Frugal and Fun Times

McDonalds Monopoly Codes

2010-10-07T05:26:00.001-07:00

I got two free codes for the online game for McDonalds Monopoly game.

I6L6V4N4T10
and

MCRFREECODE

Good Luck!

Freezer Tip.

2009-11-12T04:41:00.000-08:00

Do you want to not have all you nice dishes in your freezer? Line the pan with plastic wrap and put it in the freezer and when it is frozen solid take it out of the pan. Wrap it tight. When you are ready to eat it, un wrap it and place it in a pan to cook.

Pinching your pennies giveaway!

2009-10-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132427

Pinching your pennies, a fantastic money saving website, is having another great giveaway. A Camp Chef stove with an over $300 value!

Make your own diet meals.

2009-08-31T21:53:00.000-07:00

It is hard to lose weight and the cost of the frozen meals that are healthy for you are out of control. I have decided to try making my own diet meals and see how that goes. Usualy when I make freezer meals I make a family portion and though I try to keep it healthy I never know the calorie count. I will make individual servings and know what I am eating. I will let you all know how it goes

Free Vitamin!

2009-08-29T14:14:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample of vitamins here from the makers of emercen-c.

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid75256.aspx

Odd Jobs.

2009-08-10T03:43:00.001-07:00

Money has been tight for many of us, or even if it isnt, who could not use a little extra money? On Msn there is this great article about people who have found odd jobs, little ways to bring in extra money. Some people have been very creative.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/18-ways-to-earn-100-dollars-a-month.aspx?page=1

Contest, The Pantry giveaway.

2009-07-15T14:21:00.000-07:00

Shelf Reliance is giving us the chance to win a shelving system again. This time it is the 72 inch Pantry system.

Check it out here.

http://www.shelfreliance.com/blog/index.php/2009/07/10/free-friday-pantry-72/

Pinching Your Pennies!

2009-07-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

I have a secret weapon in my war to save money. This is my go to site when I am planning my grocery trip. It is a good source for great online deals and is priceless around the holidays when the stores turn to boxing rings. There are so many great money saving ideas and sources here. Check it out and I think you will love it too.

http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com

And were back!

2009-07-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

We have our internet back. No more depending on random wifi. I do have to admit I depend on the internet more then I thought and it was an eye opener. Now back to business.

Freezer Meal Friday.

2009-06-25T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yes I know it isnt really friday yet. With my internet problems I thought I would post this one early just incase I wake up to no internet again.

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS-
* I make a bunch of these at a time and make an assembly line. I also buy aluminum pans in bulk since I done own enough baking dishes to have them all tied up in the freezer.

* When you put the sauce on make sure it covers the tortillas, this will make a better meal in the end and help with the drying out.

2 Cups Chopped Cooked Chicken
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
2 Cans Red Enchilada Sauce
1/2 Cup Cheese - I like Montery Jack but most anything works.
Tortillas- I use flour.

In the bottom of the pan you are using put a few spoons full of the enchilada sauce down and spread it around. This will make a light layer to go between your pan and enchiladas.
Mix the CoC soup and the rest of the enchilada sauce plus the can up to make a sauce. Take half of the sauce and set it aside. Mix in the Chicken. Put a bit of the chicken mix in the tortilla and top it with a small bit of cheese. Roll it up and place it in the pan. Continue until you are out of chicken mixture. Top with the rest of the sauce and spread it around well. Sprinkle any extra cheese around to make it pretty.

Since this is some thing I make a lot of I tend to mix it up now and again. I have added a can of green chilis, Ive mixed in an onion and I have put olives on the top. They all work well. This also works well with beef or I assume most any filling.

Cover it with foil and mark it.

It cooks the best if you thaw it out. Cook it at 350 for 30 minutes or until it is warmed through. If you are cooking from frozen cook longer. If you are in a hurry broil the top until it looks nice and done and take it out, microwave until it is warmed through.

I will be making a batch soon and I will post some pictures then.

Free Paint!

2009-06-25T20:16:00.001-07:00

Act fast because time is ticking. Glidden is giving away a free quart of paint to those who ask for one. It is only a quart but it is a good start, a good supply of touch up paint, or a small accent wall- that is what we are doing.

Here is the link,
https://www.glidden.com/promotions/free-paint-giveaway.do

What will you do with the paint?

Giveaway- Free 2 week supply of food storage- (The Ready Store)

2009-06-25T16:07:00.001-07:00

Its another great give away! A two week supply of dried foods, a $166 value. Six #10 cans in a case. It couldnt be easier to get ready. They are also having a case lot sale for those of you who are interested.

Get more information here.

http://www.thereadystore.com/blog/443/free-ultimate-2week-supply-giveaway/?cat_req=true&utm_source=rne_ep101_20090625&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EP101&utm_content=blog&mc_cid=7b0d354bb5&mc_eid=ficqj7wLHE

Internet Problems.

2009-06-24T14:34:00.000-07:00

Our internet provider has been sold to Comcast and my internet has been out for most of the time since it was announced. We will be finding more reliable internet service but until then I will be posting when I can.

I was hoping to add some new items to the blog here and I was wondering what you all think.

Freezer fridays- A new freezer meal each friday.
More contests- the first one didnt get a lot of attention but I know we are new and still growing.
Freebie links-
Make your own Mondays-

What do you think? anything else I should be adding or adding more of?

Clear Remedy giveaway. (not here)

2009-06-24T14:30:00.000-07:00

On a great blog I follow they are having a great giveaway I wanted you all to know about. A $165 value, IQ Derma- Clear Remedy kit.

http://micheleslittlebitofthisandthat.blogspot.com/2009/06/clear-remedy-giveaway-my-very-1st.html

Good Luck.

Go ahead and ask!

2009-06-17T09:27:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of ways to get coupons. My favorite is the sunday paper. I get four papers delivered neatly to my drive way each sunday morning. My kids even love to go and get them for me!

My next favorite is to get them in the mail. There are not as many of them but they are usualy better coupons. I often email companies and request that they send me coupons. Not all companies do this but many do and will be happy to mail you out some. Often I get a surprise in the mail of a coupon for a free item and those are my favorite kinds.

Free on Friday; Bringing in the Harvest.

2009-06-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of Shelf Reliance products. When you are trying to fit all you can into a pantry the items they offer are lifesavers. They are currently giving away one of their best food ratation organizers on their blog and I wanted you all to know. All you need to do to enter is leave a comment.

http://www.shelfreliance.com/blog/?p=104

I hope one of you win! Good Luck.

Milk the kids birthdays.

2009-06-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

So its your kids birthday. Congrats, but how to make it feel special. How about free stuff. Join all the birthday clubs you can find.

How about a free Wacky Pack from Sonic? (I did read once that they also send a coupon for a Wacky Pack for $1.99 on their half birthday as well.)
http://wackypack.kidsbirthdayclub.com/sign_up.cfm

Want a free card and gift from Geffrey at Toys R Us?
http://www.trubdayclub.com/Verification.aspx

Free ice cream from Cold Stone Cremery.
http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/birthday/birthday_club.aspx

There are a lot of resturants that have the cards you can fill out and they will mail it back to you on your childs birthday. Fill them out, all of them. You might not go there but just in case you decide to, they are generally good for the whole month.

Or make it a treat for you too. Red Robin will give you a free burger on your birthday no matter what the age.
http://redrobin.fbmta.com/forms/redrobin/AgeGate.aspx

Ruby Tuesday makes the same offer.
http://www.rubytuesday.com/soconnected.asp

Look around, let everyone know its your kid's or who ever's birthday and let the free thing's roll in.

Clean Green.

2009-06-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

If you run out of cleaning supplys instead of running to the store you can clean up with things you already have at home.

Vinegar is a great all purpose cleaner. Mix one part vinegar to one part water and you have a great disinfectant, deoderizer and general cleaner. Dont worry about the smell, it will go away and you will only be left with clean. You can use vinegar to clean the rings out of toilets.

Lemon juice will help with stains. If you have a lemon that you have used the juice from toss it into the disposal to clean it up. You can also use lemon halfs to help you scrub like a dish brush.

Need a little more scrubbing power? Try baking soda. It is a soft scrubbing powder that can be mixed with vinegar or lemon juice to make a cleaning paste. It is also a great deoderizer.

Both of these items you can find on great sales and stock up on. Its earth friendly and easy on the wallet.

Free Samples.

2009-06-09T18:48:00.000-07:00

I love to get free samples in the mail. I hate to give out my phone number out though. My favorite site to get samples from Walmarts web site. The only ask for the info they need and it gets here fast.

Try it out here!

http://instoresnow.walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-And-Trials.aspx

Contest Time!

2009-05-29T21:20:00.001-07:00

Contest time! Yay, there will be a winner!

What is up for grabs here? A Scentsy warmer, Brownstone and a Scentsy bar, Hearth and Home. ( I changed it up a bit and did a full warmer instead of a plug in. Now has a $35 value)

How do you win it? Reply to this post and tell us why you love to save money! I will pick a random winner from those enter. I will announce the winner on Monday,June 23rd and that lucky person will have 3 days to contact me and claim their prize. If you enter please mark it on your calendar so you can check the results. Id hate to have someone win and me not be able to find them.

Please only enter if you live in the U.S.

Ready, Set, Go!

Lesson Learned.

2009-05-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

I know it sounds simple enough but it was a lesson I had to learn. Do it right the first time. Easy right. Buy the right thing, fix it right, dont cut corners unless it really wont matter.

When I was first married we lived on very little and bought the cheapest things we could find. I realize now looking back that we spent a lot of time and money replacing the cheap things we bought because they just didnt last. We bought cheap furniture and it fell apart, when we started looking for the solid wood stuff it lasted. If we would have just done it right the first time we would have saved a lot.

You dont need to go and spend a ton. You can find used deals online or at thrift shops. Let your friends and family know what you want and they can be looking too. Buy the right stuff the first time and save the rest.

Simple idea, big savings.

Freezer Meal Tips.

2009-05-26T09:15:00.000-07:00

This is a list of things that will make making freezer meals a bit easier. (I will add to this list overtime.)

* Have a few sets of measuring cups and spoons. You will get a lot of them dirty and it is a time saver to just grab another one rather then clean one up inbetween each item.

*#10 cans make life easy. It is like getting an extra hand. A gallon ziplock bag fits inside nice and the top will roll over the top of the can holding the bag up while you fill it. (#10 cans are the big ones, if you are not sure what size I am talking about google it, they hold about a gallon or 12 to 13 cups. The size you would find if you bought resturant sizes.)

* If you use a sharpie or a pen which I do most of the time, label the bag before you fill it. Beyond just being weird to write on a bag filled with stuff it just does not write as well. I am also a fan of the return address labels if I am doing a lot of something or if there are a lot of instructions. For meals I do over and over again I print out a full sheet and file for future use. Then all I need to do is pull off a label and place it on the bag or container.

* If you know you love a recipe and you will make it again, buy the things on sale and not all at once. I buy cream of chicken soup by the hundreds when it goes on a great sale. I know I will use it. Then when I am making the freezer meal that calls for it I know I dont need to buy it and I already got it at a great price. The pennies add up.

Creamy Chicken.

2009-05-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

I make this up in a large crock pot. My Crock pot holds about 5 pounds great so that is the batch I make.

For each batch you want add
1 1/4 pounds of chicken
1 cube butter
1 foil pack of italian dressing seasoning
1 block cream cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
and freezer bags.

Put all the chicken in the crock pot with the butter and italian dressing seasoning. Cook until the chicken is done. Add the cream cheese and the soup. Mix it up and let it cool a bit.

When you are ready to eat it just heat it up and serve it over noodles or rice.

This is a family favorite of mine so we make a lot of it.

(There are a few companies that make the italian dressing seasoning's. I wont buy generic here, it just does not turn out as good. Try a batch out and see if it is the brand you want to stick with before you make a million. I use good seasons.)

I feel like chicken tonight.

2009-05-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Once or twice a year I find chicken on sale for about $1.19 a pound. The catch is that you have to buy it in a 20 or 40 pound box. That is a lot of fresh chicken to deal with all at once unless you have a plan. Some of it I boil or BBQ and then use it later in meals. Most of it I us to make freezer meals. In case a deal like this comes to you I will be posting some of my favorite ways to make it up in the next few posts. If you ever want to see them all at the bottom of the blog page there is a labels list and there is a link for both Freezer Meals and Chicken. I try to keep things organized so you can find it if you want to later.

Does your bank offer bill payer?

2009-05-22T16:37:00.000-07:00

My bank offers bill payer services. I can set up my bills online and then they will mail them off and get the bills payed form my checking or savings. It saves me a stamp and a lot of worry. I can set my regular bills to be sent out once a month automaticaly and that is one less thing for me to think about. I just need to make sure that the money it there to pay the bills.

Over all no stamps, saves time, and keeps it simple.

The magic of the Library.

2009-05-17T15:12:00.000-07:00

I love books and so do my kids. It is one area that when things get tight we quit buying extra things and books are one of the first things to go.

Have you ever been to your local library? Books and lots of them. They are free to borrow unless you cant seem to get them back on time. They also offer story time for kids and access to the internet. They often have communtiy boards and book sales too. Check out your local library this summer and see what they have to offer to you.

Everything in it's place.

2009-05-13T16:07:00.001-07:00

How many times have you needed to wrap a present and the tape was no where to be found? I have a million times. Okay maybe a million times is a slight exaduration. I then have to run out and by new tape.

I now go with a labeling system and put things away. If it has a place I put it there. If it does not have a place then I find it one.

No more last minute runs to the store for things I already have.

Try it. It works.

Its turkey tonight, and tomorrow, and later too.

2009-04-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Each year around Thanksgiving the stores have great sales on Turkey. We usualy buy atleast 5. I know people get tired of having the same old thing, especialy when it is as time consuming as a turkey feast. My Son asked me if we were having Thanksgiving again. I have a plan.

Tonight we will have turkey, gravy and a vegi. Tomorrow we will have turkey chili verde, and we will also make the rest of the bird into extra turkey verde meals for the freezer. The bird I got for free will feed us 5 meals and a few snacks with minimal cost for supplys. The spices I have and the canned goods I have bought through the year when they were on sale.

The turkey verde is simple, I just use spices I have on hand, onions and garlic and a can of red enchilada sauce and a can of green chili verde sauce( or green enchilada sauce ). The turkey is dry and will absorb the flavors nicely. The meat and sauce will freeze nicely. I make a big batch and freeze it in portions my family will eat. We have it over rice or on a tortilla.

Same thing for dinner again and its okay.

2009-04-23T20:53:00.001-07:00

I remember growing up eating the same meals over and over again. We ate a lot of spruced up mac n cheese and when we could afford it hamburger patties. I never even knew the difference. As I got older my parents were able to afford more and the menu grew.

Now as I feed my own family we tend to eat the same things over and over again. I think I have 90 boxes of mac n cheese that we make meals out of. To my kids they could eat it plain for every meal, for the hubby and I we prefer it otherways. It was cheap and that is why I have it and so much of it. I understand why we ate it so much when I was a kid.

I think I got spoiled on eating what I wanted or what I felt like over the years. It wasnt all that bad to eat the same things over and over again. My Mom was carefull to make sure we were healthy and happy. Who cares if we had the same meal three nights in a row.

I plan my menus and I dont feel all that bad that we are eating spaghetti 4 times this month. We have food on the table and the bills are payed and thats okay with me.

Saving that soap.

2009-04-17T04:24:00.000-07:00

The idea first came to me when my kids were learning to wash their hands on their own. They were using a ton.

Those foaming soaps were what saved me a ton. I bought a few and noticed that they were verry runny. It turns out that they are made with one part soap and ten parts water. The lids come right off and they sell refills but why buy what you can make. I like a little more soap in my mix but still one part soap to seven parts water is a nice savings.

You can buy a bottle at some home stores to fill but you can refill the ones you have used just as easy. I had a face wash bottle and took off the lable. I will eventualy redecorate the bottle but it works all the same. Buy a bottle of cheap liquid soap, Or use what you have on hand and try it out.

Have fun too!

2009-04-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I work hard at saving money. I feel like if I can save up enough I deserve a vacation.

We just got back from Moab Utah. It was a lot of fun. I loved being so close as a family. the money we spent could have bought groceries for 3 or 4 months but the memories we made and the closeness we gained was worth so much more. Why work so hard to save money of you are never going to enjoy it.

Another great saving idea.

2009-03-31T10:50:00.001-07:00

I was watching tv this morning as I got the kiddos ready. The women on she show were talking about saving money and had all the regular ideas, coupons, saving energy, all the usual things you hear then they said something so smart.

I track my spending on paper, I have a set up like a check book register but I track all my spending there and not just the checks. All the time I realise I forget to write down something and then I have to adjust the rest of the month. I usualy dont forget the big items, its the small trips to the store I miss.

The idea was to get a seperate savings account with a debit card. When you have spent it, its gone. I like the idea of not having to do all the math, but I dont want to find out I am done spending when my card gets denied. I would be more likely to check the ballance to see where I am sitting.

Make your own baby wipes!

2009-03-29T19:41:00.000-07:00

It is easier then it seems. Baby wipes can cost a lot and you go through a lot of them. You can make then for significantly less. All you need is liquid baby bath, water, paper towels, and a container to keep them in. I used a plastic ice cream container, but anything the size of a half paper towel roll will work just fine.

First cut the roll of paper towels in half. Take out the cardboard core, just pinch it in half and pull it out. It may pull out the center towel, if not do that too. Mix 2 cups warm water and 2 tablespoons baby bath together. Put the paper towel in the container and add liquid. Seal it and let it sit until it is all moist.

I did keep a thing of store baby wipes in the diaper bag for size convienience, but you could very easily just put a few in a plastic bag to carry with you.

Cheap and easy. Just how I like it.

Its always a sale!

2009-03-28T21:28:00.001-07:00

When there is a great sale on things I buy it, and usualy I try to get a years worth or more. I stock up and keep a full pantry. I buy what I need and the rest goes to deals. When I first started this it was hard to build up. I was buying normal groceries then the deals. Now I have a pantry we could live off of for a long time.

I love knowing that it was all a great sale. I know that the food I am looking at was bought at the best price I could find. Imagine going into a store and seeing everything 75% off or more. I know that that is what I have in my home and it feels great. There have been tough times and that food storage saved us so much. If there is anything that can save you money buying food when the prices are right will make the biggest difference in your budget.

I watch sales and clip coupons. When the deal is right I buy.

Planning pays off!

2009-03-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

If you are struggeling with meal times try a menu. There are lots of different ways. I know that many people make a monthly menu with all three meals listed. There are weekly menus, just dinner menus and many more. I use the list menu. I make a list of 30 dinners and I buy what I need for them. I go through my pantry and see what I have on hand first (That is the stuff I bought for a great deal) then I figure out what I need to make a meal out of it. Most of the time I have what I need, but there are times I have to pick up a few things. I make a list and pick from it.
I dont really make 30 dinners in a month. We visit family on sundays, and there are the times we just have a bowl of cereal or leftovers. If we dont eat it then I know I have it next month to add to the list. If it is perishable we eat those meals first. I am not real strict on it. We have a monthy budget and if I have a few dollars left I dont feel to bad about going to the drive up.

More Coupons Please!

2009-03-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today we made the jump from one Sunday paper to four. I dont really need to read the paper that bad I just really want all those coupons. I love to get things for free but when it happens I can only get one, now I figure I can get four, one for each person in my family. Our local school recycles paper to raise money for the school so I have a place to put all that extra paper. Im there with the kids everyday anyway. It is $39 a year so I payed $156 in total. It seems like a big bill to add but I can make that back in mail in rebates I think. I will track it and let you know.

Points!

2009-03-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

This year we have a lot of yard projects planned. We are fixing up our garden, building a deck and adding a fence. It sounds like a lot of spending but I have a plan to help it all out.
One of the sites I use a lot is My Points. A Home Depot gift certificate is just over 7000 points. The emails they send are 5 points each and have a point earning chance with them. You can use their search bar and get points there, You can print coupons from the site and use it in the stores plus get points, and you can get points to shop. Last month I bought $40 in stuff from Avon and I got 1000 points plus free shipping. At these rates it adds up fast. They have a great list of stores to shop from and a great list of places to redeem your points too.
The website is MyPoints.com but if you are feeling really nice, send me an email and I can send you a referral link. I can get 150 points if you do.

Why freeze meals?

2009-03-22T20:17:00.000-07:00

I am a believer in freezer meals. Why? There are a million people who freeze meals and I am sure they each have their own reasons but these are mine.

There are thoes days I want to cook. I dont really want to sit and eat all day I just want to create. On those days I can make meals for later and save my waist line.

I love to save money. Every penny counts. It is cheaper to buy in bulk so I do when ever I can. I buy bulk and make a few meals and it is cheaper per meal compared to just making one.

Dont stress. There are days when you just dont have what it takes to make a great meal. McDonalds here I come right? Just cook a meal you have prepared before and poof you are saved, no stress, no junky foods and you saved money!

Bless your neighbors and family. There are the times that you might have a neighbor in need of a meal and freezer meals are the easiest way. Just drop them off with cooking instructions and they can have a meal that they dont need to stress about.

I have my favorites and I make them all the time. Why make one lasagna when I can make 10 and not have to go through the steps over and over again.

My favorite reason. Cause I can! I use this reason a lot in life.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent.

2009-03-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

Why? Cheaper, easy to store, makes a lot, and it is kind of fun.

1 bar Zote Soap (may also use Fels Naptha.)
1 ½ cups Arm and Hammer washing soda
1 ½ cup s Twenty Mule Team Borax
Lots of Water

Heat 12 cups of water in large pot. Grate soap and add to water. Stir until soap melts. Add washing soda and Borax- ingredients will foam, stir until everything is dissolved (5 minutes or so). Remove from heat.

Put 8 cups hot water ( Microwave it) in the bucket and add the soap mixture.
Add 2 gallons plus 12 cups water and stir. ( I found a 4 gallon bucket and this just barely fits. I dont measure the water I just fill to the top and it is right about what I needed)

You can add essential oil if you want. Let it sit over night and it is ready to go.

Shake it up before you use it just to mix a bit.

1/2 cup per laundry load or 1/4 cup for HD front loaders.

I put mine in milk jugs and keep a measuring cup by it on my washer. It fills 4 gallon milk jugs or if you have the space just use it right out of the bucket. Detergent is not as sudsy as most but works well.

Hey There!

2009-03-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

Hello all. My name is Misty and I have the best job in the world. I am a stay at home mom to two crazy kids and one big hubby that is usualy counted in the first category as well. I love coupons, organizing, freezer meals, gardens, budgeting, housekeeping, learning new tips and tricks to make life easier and lots of other things. I am a busy woman with a busy mind and I love every minute of it.

I have put a lot of time and effort into learning all I can about life and the life I want to live and I thought that there might be people out there who love these things too. I hope to have a lot for you all to explore and wonder on.

Thanks.