Tip of the Day 8/30/11

Does your morning routine consist of kids arguing over what to wear, can't find their shoes, or showing up in a winter sweater at the breakfast table when it is still 85 degrees outside? Maybe it looks like a tornado went through your room before you left for work because there are so many clothes strewn across the bed from all the outfits you tried on before deciding on the right thing for the day.

If either of these scenarios sounds familiar, I am here to say there is a better way to start your day. A little pre-planning is all it takes.

The night before choose everything (and I mean everything including underwear) that each family member needs to get dressed in the morning. Even if your child wears uniforms to school they have different things to choose from, shorts vs. pants, hair bows, socks, etc. When choosing your own outfits for the next day try something on if you aren't sure if you need a cami under a top, it will save having to start over in the morning. Choose jewelry and change out purses if you desire the night before. Plan it all and your fuzzy brain won't have to think about it in the morning.

Making this a part of your nightly routine really does not take long and is much easier than the frustration and chaos of trying to do it in the morning. Give it a try for a week and see if it helps the morning routine. I believe you will be pleased.

Tip of the Day 8/29/11

When I was a kid we always had hot lunch at school which I liked, but I always thought it would be fun to take my lunch to school in a lunch box or paper bag. One of my favorite memories is staying the night with a friend and her mom packing a sack lunch for us. When we moved to a new state in 7th grade the school did not have a cafeteria and I got to have a lunch box. I loved it, but it was only for three months, then we moved and I had hot lunch again. I guess I couldn't get bored with the lunch menu in three months time, but some kids take lunch for years and it can get really old for Mom or Dad trying to figure out what to pack. "Lunchables" are expensive and we all want something for the kids that is nutritious, but that they won't throw away. So, where do we turn?

A great place to start is at the dinner table. You’d be surprised at what foods he may enjoy cold and if your child’s classroom has a microwave your options are even better. Maybe your child loves broccoli or carrots, try vege chips or dried veges--green beans are awesome. Offer new items as an after school snack and if they like them, then you know they won't be throwing them away. Don't pack something new without trying it at home first.

Here are a few easy fixes.

Sandwich Roll Ups

Sandwich roll ups can take on many forms. For instance an easy lunch may include deli rolls made by spreading thin slices of salami with a little mustard. Add a strip of cheese and a pickle spear. Roll up. Secure with toothpicks. Or spread slices of ham with cream cheese. Roll up and eat as is or slice into 1-inch spirals.

Mini Subs

Make a miniature submarine sandwich out of a hot dog bun. Use pepperoni slices and other favorite meats. Slice regular sized deli meat into thin strips. Add cheese and shredded lettuce. Pack a small container of salad dressing to pour on top at lunchtime.

Homemade Lunchables

Instead of paying top dollar for a boxed lunch of meat, cheese, crackers, a treat and a sugar based beverage with little to no nutritional value, be creative and encourage your children make their own.

The best way to interest your child in making his own "Lunchables" is to encourage him to select both the container and the ingredients. What kinds of deli meat, cheese and crackers does he prefer? When shopping for groceries ask that your deli meat be sliced thick instead of shaved or regular slices. If your child doesn’t like the idea of square deli meats use cookie cutters to cut out meat and cheese.

Pack milk or juice boxes instead of pop or fruit flavored beverages. Maybe you can compromise on the ‘treat’ by offering a dried fruit or cereal mix with a few M& M’s or even purchase some ‘treat size’ chocolate bars and keep them on hand for those special days when homemade "Lunchables" will be on the easy lunch menu.

Cold Dogs

If your child enjoys cold pizza maybe he would also like to try a cold hot dog. (After all, wieners are already cooked.) Just put the condiments directly on the bun, add a wiener and wrap up.

Be creative using the leftovers of foods they really enjoy at the dinner table.

Tip of the Day 8/24/11

Yes, I have brought this topic up before, but you will all thank me in December if you have been following my tips. Christmas Eve is just 4 months from today. Have you started your shopping yet? It is never too early, but it can be too late. Right now is a great time to shop because of end of the season bargains. Don't limit your thinking to winter items for giving. Last year I was able to find swimming pools at a great price at the end of the season. Think birthday shopping as well.

When shopping markdowns, be sure to check with the service desk and ask if the item is at it's lowest markdown. Many stores have certain days of the week for the department markdowns and if the next markdown is due the following day they will often go ahead and give you the discount. TJ Max is a great place to always ask.

Give yourself a jump start to enjoy the season this year.

Tip of the Day 8/23/11

When I opened the door this morning I could feel Fall in the air. The temps are cooler and more dew on the grass. The leaves are beginning their early turning and there is just an anticipation that comes with the changing of the seasons.

With the coming of Fall and the beginning of school we start looking at all the things we set aside to enjoy the summer, or endure the heat. Now is a great time to prep the outside of your house for the coming months. Do an inspection of the outside of the house and make note of the things that really should be done before winter, maybe the windows need washing, clean out the gutters before they fill with leaves, clean the flower beds and put in some Fall color, sweep away the cobwebs that have accumulated, wash down the patio furniture. Spend the days outside enjoying the color weather.

Tip of the Day 8/22/11

We are in what many consider the last weeks of Summer. Kids have already started school in a lot of places. I am so thankful our school districts follow the tradition of not starting school until after Labor Day. Our nights are getting cooler and all the stores are filled with Fall clothing and I even saw Halloween items out as I did my shopping last week.

Now is a great time to repeat some of the things we have done at the beginning of other seasons. A good place to start is in the closets. A while back I suggested hanging all of your clothing in the closet with the hangers facing the opposite direction as you normally would, then when you wear an item hang it back up normally. This is an easy way to determine what you have actually worn throughout a season. If you did this at the beginning of the summer you should have some items now easily identifiable as ready to be removed from your wardrobe.

Remove anything not worn, that no longer fits, you don't like, etc. Place in your car so that the next time you are near the thrift store you can drop the items off. Or, if you like to have garage sales, set them aside in a designated area of the basement or garage for that event. Be thorough as you go through the items, if you didn't wear it this year, you aren't going to wear it next year. Let it go.

Now you will be ready to move all of those beautiful Fall pieces into the closet.

Tip of the Day 8/17/11

Well, my shopping is complete for the next 6 months. The next time I really grocery shop will be when the tulips are just starting to poke their little heads through the snow.

Today I will answer some very common questions I am asked about this process.

How do you make provisions for "Fresh" items like produce and milk?

Every weekend I determine what meals I will be preparing during the following week then I make a trip to my local market and pick up the few fresh items I need. By going into the store with cash I limit myself to only purchasing the items I specifically NEED. Of course depending on the size of your family, how much milk you drink, etc., you will need to determine what that amount is. During the summer months I take advantage of all the fresh fruit and vegetables stands on every corner, so I may spend a little more during the week, but the initial outlay at the store is less than in the Fall, so it balances out. The key is to only purchase the items you went into the store for. Do not wander the aisles or think because something is on sale you should pick it up. You have a full pantry and freezer, you are just supplementing, not shopping.

What about special occasions and holidays?

By using my calendar I am able to anticipate pretty accurately what special occasions I will need special items for in advance. For instance when I shop in the Spring I know we will have a big cookout for at least 2 holidays, Memorial Day and the 4th of July, so I purchase the things I will want to fix for those occasions, as well as Easter Dinner. Included in my Fall shopping trip are the items I need for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner (except the turkey because of the sale price later and space considerations) as well as the items needed to do all of my holiday baking. In the Spring I purchase sunblock and bug repellant, in the Fall I stock up on cough drops and Airborn. It is all about anticipating any scenario and needs your family might have. In the middle of the winter when I come down with a cough in the middle of the night I know I have cough syrup in the cabinet.

How do I determine how much I need of each item?

This is an easily learned skill and why I recommend doing a 1 month trip, then a 3 month, before attempting a 6 month. By shopping for 1 month you will be able to determine how much toothpaste, deodorant, laundry soap, etc. you use during that month and be able to pretty accurately come up with amount needed for 3 months. At the end of three months you will be able to determine how close you came and adjust accordingly for six months. To determine food needs I base my planning on 5 meals per week to allow for leftovers and changes in schedules that naturally occur. We go out to eat once per pay day, every two weeks, but enjoy a nice "restaurant style" meal once a week at home, so I plan that into my shopping. Our church eats together every Sunday and I am responsible fore dessert every 8 weeks, so I factor about 3 special desserts into my planning. Maybe your family eats at Grandma's every Sunday or you have friends over every other Friday night and eat sloppy joes or pizza together, factor all these types of things into your planning and you will come very close to meeting your goals.

Do you only purchase consumables and things on your list?

I try to anticipate my needs for the next 6 months when I make this trip in order to keep from making other trips. Once a year I like to replace all of my kitchen towels and dishrags (I use the white bar mop towels and rags) so I pick them up on my Fall trip. Keep a running list of the things that you need to pick up or replace and try to wait until your next big trip for them. I usually need something like a new dish brush or yesterday I needed a new oven mitt. I always walk the clearance aisle to see if there are items that fit into my gift giving needs for the next 6 months (I have a separate stash of money for these purchases) or other items that I know I NEED, not just want. I have found toothpaste in that aisle and was able to stock up at 1/2 price. Yesterday I found a vacuum cleaner attachment for mini-blinds marked down to $1.50. That is perfect to try for my Fall cleaning. The key is not to purchase things just because it looks like a good deal. Stick to your list and NEEDS. Buying a bunch of things because they are on sale, but not on your list, is not saving money.

How does shopping like this save more money than shopping the sales and using coupons each week?

This was one of my biggest questions as well when we started, but it has proven to be a HUGE money saver. The principle is similar to buying in bulk. Fewer trips to the store saves time, gas, and keeps you from purchasing unnecessary items. No more running from store to store to get the best deals, choose the stores you find to best meet your needs (I recommend no more than 2) and only shop there. By shopping this way you always have food in the house and will eat out less often which leads to healthier lifestyles and fewer doctor visits. But the biggest thing is seeing the actual savings on the receipt. I only cut coupons out 1 - 2 months before my next shopping trip and only cut out the ones I know I need, not things that I might want to purchase. During the year we will occasionally purchase an item at our local store because it is on sale. Ice cream is so expensive, not to mention the containers are smaller, so we watch for it to go on sale.

How much do you spend every six months?

This is probably the one question everyone asks and I am happy to share the answer because you will see from this number why I am a firm believer in this process. My total bill from yesterday was $1160. Adding to that what we anticipate spending in addition over the next 6 months we will spend around $250 per month including going out to eat 2 times a month or approximately $1500 dollars every 6 months. This is proven by the close watch we keep on our spending with a daily calendar where we write down what we send each day. We are a household of 2, but if you watch my posts of meals we frequently eat you know we do not live on beans and rice. :)

If you have other questions you would like answered let me know and I will be happy to do my best.

Tip of the Day 8/16/11

Today we will take a look at how to use the inventory you have done of all the consumable products in your house.

Based on this list I begin to develop a menu to use all the items I still have from my last shopping trip. I use these items before I use the new items I will be buying on my current trip. After a few times of shopping this way you should have a master list for the Fall/Winter months and a list for the Spring/Summer. Mine are combined into one list, but I know which items I use during each season. I am not as likely to use as many baking items in the summer (a lot of them are specifically for holiday baking) and we don't grill as much in the winter so I don't need as much steak rub, etc. in the winter.

As I have inventoried I have made a notation next to the items that are partially used and need more of. We all have our favorite recipes and style of food we cook. frequently, so shopping can actually become fairly easy. If there are new recipes you want to try over the next few months add any new ingredients to your standard list. If the family enjoys that recipe then permanently add those ingredients to your list.

Remember to include everything you can think of that your family consumes when making this list, not just food items.

Now, since I completed my inventory yesterday, I am off to do my shopping including the items I will need for holiday baking.