Thursday, January 31, 2013

Thrifty Thursday rewind Jan 31st

Welcome to this Thrifty Thursday rewind! It has been a hectic week I have subbed 3 days this week which is great. I enjoy being in the classroom again. 

My oldest birthday is this weekend! We will be going out to an a local restaurant that has a large arcade attached. He is bringing either 2-3 friends (teens don't always get straight answers from them)  I have budgeted $200 for the night..  I shared a post of his 7th  birthday party back in 2006 which we spent $200 on the party at a rollar skating party.  

How much have you spent on a birthday party?  Here is one  $3500 kids birthday party idea. 

Also stop by our co host for  A Life in Balance blog! 




HOW DO YOU SAVE MONEY?

Please remember to follow the Thrifty  Thursday Rewind  linkup  
  1. Link up an old  money saving idea post (we want to give love to some of your older posts)
  2. No giveaways or deals posts.
  3. Recipes are allowed, but share how it is thrifty! 
  4.  A link back is nice but not required 
  5. Visit the other links and share a comment 

Enter to win Red Hot Blendtec Blender Giveaway!

WELCOME TO THE RED HOT BLENDTEC GIVEAWAY

Most of you have probably known me as an advocate for VitaMix, so why on earth would I be reviewing the Blendtec now? Let me share a story with you about how this BLENDTEC giveaway came about. When I was on vacation in New York City last November 2012, my girlfirend and I were surfing TV channels and happened upon one that was talking about Vitamix and Blendtec. It explained how Vitamix had copied another company's (Blendtec) mixing jar. That case was taken to court and the court agreed with Blendtec. Vitamix lost, and Blendtec from K-Tec, Inc. was awarded a multimillion dollar judgment. I almost had to pull my jaw up from the floor! My friend and I looked at each other, and I asked her, "how can I promote a company that stole another company's design"? If you want the details, you canr ead more about this federal court ruling here. I will now be affiliating with Blendtec.

Sponsored by BlendtecBlenders

 

Hosted by My Vegan Gluten-FreeLife. I also want to thank my special Co-Hosts: Coupons with Q, Mom Blog Society, My Old Coke County Home, The Saturday Evening Pot, Stay a Stay at Home Mom, Kids Cooking Activities, To Cook With Love, Bay Area Mommy,

Blendtec is offering their Blendtec Designer Series blender with a Wildside Jar and a Twister Jar as a Prize for this Red Hot Blendtec Giveaway! The winner can choose from a base that is Red, Black, White or Champagne and get a Wildside Jar and Twister Jar to use with the base unit. This Prize is valued over $500! Thank you Blendtec!

 

You have got to watch this funny video from Blendtec: "Does It Blend?"

 

PICTURE OF THE BLENDTEC BLENDER I CHOSE FOR MY BLENDTEC REVIEW:

  The Blendtec Designer came in one package with the Wildside Jar, Spatula, and 2 Cookbooks. The Twister Jar came separately. Both were packaged extremely well and nothing was dented or damaged. I was really excited about the cookbook that came with the Blendtec. It is spiral bound and hard sided and someone that is really into eating healthy has put down some fabulous recipes! The recipes are labeled as to whether they are Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, RAW and low sodium recipes as well as regular recipes that require wheat, meat and dairy. There are even recipes for exfoliating and skin care, plus recipes for your pet as well!


The recipes also have nutritional and calorie counts. In addition there are recipes for making your own flour. You do NOT need a separate container to make flour like you do for the Vitamix. That is a huge plus in my book. And there are recipes for making your own nut milks. Speaking of nut milks...I decided to see how Blendtec compared with the Vitamix in making Almond Milk since I use alot of home-made almond milk.   I was thrilled because the lid of the Blendtec is much easier to use than the lid on the VitaMix. Previously, I had to ask my husband to take the lid off the VitaMix because my arthritic hands could not unlock it. I was shocked at how powerful the Blendtec machine is in comparison. I do not soak the Almonds when I make Almond milk. I use them straight out of the bag. The Blendtec has pre-programmed cycles, so I pressed the cycle for the milk. This machine is fast and powerful! When the cycle ended and I poured the ingredients into the strainer I noticed the feel of the almond pulp was much finer than the other machine and the milk seemed to have more almond flavor.

My next comparison was to blend a quick gluten-free bread. I couldn't believe how quickly this machine whizzed this mix together. I pulsed the Blendtec a couple times, scraped down the sides once and hit pulse again and it was done! The bread turned out fabulously and my husband loved the texture and flavor. I have to mention, again, how easy the lid is to handle on these Blendtec containers. I also like the wider container size that has the same volume as the taller Vitamix container. The Blendtec WildSide container is easier for me to handle. The Blendtec also fits on the machine and under my cabinets where the other machine does not.     The Twister container is used for tackling thicker dough and comes with a small recipe booklet. There are recipes items that require high speeds or have heavy doughs such as Dairy-Free Ice Creams, pasta dough, pizza dough, nut butters and many other recipes. To test the Twitster Container I made the recipe for Whole Wheat Spinach Pasta but substituted gluten-free flour and I didn't have spinach, so I substituted cilantro. It was a very thick dough but I used the special spatula, Spectacula, as it is called, which made it very easy to remove the ingredients and very easy to clean the container. This dough was very easy to make with the Blendtec, and the noodles held up very well despite using gluten-free flour!
        My final thoughts on the Blendtec are that it is a more powerful machine than the Vitamix and you do not need a plunger to use with the Blendtec. I like the fact that I do not have to open the top of the lid to push down food when you use a Blendtec. It is very easy to use and I like the fact that Blendtec provides a separate container, the Twister Jar, to handle thicker projects. I also love the Blendtec lids. I can easily use them and remove them myself without any help. This fact makes it much easier for me to cook when I am at home alone. I also love the service that Blendtec has provided me in the short time I have known them. I am proud to be affiliated with Blendtec and I highly recommend them.  

This Giveaway is open to the US and will close February 12, 2013 at 12:59 PM EST

You must be 18 years or older to win.

Enter on the Rafflecopter Below and Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Doggyloot: up to 75% off Dog Treats, Toys & Free Shipping


Doggyloot is the top flash sales site for dogs and dog owners that offers discounts on dog-related products to members nationwide. They run  several deals each day on dog toys, treats, accessories and more, all at 25 to 75% off with FREE SHIPPING.
You can get 5  Braided Rawhide Sticks for  only  $15 (reg $22) shipped!  And tons of other chew toys or treats for your dog

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Grocery coupons for Superbowl Snacks


Superbowl Snacks  Coupons 
 So You Can Keep the Fans Happy! What's YOUR Favorite Snack?
Clean-up for the Super Bowl
For the MONSTER Headache if your team loses 


$20 for $40 Worth of Valentine's Day Flowers at FTD






FTD's selection of Valentine's Day arrangements and gifts showcases an endless array of romantic ways to celebrate your special someone. Customers can present a handful of Here in My Heart tulips ($29.99–$59.99) or the carefully crafted mix of roses, carnations, and baby's breath that make up the Sweet Perfection bouquet ($49.99–84.99). With their spread of romantic gifts, couples can share gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries ($34.99–$59.99) or a heart-shaped cheesecake made by Eli's Cheesecake Company ($39.99)


Monday, January 28, 2013

Restaurant. $25 Gift Cards for $4 – Expires Jan 29th

 Restaurant.com is offering a $25 Gift Card for Only $4 with the coupon code BOWL – that is 60% Off through January 29th 



Don’t forget they now have a mobile app where you simply show your phone now instead of printing out the gift card. 

In case you don’t know Restaurant.com sells gift certificates to your local restaurants at discounted prices.  There are normally minimum purchase requirements to use these. $25 gift certificates can be used on $35 food orders. Make sure to read the requirements of each certificate you purchase!

Frugal Meal Planning week of January 27th


Here is the menu plan for the week! I am subbing on Monday and Tuesday atleast this week.  I am bringing my own lunch.


Sunday -  We went to a Chili bowl which was great! We paid $5.00 each  to get in and there were different restaurants and several homemade cooks  that provided their chili.  It was a fundraiser for the school district arts program! I got a couple of new recipes that  I may want to try. 

Monday Buffalo chicken wraps (actually make this turkey leftover turkey from the freezer that I made on New years day)  Some veggies on the side

Tuesday  Easy cabbage roll   using cole slaw again. It was so good and even easier to make.  I love making this because it does give me leftovers!   ( I made this on Sunday afternoon so I can  just throw in the oven on Tuesday afternoon) 

Wednesday  Pumpkin Sausage soup

Thursday  Easy cabbage roll  leftovers!  

Friday   Mexican lagsana 

Saturday  Oldest birthday dinner-we are taking him and a couple of his friends out to dinner at a local  arcade restaurant.  

Please follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/MommaAndTheBoysLivingOnABudget 

Are you looking for even more menu ideas check out  Monday meal plans at organizing junky  And if you a frugal blogger please join thrifty thursday linkup!

Another reason to pay cash or use only debit cards

Starting on Sunday January 27 2013 , shoppers  might have to pay more to use credit cards. Wow!  Makes me glad that I rarely ever use a credit card. I think anyone that uses credit cards for rewards programs for points etc will have to rethink that strategy.


Stores and restaurants  who accept MasterCard and Visa will soon be able to tack a surcharge onto your bill of up to 4%.  Well a few dollars here and there won't seem to be a lot if you use your credit card alot those fees could be over $100 a month. You would be better off paying cash.


The surcharge is fallout from a class-action settlement reached last July that ended years of legal battles between merchants on the one hand, and banks and credit card companies on the other.

Ever seen a “cash only” sign at a mom and pop store or small restaurant ? All retailers have to pay a percentage of their profits to credit card companies in order to process in-store credit card payments. Smaller merchants who don't want to take this transaction fee out of their profits might institute a “cash only” policy. Other stores establish an unofficial minimum for credit card purchases or factor the transaction fee into their prices.

The surcharge proposed by last year’s settlement is supposed to be equal to the cost of processing a credit card transaction, which usually comes out to about 1.5 to 3 percent of the purchase. According to the settlement, merchants can’t charge consumers more than 4 percent. They also won’t be able to add extra fees to debit card transactions. 

Despite the changes, few merchants seem willing to add to their customers’ costs. 

Famous Footwear 15% off coupon

 
Print out this great coupon! 

 Need some new shoes! Head over to Famous Footwear and print this great Famous Footwear Coupon to get an extra 15% off your entire purchase! That’s on top of sales! Valid through Feb 10th  2013 Some exclusions apply.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Avoiding the Flu


$2.00 off any ONE (1) Children's Mucinex ProductThe worldwide flu news headlines on the outbreak of the new virus But what exactly is it that we at home can do to prevent the spread of the flu virus? Knock on wood, we haven't been hit by the flu virus this year.  We are trying to stay healthy. Not getting sick can be frugal because we don't have doctor visits co-pays or prescription or over the counter medication costs.
There's No Place Like Home
There is no safer place than your own home to avoid being infected with the flu virus, And once we're there, the better we know how to keep a virus from spreading in our home, the safer our home inside will be.
This is especially important for Moms and Dads  because as we know, the flu hits younger kids  harder because they haven't built up many immunities. It helps to remember the reason why we usually get colds and flu this time of year. Not because of the weather - but because we're all stuck  with each other indoors.
These viruses  can survive up to three hours on skin and inanimate objects. That means when your kids classmates  hacks away without covering his mouth at school  your son or daughter has  opportunity to come in contact with his their .and to bring them home alive.Additionally, sometimes people may become infected by touching something with viruses on it and then touching his nose or mouth.
While we can't do much about the  spread of the flu  there are simple but effective things we can do inside our home: My medical insurance Aenta  sent over these tips 

1 Wash Your Hands. And make your kids wash their hands. . Avoid the anti-bacterial soaps that may actually cause more viruses in the long run by making germs resistant. Unless kids' hands are visibly dirty, encourage them to use the alcohol-based cleansers that clean without water. These cleansers kill germs by dehydration. You can buy small bottles and pack them in your kids' backpacks for use at school. If they need soap and water, they must scrub vigorously for at least 30 seconds to kill germs. (
2 Teach kids to sneeze or cough into a tissue and then throw the tissue away. And then wash their hands again!
3 Get a Flu Shot. If flu shots are available, make sure everyone in your family who is old enough gets one.
4 Don't Share. Tell you kids not to drink after other kids  from the same cup  or share food. . Use paper cups in the bathroom 
5 Disinfect Your Home. What's the most germ-laden room of your house? . It's the kitchen -- especially the sink area. And the worst germ-breeding object in your house? The kitchen sponge or dishrag. The moistness in sponges creates an ideal growing environment for these nasty little creatures. Disinfect sponges periodically by wetting them and popping them into the microwave for two minutes; replace them at least once a week. Change dishrags daily.
6  Clean surfaces that may harbor germs with a good virus-killing disinfectant, such as Clorox or Lysol. Daily  clean all  doorknobs, faucets, counter tops, computer  keyboards, telephones, remote controls  and any other frequently touched surface.
7 Take Care of  Mom. Cold germs are around all the time. Usually, healthy, well-nourished, well-rested people can fend off many germs. And if you do get sick, good health usually helps you recover faster. So make sure you  get  at  least eight hours of sleep, eats healthy meals (lots of fruit and vegetables) and exercises daily. All the good stuff you should be doing, anyway!
8  Keep the Flu at Home. If you or your child is running a temperature, stay home! Do not go out and infect others. And if you have younger kids, think twice before sending them to indoor playgrounds or playspaces   where toddlers and preschoolers  may have been drooling over the toys .. Try to avoid people who have been sick. Adults are contagious up to seven days after experiencing symptoms. And kids are contagious longer than that. Mom and Dads  may want to consider talking to their  boss  about working from home.
Save Up to 50% or more off on FDA approved drugs9 If you do get the flu, start antiviral prescription medications right away. If you take these drugs within the first 48 hours of symptoms, they can lessen the severity. Otherwise, all you can do is drink a lot of water  and try to sleep through it. If your symptoms are severe - and particularly if you have difficulty breathing - see a doctor.

Bloggers wanted Little Tikes Kitchen

LTCookNGrowButton

Cook n' Grow Event

Hosted by: Mom to Bed by 8
Prize Package includes: Little Tikes Cook n' Grow Kitchen + Amazon Gift Card
Event dates: 2/1 - 2/15

Free Blogger Event: Sign Up HERE

Friday, January 25, 2013

Free TurboTax 2013 – Free Tax Software

It is time to file taxes again and the FREE TurboTax Offer is back for 2013. If you are looking for free Tax Software for 2013,


TurboTax is offering Turbo Tax free edition for 2013. File Free 2013 Federal taxes with Turbo Tax.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Enter for Your Chance to win FREE Laser Hair Removal


Enter TODAY for your chance to WIN hair removal from American Laser Skincare! Contest runs every month with new winners each month. Summer is coming!   Since they are trying to create business, you will receive a phone call after entering.

Available in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin

Thrifty Thursday Rewind January 23rd

Welcome to this week's Thrifty Thursday!   Have you considered paying off your mortgage earlier, considering it.   One of my goals before retirement is to have our mortgage paid out and we should be in there about 8 years due to just adding some extra money here and there.  See how we are doing it 


Also stop by our co host for  A Life in Balance blog! 




HOW DO YOU SAVE MONEY?

Please remember to follow the Thrifty  Thursday Rewind  linkup  
  1. Link up an old  money saving idea post (we want to give love to some of your older posts)
  2. No giveaways or deals posts.
  3. Recipes are allowed, but share how it is thrifty! 
  4.  A link back is nice but not required 
  5. Visit the other links and share a comment 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Huge sale on Boys and Girl Summer bathing suits at Zulily


Zulily is have a huge sale on kids swimwear, sandals, sunglasses and more!  Perfect time when we are dreaming for warm weather during these January bbbrr cold days 

Take a little dip into this bright summer  collection. From poolside to the beach, there's something that's bound to make a splash with the  kids . Bright colors  abound in colorful girls bathing suits , and sporty trunks for the boys. Beachcomber? Cannonballer? Zulily has  got you covered. Surfer gals and beach bums, get ready! With this selection, blue skies are coming fast.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

$25 Restaurant gift certificates for only $5.00

Until 1/23/13, Restaurant.com is offering a $25 Gift Card for Only $5 with the coupon code DINE. I love using these to when going out to eat with the family. We have found a couple of great restaurants and with a family of 5 it makes dinning out much more afforable. 

 
They now have a mobile app where you can buy these right in the restaurant and don't have to deal with printers

 In case you don’t know Restaurant.com sells gift certificates to your local restaurants at discounted prices. There are normally minimum purchase requirements to use these. $25 gift certificates can be used on $35 food orders. Make sure to read the requirements of each certificate you purchase

Monday, January 21, 2013

Frugal meal planning week of Jan 20th



I think yesterday  I got ran over by a mad truck. I stayed in bed most of  the day. Feeling a tiny bt better today 

Sunday Burgers and butternut squash fries 

Monday  Buffalo chicken in wonton wraps-got this from myfitness pal 

Tuesday  Ham cheese  and macaroni 

Wednesday Cheesy broccoli soup with ham and cheese sandwiches 

Thursday Italian sausages with baked spinach casserole (mix frozen spinach, 2 cups cottage cheese, 2 eggs and parm cheese) 


Friday Pork chops and will need to figure out sides 

Saturday Pizza 


Please follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/MommaAndTheBoysLivingOnABudget 

Are you looking for even more menu ideas check out  Monday meal plans at organizing junky  And if you a frugal blogger please join thrifty thursday linkup!

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Frugal Five Meet Maggie from Southern California



Maggie is a frugal momma  of 2  teen age girls from Southern California

What is your financial life?

We are a 2  income family with 2 kids and 2 dogs. . I have always been fairly frugal due to my parents struggling with money growing up.  I kind of learned from them.  I told my husband when we were dating that I never wanted to really worry about money nor get into debt. We don't need the lastest toys or gadgets. I still have a simple flip cell phone  I feel like I can really stretch a dollar and never lived above my means.  Luckily my hubby and I have solid jobs and income which has really helped us through the years.

What is your budget buster?

My younger  daughter  13  just got braces.  I just paid it all up front in CASH and got a 20% discount.  My oldest daughter who is a junior in high school it is all about college right now so we are making sure we are saving some money for her as well.  

What is your favorite money saving tip?
I pay myself first.  My husband  is maxing out his 401k  at his job and I do 10% into my own 401k.    

Also  Mary Hunt of Debt proof living  rocked my world with a little concept called the ”Freedom Account which has really helped my budget.  The Freedom Account is a separate checking or savings account that you set up for irregular expenses. This is different from your emergency fund that I automatically transfer money each month.   Mary Hunt’s idea is to calculate your irregular expenses (the ones that are not  monthly) like auto insurance, clothing, medical expenses, car maintenance, , etc. and then divide the amount by 12. That amount is what you should be depositing into the Freedom Account each month . She suggests automatic withdrawal from your paycheck so you don’t have time to decide if you are going to spend it on something else.  I was able to take money out of the freedom account to pay for the braces.


If you had an extra $1000 what would you do with it?
We are planning a  family summer vacation up to San Francisco this year. This year might be our last summer to travel as family for all of us since my daughter will be heading off to college in  a year and half.  

What is your best resource for frugal living?

I love forums for people who are living a frugal life. I have learned so much from reading how others save money or are paying down debt. I enjoy Mary Hunt's forums

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Thrifty Thursday rewind Jan 16th

Welcome to this week's  Thrifty Thursday!  Many folks  are still working on New Years resolutions I see people talking about dumping their credit card debt and living on a budget.   I tighten up as well after the Christmas shopping as well.   Being frugal can really help you pay down the debt more! 

How to make a frugal budget work  has tips on how to really make everything work.   

Also stop by our co host for  A Life in Balance blog! 




HOW DO YOU SAVE MONEY?

Please remember to follow the Thrifty  Thursday Rewind  linkup  
  1. Link up an old  money saving idea post (we want to give love to some of your older posts)
  2. No giveaways or deals posts.
  3. Recipes are allowed, but share how it is thrifty! 
  4.  A link back is nice but not required 
  5. Visit the other links and share a comment 

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Home Depot Home and Garden Coupons

Hurry! Click the banner below and sign up for the Home Depot Garden Club they send out awesome coupons like buy 1 Get 1 Free tomato Plants and FREE $5.00 off any purchase. Just click the banner below. Hit the Garden button and Gardening and fill out your info. It’s that easy. Expect to see coupons your email inbox and mailbox within the next few weeks.

Zulily Keen Sale: Save up to 60% on Footwear & Accessories for the Entire Family!

New today on the daily deal site Zulily is a HUGE Sale on KEEN Footwear, Backpacks, Hiking and Running Gear plus lots more, for the entire family! There are at least three separate sales, so you’ll want to check them all out.

They have a huge selection of Keen shoes and accessories, for the entire family, marked down by as much as 60%. Keen makes really awesome high quality footwear, so this is quite a significant savings.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

ThredUP Great Deals on Gently Used Kids’ Clothes-$10 off for new customers


Thredup is a online kids consignment store that you can buy and sell clothes through! It is hassle free and much easier than dealing with ebay or on craigslist.
Today through  this  Thursday 2/22),  first-time thredUP customers can take $10 off with the coupon code SAVE10. The code does not apply to the flat $6.95 shipping fee (or get free shipping on an order of $40 or more)
You could also use the coupon code  GIMME10  to get free shipping on your first order, but you can’t combine this coupon code with the $10 off coupon code (if you’re only buying 1 item, it would make more sense to just get free shipping).
thredUP sells gently used kids’ clothes – like an online consignment or garage sale – for as little as $3.99 each.
Here are some examples of their prices 
Girls’ Dresses: $3.99 and up
Kids’ Jackets: $6.49 and up

Monday, January 14, 2013

Frugal Meal Planning week of January 13th



Weekly meal planning keeps me sane each day.  I know what we are planning to eat so no need to go out to eat.  With the flu, who wants to go eat out and deal with the germs in restaurants   
Get your free me nu plan 

Sunday   Family baptism  

Monday  Chicken, ziti and broccoli  (actually this will be some leftover turkey from the freezer that I made on New Years Day) 

Tuesday Ham, mashed potatos, green beans 

Wednesday   Chili  

Thursday  Crockpot Ham and Hashbrown meal New recipe for me!   Will let you know how we like it.  Great for using leftover ham, 

Friday  Fish tacos  and rice 


Please follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/MommaAndTheBoysLivingOnABudget 

Are you looking for even more menu ideas check out  Monday meal plans at organizing junky  And if you a frugal blogger please join thrifty thursday linkup!

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Thrifty Thursday Rewind January 10th


We have made it through the first 10 days of the year!  We settled back into routine after the craziness of being out of school for a couple of weeks! 

I got a question recently on Same as cash offers. I don't believe in them and here is why You can get slammed with interest on those no interest store credit card deals

Also stop by our co host for  A Life in Balance blog! 





HOW DO YOU SAVE MONEY?

Please remember to follow the Thrifty  Thursday Rewind  linkup  
  1. Link up an old  money saving idea post (we want to give love to some of your older posts)
  2. No giveaways or deals posts.
  3. Recipes are allowed, but share how it is thrifty! 
  4.  A link back is nice but not required 
  5. Visit the other links and share a comment