job.  But since they are students, it may take a little longer. Not to go without saying the instructors need to check the work of the students when the student completes the service. 

GRANDMA D's PEAR SALAD

The time has finally arrived!!!  I have been waiting all day to post this blog.

My husband LOVES this recipe and it is his family's tradition to have this light and creamy delightful dessert at Christmas.  Last Christmas as I was enjoying a helping of this holiday treat I thought to myself, "Why not have this cool treat during the summer?" So, at lunch today I went to the grocery store to gather all of the ingredients to rush them home to prepare this delightful treasure or "Ambrosia--Nectar of the gods" as my husband refers to it.

I have decided as a special treat to all of you to make this post a copy of the recipe and a picture.

Grandma Ds Pear Salad
                                                                        
9X13 Pan                                                                     

Ingredients:

2 Large Cans of Pears
6oz box of lime jello
8oz cream cheese
8oz cool whip

Directions:

Drain and reserve the juice from 2 large cans of pears.
Boil the pear juice and dissolve the lime jello.  Put the jello in the refrigerator to cool.
Mash the pears (I use an old fashioned potato masher)
Mix 8oz. softened and whipped cream cheese with the pears.  Then add 8oz cool whip to pear mixture.
Add pear mixture to cool jello (NOT SET) and pour into the 9X13 pan.  

Finished Product--this picture does not do it justice

GAS PRICES --Cont'd

As promised from yesterday's post we are going to learn more ways to save at the pump....

Today is going to be a little more of the Mechanical Side of saving money.....

Just because you saw the "M" word (mechanic), do not fear. It is not as complicated as you may imagine.  You can do this I know you can.

1. When you fill up your tank (using some of 7/13/11 tips and tricks) reset your TRIP ODOMETER each time you fill up (and write it on a post-it or notebook and keep it in your vehicle) to see a change in miles per gallon. IF your car does not have one, keep a little notebook of how many gallons of gas you got and how many miles the odometer reads and then write down the new mileage when fill up again. This will sometimes be a warning your vehicle is having issues. When you keep track of this it is easier to explain to your mechanic what it is doing.

2. You go to the doctor for a check up right? Do the same for your car. The maintenace schedule for your vehicle can be found in your owners manual.  TUNE-UPS are great for a car that is not running on its full potential OR all of its cylinders.
        *******I had to write this point because for the longest time my car was making this "jerky, thumpy, clunky" noise and getting terrible gas mileage.  The car would make me angry because it would do this at the most odd times. Well, about $250 later, I found out I needed plugs, wires, a coil.  The mechanic said the set that was on my car was the original set. My car is from the 1990's.
                    So, lesson learned, pass info along to other people to save them the headache I had already endured.


QUICK QUESTION....

Running the Air Conditioning uses more fuel--FACT or FICTION?

The answer is: FICTION. Leave your windows up and turn on your air. You drain more fuel by rolling the windows down thanks to aerodynamics.

3. CHECK TIRE PRESSURE IN ALL FOUR TIRES.   I am posting a "how to" link so you will see exactly how to check pressure in your tires. But first purchase a tire gauge and just keep it in your vehicle--they are only about $1
Here is the link....please take the time and check it out. You may feel like..."(sigh) oh I will do it later" Don't wait, it isnt that long and then you will know how to do it to save yourself some $$$$$ at the pump.
http://www.ehow.com/how_1865_check-add-air.html

4. CHECK YOUR GAS CAP Make sure it’s undamaged and secure. Missing or problematic caps are responsible for 147 million gallons of gas vaporizing annually. (source: Car Care Council (http://www.carcare.org/))


I am in hopes that after reading the last couple of days you have picked up some good ideas and if you know of any that have not been mentioned PLEASE POST THEM!!! We are all looking for ways to save time and money.

GAS PRICES He who angers you conquers you. ~Elizabeth Kenny

     Or shall we say IT (cost of gas) that angers you conquers you. This is a touchy terrible topic to some. But, if you have been following my blog and especially if you read my first post, you will see this blog is not a complaint department filled with whiners complaining about every little thing in the world that upsets them. Instead it is a blog aimed toward SOLUTIONS, SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS of a POSITIVE nature. These ideas reflect ANTI-NEGATIVE plans to everyday challenging situations that usually relate to time and money. Since I am bringing up the SORE SUBJECT OF GAS PRICES we are not going to start talking negative now either!
     So, since we cannot control this situation, we can control how we handle it and respond--with a positive perspective. I am hoping suggestions will come from this blog that will help with strategies to better equip us with the knowledge to save money as well as our sanity. This may take a few days so hang on and read this blog daily and POST COMMENTS so we can keep more $$$$$ in those pretty handbags we found buried in the back of our closets. (Read Blog from 7/12/11)



Let us begin....


I will start with a couple of websites for you to check out:


#1 http://www.indianagasprices.com/GasPriceSearch.aspx
I know this says "indiana" in the weblink but I tested it and if you go to the box that says "Search Gas Prices" and put in either your zip code, or your city and state you will be able to pull up local gas prices for your area. Check this site before you head out to fill up.


#2 http://www.theindychannel.com/slideshow/28464442/detail.html?taf=ind
Again, this one says "indy" in the title of the weblink. If you are not from the Indiana area still check it out.  I saw a deal for buying groceries to work toward gas rebates at Publix. The only place I have seen a Publix grocery store is in Daytona, Florida. So check out these "5 ways to get cheap/free gas" found on theIndyChannel.  On a personal note, I use the "Rewards" from our Kroger card to save $.10 per gallon when I fuel up.


More suggestions minus the websites:


#3 Use the "SpeedyRewards" system from the Speedway Gas Stations (especially if you are planning a vacation)  or other gas stations in your area that may be running their own promos for loyal customers.


#4  WATCH YOUR SPEED. The less RPMs (or another way to say it "engine revving") the less the gas guzzle.  (Not to mention you will save yourself a speeding ticket--that was a freebie, oh wait, all these suggestions and ideas are free)


#5 Along with watching your speed --USE YOUR CRUISE. Cruise Control --it isn't just for interstates. This is another way to reassure the RPMs (aka engine rev) will stay steady. 


#6 Think about it...Do you really NEED to leave the house or can this errand be done on your way to or from work?
          Speaking of errands...if you can't get to them on the way to or from work, plan them out wisely.  Keep a running list of things you need and places you need to go and try to limit your errand running to once maybe twice a week.


#7 PARENTS OF ATHLETES TAKE NOTE -- You may already have heard this or practice this bit of info. If so, pass it along this one is DOUBLE BONUS!!!
      Be part of the PARENTING TEAM SHUTTLE or start your own PARENTING TEAM SHUTTLE
                       Your athlete is on a team right? So are you as well as other parents, siblings, grandparents and neighbors------TAKE TURNS BEING THE SHUTTLE. Or if you can pick up then be the pick up crew and let another parent be the drop off crew. Take care of two or so players. WHAT IS THE DOUBLE BONUS?? I knew you ladies...or maybe gentlemen (I have heard a rumor of guys reading this blog--and good for them--may just have to switch up my topics--AND GUYS WE CAN USE YOUR INPUT!!) anyway.....the DOUBLE BONUS....knew you would catch that.  The DOUBLE BONUS (wish I could add a big boomy voice when I type "DOUBLE BONUS") is saving MONEY in gas as well as TIME running althletes to practices and this has hit 2 of the three ideas of this blog.


So, we have covered 7 ways to save $$$$$$ at the pumps (as well as the 5 mentioned on theIndyChannel link) and I will be posting more tomorrow.







Comic clip found at: http://www.skeptically.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/suv-econ-gas-pump.jpg.w300h294.jpg

GOBBLE!! GOBBLE!!

    TURKEY TRANSLATION:       Be thankful all year long.


Look at her. She trades in her car every year or so and has a new one.  I swear she has a new car every time I turn around and heck mine barely runs.
OR

Sheesh...how many pairs of shoes does she need? I am lucky to maybe get a new pair every year.

OR
I get so sick of everyone bragging about everything they have and do--who cares?   We never get to do or buy anything new.  We do what we are supposed to do, we pay our bills and barely have enough money for groceries or gas yet they go out to eat every night or get to take a family vacation twice a year. Really? They are really taking their kids on a cruise?

These are only a few of the mentalities that are out there. Just swap or replace some things like the shoes or the car and you have probably heard your own mind speak the same words. Ask yourself this question "Thinking about what___________(enter a person here) has makes me feel __________"    Does this make you feel full of positive energy ready to take on any task and excited about the 40 minute ride to work?? Um..........my guess is probably not.

WE NEED TO GET OUT OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF BEING DISCOURAGED!!!!! This cycle leads to nothing but unnecessary stress and/or depression because everything you have is not good enough. Stop comparing!!!

LET US TAKE A DIFFERENT APPROACH....  Focus on what you have instead of what you don't. Wait a minute....let me repeat that just one more time.  Focus on what you have instead of what you don't. (Please repeat this to yourself often)

                              Same list as above....different approach
You see your friend and she traded her car in for a new one. Take your emotions and negativity out of it and really look at the car. Do you like it? Then tell her so. She is your friend after all. If you do not know the person then does it really matter? Do you know their circumstances? Do you know the payment? Do you know the insurance and licence plate costs? No. Then what do you care? As you go to work, or the store or drop the kids off....think about if you did not have the car you have and you were without. What would you need to do? Ask for rides? Lose your job? Take the bus/cab? BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE

Let's look at those shoes again.  Instead of not being thrilled because she has a million pairs of shoes look to your own closet and really play up your choice of clothing.  Get the focus off of your feet.  Look at your jewelry selection or a nice handbag that you haven't seen in ages because it is buried in the back of your closet. Maybe it is time to mix up your style. I like to watch different shows on cable TV (especially "What Not to Wear") and after watching it...I will go shopping in my own closet. I will get tips and pointers from the show on "what goes" (you will only understand this phrase if you watch an episode) and then find it in my closet and sometimes have 2 or three new outfits. And say to myself "oh, I would have never thought about putting that together...but I be darned, it looks great"  Give it a try ladies... ya never know...ONCE YOU ARE THANKFUL FOR YOUR CLOSET AND EVERYTHING IN IT...you may see things in a new perspective and gain a new wardrobe.
****Special Note: I am sorry to say, some ladies will focus on your shoes no matter if you are wearing a well lit candelabra on your head --they are still going to look at your shoes and there is nothing we can do about it. ((it is one more thing to make us all different)) 

Everybody else is bragging about where they went for vacation but maybe you took a STAYCATION. Oh there is absolutely nothing wrong with a STAYcation  They are VERY relaxing. Sometimes I have noticed a vacation is sometimes tiring not to mention stressful to plan. Staycations can be taken in your hometown at the local parks (sometimes there may be a free concert going on)(( cheapy entertainment will be covered in another blog post at a later date so stay tuned) . These STAYcations can also be taken right in front of your TV. Rent every episode of StarWars (if SciFi is your thing)  and watch them back to back. OR....try getting all the way through a really good book without having to set it down.  BE THANKFUL FOR THE LITERAL REST AND RELAXATION.
I brought up the fact that ya never get to go out and eat right? Well maybe it is time to get creative in the kitchen. Especially if you are on the Staycation. If you are not able to get out to a restaurant, bring the restaurant home.  Go online and look up some of the recipes for entrees or appetizers from your favorite restaurant and become the Master Chef of the GREATEST KITCHEN EVER--yours!!! Try some creative ideas for a new dessert YUM!!!! ((IceBox Cheesecake....look it up ladies--quite a summer treat and do NOT be afraid to mix up the flavor of jello instead of just lemon)) By doing this, you may just find a new skill that is buried deep inside that needs a little tug to bring it out.

What are some discouraging thoughts you have had to keep you from enjoying life? Are you having them now? What are some tips and tactics you have used to get you passed your ungrateful childish behavior? (Oh yes, I had to go there, I said childish. Reason being, because when I am acting ungrateful I refer to myself as the SPOILED BRAT)

 Do you usually wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful???  Don't wait!!! Take a mental and physical inventory of what you have. As you see your list say or write "thank you" after each item.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?    BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE--  
 Celebrate Thanksgiving Everyday!!! Gobble Gobble!!!!!


Ok ladies....after mentioning that cheesecake.....I cannot resist the obligation I have to all of you to post the recipe found on http://www.cooks.com/ so here it is.....(remember to try some experimentation....and be creative)

GRANDMA SWIFT'S ICEBOX CHEESECAKE Printed from COOKS.COM Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,161,156182-247192,00.html Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved. FILLING BASE: 1 (3 oz.) pkg. lemon gelatin 1 c. boiling water CRUST: 1 1/4 c. graham cracker crumbs 1/4 c. sugar 1/4 c. softened butter FILLING: 1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese (softened) 1 c. sugar 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk, chilled and whipped until stiff Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and let cool and begin to set. Combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter, reserving 1/4 for topping. Press the rest into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan and place in refrigerator. Cream together the cheese and sugar, then fold in the gelatin and whipped milk and pour over the crust. Sprinkle the topping over the filling and chill until serving time.

"What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” Richard Bach

With this quote in mind....read the following inspirational story about another phase of the life of a butterfly.....

A man was out one day taking his daily walk when he came upon the a cocoon of a butterfly. Over the following days the man watched the cocoon and then one day a small opening appeared in it. He sat and watched and as he did a butterfly a began to force its body through the small opening in the cocoon. The butterfly struggled and it's struggle went on for quite sometime. After awhile the butterfly seemed to stop making progress. It appeared that the butterfly had gotten as far as it could and unable to go on. This troubled the watching man and so he decided to help the butterfly in it's struggle to be free of the cocoon.. He took out his penknife and with the inbuilt snippers carefully cut away the remaining shell of the cocoon.
Free now of the remaining cocoon the butterfly emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man remained watching the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the insect's wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Unfortunately neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its like crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never to fly in all it's lifetime.
The road to ruin can often be paved with the best of intentions.
Though the man had acted in the best of intentions, in his kindness and haste in removing the remaining piece of the cocoon, he had deprived the butterfly the necessary struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, this is nature's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.                                                   Cite  (http://saveyourmarriage-now.com/Joomla/index.php/articles/41-marriage-and-relationship-articles/95-the-butterfly.html) Retrieved 7/9/11 at 7:52 pm 

     I had heard this story quite a long time ago and it is a GREAT story in my opinion to explain why we sometimes go through what we do to eventually get where we are. And if we always let everyone else do everything for us, we will always be limited.  If we work it out, it will strengthen us mentally to endure whatever may come our way.  (Not saying you cannot take advice from friends or family--make sure it is good advice and avoid emotional input because that can sometimes be damaging to our thinking. Do not think you cannot belong to support groups because many times it is helpful to see we are not the only ones going through the situation--not to mention seeing others that made it through and came out on the other side.)
     If you notice in the opening quote of this blog it explains the caterpillar's journey only to be cocooned away from the world and then emerge from the cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly--not so true in our little story.  The "struggle" and "fight" the butterfly endures is what causes its large beautiful wings to grow and creates a  lighter body to take flight to see and do things the butterfly could have never done without the process. Keep this in mind....each one of us has a journey and we ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY.  It is how you respond to those struggles and what thoughts (are they positive? They should be.) you have that will make the outcome take flight and show you things you may have not seen otherwise.   

If you have a story along these lines please feel free to share. We all like to hear the times of struggle where the person came out on the other side stronger and wisdom gained.

"The Morning Scramble"

I posted the question on FaceBook "what do you do to prevent the morning scramble?" The scramble? What is she talking about-eggs?? Who has time for that? What I am talking about has nothing to do with eggs because after all like you said --Who has time for that? The scramble I am talking about is the one where we sometimes, or maybe go through it every morning......you look at the clock before you get in the shower and think "ah plenty of time", get out of the shower start drying the hair, getting dressed, interesting news bit comes on TV--gotta stop and watch....you know the routine. Then ya think, better check the clock again....OMG! I have 10 minutes (if that) to get out the door and get going. NOW THE PRESSURE IS ON!  What do you do?

Why?

Inspired by my entire life's journey and not always knowing why I was lead through certain points of my life, I came up with the idea of this blog.  I have mostly been challenged by either money or time (usually more challenges came from money...or shall I say lack there of).  But now, from all of those challenges I have learned a few shortcuts, tricks and tips and gained a few tools of the trade along the way.  I am using this blog to share them all with other women and hopefully any of you reading this will be inspired to do the same.