September

20th Litchfield, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

21st New Ulm, MN Once a Month Cooking

23rd New Ulm, MN Homemade Cleaning Supplies

27th Gibbon/Fairfax/Winthrop, MN Fun & Frugal

28th New Ulm, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

30th Eden Valley/Watkins, MN Once a Month Cooking

October

4th Litchfield, MN Fun & Frugal

6th Eden Valley/Watkins, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

11th Redwood Falls, MN Fun & Frugal

12th New Ulm, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

14th Delano, MN Once a Month Cooking

18th Cold Springs, MN Homemade Cleaning Supplies

19th Litchfield, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

25th Cold Springs, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

27th Bird Island/Olivia/Lake Lillian/Danube, MN Once a Month Cooking

28th Delano, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

November

1st Eden Valley/Watkins, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

3rd Bird Island/Olivia/Lake Lillian/ Danube, MN Once a Month Cooking

4th Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

8th Redwood Falls, MN Homemade Cleaning Supplies

9th Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City, MN Homemade Cleaning Supplies

10th Bird Island/Olivia/Lake Lillian/ Danube, MN Fun & Frugal

11th Redwood Falls, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

15th Marshall, MN Advanced Coupon Strategies

16th Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City, MN Stress Free Holiday Workshop

18th Atwater/Cosmos/Grove City, MN Fight the Paper War

22nd New Ulm, MN Organize Your Kids

23rd New Ulm, MN Fight the Paper War

29th Delano, MN Fun & Frugal

30th Bird Island/Olivia/Lake Lillian/ Danube, MN Organize Your Kids

E-mail me for more info or contact the Community Ed Dept to register.

I love to open my freezer each morning and be able to pull out the next evenings meal, usually already prepared and the label says, “Heat and eat.”  Wouldn’t that be nice?   have told many that I’m spoiled and wouldn’t be a happy camper if I had to work until 5:00, come home and decide what I’m going to make my family for an evening meal.  I can usually tell you what we’re having for supper “tomorrow night” if you ask me……I know…..I’m weird!

Freezing things ahead is a really good idea.  Try making a double portion of lasagna or some other casserole and freezing part of it.  Even if you only do it once, it will save you money because you won’t be running to Applebee’s for that $40 dinner!

If you know me personally, you know that I’m all about keeping things simple.  I even stick to that plan with food for my family.  I don’t make myself crazy by looking through cookbooks to find something for my family to eat.  Be simple and observant.  Most families have favorites or have “must have meals”.  Always try to keep those things on hand.  Complicated means purchasing exotic, expensive ingredients.  Challenge yourself to use up what you have in your cupboards, freezer and pantry……..and add spices to zest is up a bit!

The general frugal advice (and it’s the truth) is that you need to cook at home to save the big bucks.  However, the planning system will also work if you aren’t entirely ready to live without convenience foods and restaurant meals.  Take advantage of sales on frozen or prepared items if you have a coupon and can get that item for VERY reasonable.  Note restaurant specials and clip fast food coupons wherever you see them.  Just incorporate the restaurant meals or convenience foods into your meal plan.  The point is to save money no matter how and where you choose to eat.  We eat out maybe once a month if that and always have a coupon or discount of some kind.  If we are traveling, I pack a picnic lunch and eat when we arrive, or snack on something on the way home.

I recently got some sweet corn, from a roadside stand along the highway.  It was 90 degrees the day that I had planned on freezing it, so I opted for the option–freezing sweet corn without blanching/cooking.

If you haven’t done your sweet corn yet this year, give this a try.

1/4 c. sugar

3 tsp. salt

4 c. ice water

16 cups corn

Mix together, bag and freeze.

No need to boil.  When ready to eat………unthaw, heat thoroughly in a saucepan, oven or microwave, but do NOT bring to a boil.

I plan everything, or almost everything!  I panic if something happens and I haven’t planned for it………….which isn’t good!  I am learning, however, to be more flexible and “go with the flow” believe it or not.

One thing, however, saves you money and time is food planning.  Weekly or biweekly plan a list of menus and write a shopping list after checking your refrigerator/pantry and your grocery store’s weekly ad.  Meal planning is key.  It will simplify your life and cut your costs.  I usually make a biweekly shopping list because more shopping equals more opportunity to spend.

If you’re wanting to move toward the frugal  living theme, there is a lot of wiggle room in the food family budget.  I don’t know about you, but food has a deep daily impact on those that I love and live with!  It’s a huge part of family life.  The shopping and preparations are part of that love too!

Are you wondering how to save money without messing up the love?  It can be a struggle to make that change.  I would recommend implementing one frugal tip at a time instead of trying to change many things…….you don’t want to hear, “What’s Mom trying to do to us!”

When I started my thriftiness journey years ago, of course, I put into action what I learned at home and what my Mom taught me.  I also gathered frugal tips from books, magazines, the internet and friends who were with me on this journey.   I implemented one frugal tip at a time, started Once a Month Cooking, started couponing and over the course of a few years, I can honestly say that I spend less than $300 a month on our family food budget……….and we don’t eat Ramen Noodles!  I have cut 50% of our food budget within the last year.

People don’t become truly frugal overnight, but small changes make a big difference.  If you’re interested in learning more about the Once a Month Cooking or couponing or learn how to trim our family food budget, stay tuned……….upcoming classes this fall through Tidy Tightwads.

photo credit: foilman

If your child uses a lunch box, purchase an extra one at the start of the school year–like now. Once school starts and the year is underway, stores tend to clear out their original stock of these items.  The restock is slim and the cost is higher.  The chance of milk getting spilled or a Berry juice box leaking are high………plus how much fun would it be to get a fresh, new lunch box at Christmas time and pitch the old “spoiled milk” smelling one!

I was shopping yesterday with my tween and was impressed that she had cut out coupons before we went and had her list made up as well as a LIMIT amount she was going to spend on the list for each store. She had a budget!

I have been extreme couponing since February.  At the beginning of summer, one of her chores is to cut and file my coupons.  This can be good and bad.  When I don’t file them, I don’t really know what I have and what I don’t…..but she does!  She is aware of the categories and usually what coupons are available to us.

As we shopped and spent the day together yesterday, we went into many stores.  I visited with her about using coupons, comparing prices, etc.  The ULTA store was having a grand opening……they had a discount coupon which we used on our purchase and they also had a coupon for a free goodie bag……….since she was with me, the clerk gave her a free goodie bag also…without an extra coupon…………..how impressive to a tween to get a goodie bag full of hair gel, perfume, lip gloss and hair shine!!!

Office supply as well as Target and your Marts have price wars on paper goods, pens, pencils, crayons, etc.  to stir up the back to school shopping instinct.  Stock up now on these items.  Buy enough to last all year and stash away for that little something for a child’s birthday gift or for those Operation Christmas Child boxes.