Trim meat from meals to trim your expenses
June 13, 2008
Many people are trying to scale back their expenses to make ends meet.
I don’t want to say that it’s easy to scale back on the things we want, because that often means a change in lifestyle. However, it’s possible.
It is much harder to control costs when it comes to life’s necessities. One of those necessities is food. We all have to eat, and most of us would like to eat a somewhat healthy and balanced diet.
Cutting back on meat in meals may seem daunting if you’ve never ventured into meat-free cooking.
A recent New York Times article offers some great practical advice for scaling back on meat in your meals. Like any other habits you change, it will take some getting used to, but it can be done.
One great suggestion in the article is to make meat a small part of your meal instead of the main attraction. Rice and beans are very affordable and can be purchased in bulk if you’re trying to feed a growing family. Serve rice or beans as the main staple of the meal and incorporate a little meat.
For some great vegetarian recipes, check out www.vegcooking.com. You can also Google “vegetarian cooking” for more sites. If you can’t stomach the thought of going completely meat free, you could add a small amount of meat to many of these recipes.
I am not a vegetarian, but I like to eat meat-free meals. I have found lots of ways to convert some typical meaty meals into vegetarian meals. Here are two suggestions to get you started:
One of my favorites is lasagna. This is an easy one. Instead of using beef in the layers, I substitute spinach and mushrooms sautéed with a little garlic. You get a ton of protein from the spinach (plus frozen spinach is only about $1 a pack) and a meaty texture from the mushrooms.
Another one of my favorite meals is chicken fajitas. If I want to go meat free, I substitute zucchini, squash and black beans for the chicken. You could also add tofu.
But now the question becomes, how do you eat meat-free in a cost effective way?
Starting a garden of your own is one of the most money friendly ways to get vegetables. Even if you don’t have a lot of space you could grow some things, like tomatoes or fresh herbs, in pots.
Don’t pass by Farmer’s Markets. You can often find high quality produce at a lower cost than the grocery store.
If you are shopping at the grocery store, buy what’s on sale that week. Check out the store circulars and plan meals around the weekly specials.
If you find fruits or veggies that are on sale and will freeze well, buy extra and store it.
Going meat-free, at least a few times a week, can help you trim your food costs. You just have to show a little initiative and a willingness to try something new.
Don’t become an on-line identity theft victim
May 9, 2008
Computers are wonderful things. They allow us access to our bank accounts, credit card statements, and just about any type of reading you could want.
But, those wonderful computers can also allow con artists access to your most personal information effectively making you a victim of identity theft.
Last week I wrote about scammers who are capitalizing on the economic stimulus checks that have already been electronically distributed to some Americans and will continue to be distributed by mail through mid-summer.
As a follow up, we’ll talk a bit about internet security in general.
To give credit where credit is due, I got this idea from a colleague who handed me the May 1 edition of the Wall-Street Journal. Writer Walter S. Mossberg covered this topic. Any information I pass along from the article will be so credited.
I mentioned this last week, but it bears repeating: DO NOT give out any of your personal information via the internet (or the telephone for that matter) if you are not 100 percent certain of who is on the receiving end of that information.
That is how so many of these internet scams start. An individual receives a very legitimate looking e-mail asking about a timely topic, such as the tax rebates, and that well-intentioned individual supplies all kinds of information under the false pretense of making a legitimate transaction.
Have you gotten one of the many e-mails circulating that claim to be from some guy living in a developing nation who desperately needs to get to the
Some e-mails practically scream SCAM! At least they scream to me, but not to everyone. During my years as a reporter I fielded numerous calls from good people who found themselves stunned and out of a lot of money after falling victim to scammers.
Now to borrow from Mr. Mossberg, here are some tips for navigating the web:
1) Never click on a link that is embedded in an e-mail from anything appearing to be a financial institution or any payment or auction web sites. Don’t click on the link even if it appears to be from your bank or a company with which you do business.
2) Don’t click on links to offers for free soft-ware or goods that you receive via e-mail. This is especially important if you receive an offer from a sender or company you don’t recognize.
3) Never download software from unfamiliar web sites unless you are absolutely certain it is legitimate.
4) If a web site tells you that you need a certain type of software to view videos, don’t download it from that site. Mr. Mossberg suggests you go directly to the software company’s official web site to download the product.
5) Use a web browser or security software with security features that will block or warn you of phishing sites.
6) Educate yourself about internet scams.
If you would like to read more about this or check out Walt Mossberg’s other columns about the web, you can visit his web site at http://walt.allthingsd.com.
Go “green” and save some green
April 24, 2008
I don’t know many people who wouldn’t reduce their cost of living if they could. And many people would be happy to know that you can reduce costs at home and do something good for the environment.
Everyone is talking about “going green” these days. There are some easy ways to be Earth-friendly and pocketbook-friendly at the same time.
This article on MSN has some great suggestions of ways to go green including line drying clothes, using dish towels (especially vintage towels) in place of paper towels and napkins, and catching storm water from your gutters to water gardens and plants.
Here are some more ways to go green at home and save some green in the process:
· Invest in a water filter at home instead of buying bottled water.
· If you don’t have a place to recycle plastic shopping bags, keep them. They are useful for many things including as trash bags or cleaning up after pets.
· If you have a spray bottle of window cleaner, when it’s empty, fill it with vinegar and use that to clean your windows.
· When cleaning, use rags instead of paper towels, and look for mops with removable, washable heads. You won’t have to keep buying new sponges and mops.
· Check out the power of baking soda. It can be used as a substitute for many things including store bought cleaning products and deodorizers.
· Don’t leave the water running while you brush your teeth. A typical faucet releases about three gallons of water a minute. Look at the math on this one: If you have a household of four people, and each person saves two gallons of water when they brush their teeth, and each person brushes their teeth twice a day, your household could save up to 112 gallons of water a week or 5,824 gallons a year!
· Buy compact florescent light bulbs. They use less electricity and last much longer than incandescent bulbs.
· Did you print something on the computer only to realize there’s a mistake or you don’t really need the printout? Don’t throw the paper away. Simply flip it over and keep it handy for scrap paper before tossing it.
· If you have items around your home that you no longer use, sell them instead of sending them to the landfill. Garage sales and online auction sites are a great way to get rid of unwanted household items and toys and put a little extra cash in your pocket.
Those are just a few tips on living greener and cheaper. Do you have any suggestions of simple ways to be environmentally friendly and save money?
Trying to save money on groceries? Try clipping coupons
April 16, 2008
The Associated Press released an article this week detailing the rising food prices.
According to the story, which you can find here, food costs are rising at the fastest rate in 17 years, and it could get worse.
The cost of eggs is up 25 percent from last years, while the price of milk and other dairy products has gone up 13 percent. Chicken and other poultry is up 7 percent.
“How can people deal with these rapidly increasing prices,” I wondered. Then, I thought about my mother.
I can remember Sunday mornings as a child. My mom would sit on the family room floor, drinking her tea, coupon cutter in hand and pages of advertisements spread out before her.
She always had a nice stack of coupons by the end of the clipping. She kept them in a coupon holder I made in second grade as a Mother’s Day project. It was quite possibly the ugliest thing I created in my years of school-made arts and crafts, but being a good mom, she used it for years.
Flash forward a couple of decades … As an adult, I don’t clip coupons. For years I’ve gone to the store and gotten what I needed or wanted without a thought about coupons or looking for store specials.
I decided this rather frivolous way of shopping has got to stop. With the increasing cost of groceries, gas and utilities, we can’t afford to spend more than necessary.
I have a plan to reduce my grocery costs based on research I’ve done and information and tips from our counselors and educators here at Advantage.
Here’s my plan:
· Take the time to clip coupons or find coupons online. I’ve found good coupons on www.coupons.com. I also discovered many companies actually put coupons on their web sites. It’s worth it to take the time to visit web sites for products that you buy frequently.
· Actually look at the store fliers that come in the mail. I plan to see what products are on sale that week and plan my meals according to the specials.
· Try to let go of my brand loyalty and try something different if it is on sale or a less expensive store brand.
· Buy extra meat or poultry when it’s on sale and freeze it for future use.
· Cook a little extra so there is a meal or two left for lunches throughout the week.
I’ve heard stories about people who will go to several different stores to buy sale items and get the best price. The only thing I would caution is to plan your trips carefully and make sure you are not spending more money on gas than you are actually saving.
None of these steps are difficult. They just require time and planning, something that can seem daunting because so many of us find that our time is at a premium.
I’ll keep you posted of my progress.
Please feel free to share any tips you have for cutting grocery costs or successes you’ve had with coupon clipping or finding grocery store bargains.
Your wedding: Can you afford it?
April 9, 2008
Nearly every little girl dreams of her wedding day. Along with dreams of a beautiful dress, a handsome groom, an impressive hall and a fun party comes the reality of paying for that dream.
Unfortunately most of us don’t think about the cost in that childhood dream.
Once you actually start planning a wedding reality hits … big time.
I know because I’m in the midst of planning, and paying for, my wedding.
From one who is on the front lines of wedding finances, I’d like to offer some advice.
First, decide what you can realistically afford to pay for a wedding. If you are counting on money from your parents or in-laws, make sure you know how much money they will be contributing. You don’t have to be rude or demand money, just make sure you know where your finances stand.
Here are some typical things you might need to include in your budget:
· Invitations
· Photographer
· Videographer
· Church musicians
· Contribution to your church or officiate
· Reception expenses (Including food, beverages and any other fees)
· Transportation, such as limo service
· Gifts for attendants
Once you have a budget in mind, then begin looking at locations and vendors. Most places have price lists available online, so you can get an idea of what your costs will be.
Don’t be afraid to tell vendors what your budget is because many can work with you. My fiancé and I were able to tell our florist how much we could afford to put towards flowers, and she worked with us to come up with something that we loved and that fit within our budget.
When you start to try on gowns, be upfront with your consultant about how much money you can afford to spend. Make sure to include all alterations, your veil, undergarments, shoes and accessories into your cost. Your $600 gown could easily end up costing you double that much by the time you factor in the other costs.
If you are on a very tight budget, consider looking for clearance sales or dresses that were designed for a bridesmaid or as a prom gown. These dresses are often beautiful and appropriate for a fraction of the cost of a more traditional wedding gown.
I would recommend only planning a wedding that you can afford to pay for in cash. The last thing you want to do is start your new life as a couple mired in debt. This may mean making some tough decisions. For example, we’ve decided to forgo a professional videographer and get family to take home movies of the day because we were determined to stay within our budget
If your dream wedding is more than you can afford and you’re not willing to scale back, take a look at how long it would take you to save up enough money. Wouldn’t it be better to push your wedding date back a few months to save up more money than it would be to wrack up debt that will cost you interest and could take years to pay off?
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