Frugal Friday!

I decided to make this Frugal Friday--a day I will share my way of saving some money.  I have been wondering if it really is cheaper for me to pack a lunch for the kids every day, or would it be cheaper for them to buy lunch.  School lunch for them is $1.80 (Ian), $1.95 (Emily), and $2.10 (Josh).  So, I broke down the cost of what they usually have in their lunches.  These prices may vary slightly depending on little things, but they won't change by much.  Here's what I found:
Bread: $.22 per sandwich (2 slices)
Peanut Butter: $.05 per Tbsp
Jelly: $.08 per serving (not quite a Tbsp but almost)
Honey: $.09 per tsp
Turkey (or other meat): $.21 per slice
Cheese: $.12 per slice
Apple Sauce: $.24 per pre-packaged cup, or about $.10 to put 1/4 in a Tupperware container
Fruit cup: $.44 per pre-packaged cup
Granola bar: $.16 each
Lemonade or other juice: $.03 per 6 ounces (the size of the bottle I put it in)

Now, they do not use all of this each day. :)  The most expensive sandwich is the meat and cheese, but even if I make that I'm still saving.  Also, Ian usually has the apple sauce, Emily and Josh like the fruit cups.  Ian and Emily both have the 6 ounce juice bottles that I can fill every day which is cheaper than buying juice boxes (and more environmentally friendly).  Yes, there is a cost for zip lock bags, but since I buy them in bulk at Sams, it is like $.01 per bag.  Plus, Emily and Ian both have the sandwich size containers to use for their sandwiches.  Making the most expensive sandwich for Ian makes his lunch cost about $1.15.  For Emily's most expensive lunch (since she only likes one piece of cheese) it costs $1.39.  Josh typically makes pg&j, although he sometimes makes 2 sandwiches.  It is still only around $1.32 for him to make a lunch.  Total savings???

Ian: $.65/day, $3.25/week

Emily: $.56/day, $2.80/week

Josh: $.78/day, $3.90/week

Please note, again, that this is an average.  There may be days I put more in their lunch, but this gives you an idea of the savings.  Since they are in school about 32 weeks a year, we save an average of $100 per kid if they pack a lunch every day.  Granted, we allow them to buy lunch a couple times a week, but we still save a lot of money!

There you have it.  Proof that it is cheaper to pack a lunch.  Yes, it takes more time, but I think I spend all of 5 minutes making Emily and Ian's lunch in the morning.  Soon, Emily will make her own.  Hope this was helpful!  Have a great Friday!!

Tuesday Ramblings

I can't believe it is already Tuesday night!  The weekend went by so fast!  We had such a good time hanging out with the Morse family, and then with the Mochries.  Sadly, the Mochries are leaving us to move "home" to England.  I've never been a big fan of change, and this isn't helping any!  The good thing is that we now have a really good reason to go to England. :)  

The weather turned cooler today, which was a nice change.  I know it will warm up again before summer is over, but I love the cool breezes that come in the windows.  I wish I could have gone outside more today, but I just have too much to get done for my classes.  Maybe tomorrow I will take a break to garden.  I will definitely ride bikes with Ian to school.

Random thought for the day:Why does the cat insist on leaving her nasty hairballs in the middle of the hallway on the carpet?

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Stormy Night

It is a stormy night here in Kansas.  The clouds came in fast, as they often do.  There is a ton of lightening and thunder, although it seems a little bit far off right now.  I love stormy nights.  I wish our dog wasn't so scared!  Poor guy walks around with his Kong and eventually goes under the bed to hide.  I think the cat thinks he's a big baby. :)  

I had a full day today, although most of it was spent doing homework.  My life seems to revolve around homework, kids, and the house.  Tomorrow I have to do laundry, continue reading, submit my paper, work on the 2 papers due next Sunday, get Emily to her birthday party, and then go to a friend's house for a cookout.  It will be another full, busy day.  I'm hoping it won't be too terribly hot for the cookout, but I know it will be fun.  

I got thinking today that I could make my Friday posts be Frugal Fridays.  Problem is I don't always have a new idea.  So, I will do my best to come up with something next week, and give credit to anyone I borrow an idea from.  I've also thought about posting some articles related to education, but will hold off for now.  So many things I could post, but I just don't always have time to comment.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Made it through another Thursday!

I made it through another Thursday!  I even contributed to the discussion in class today.  Only 2 more classes to go and we move on to the next set of classes.  I can do this!  This evening we got to meet Emily's teachers, which was really nice.  My one complaint is the lack of challenging work offered.  They have an advanced math class, but not an advanced language arts class.  Why?  Emily is bored out of her mind and there is nothing we can do.  It just seems wrong to lump all 5th graders into one class regardless of ability.  What ever happened to challenging the students who are more advanced?  Oh that's right, No Child Left Behind.  :(  I did talk to her teacher about it, but I doubt much will change.  At least she has the higher math and then goes to enrichment once a week. 

Now I am tired and thinking I should go to bed.  So what that it's only 9:20.  Tomorrow will be a day full of writing papers--I have three to work on, one due Sunday!  Hope everyone has had a great week so far.  Looking forward to Friday!!

The art of Procrastination

Lately I have been mastering the fine art of procrastination.  It really is a terrible thing to do when you have children that you are trying to set an example for.  But, when faced with a paper to write, I tend to find many things that just have to get done.  For instance, tonight I decided that the lawn just must get mowed . . .NOW.  Of course, that meant picking up after the dog first (yuck), and then mowing.  This was followed by a shower, as it is about 85 degrees with 1000% humidity.  And then after the shower I had to make cookies because we didn't have anything for dessert.  I can't let my children go hungry!  Now, I am writing this, but in just a couple minutes I have to get the kids in bed.  When all is said and done, a good 2-3 hours will have gone by since I first sat down to start writing my paper.  I have one sentence done.  ONE SENTENCE of a 4-5 page paper!  Hmmmm . . . . do you think that I could use a really big font?  In all seriousness, I will get this paper done just as I have gotten all my other papers done.  I just enjoy taking breaks; lots and lots of breaks.  If you have a favorite form of procrastination, I would love to hear it!  Just post a comment.

Rainy Tuesday

I can't believe I am saying this in the middle of August, but it is an absolutely beautiful day!  We've had nice rain, cool temperatures, and no big winds.  After the 100 degree days last week, we needed this!  It has been a bit quiet though--the birds didn't come out to play like yesterday.  So, I have the windows open and just finished my class and lunch.  Now, I really need to get more of my reading done.  I'd much rather relax and watch my cat sleep.  She is curled up on the window sill--she loves when the windows are open. :)  Oh well, off to read I go.  Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Back to School

Emily had her first day of middle school on Thursday and Josh started his senior year of high school on Friday.  Ian should have started 1st grade on Thursday, but he was still on vacation with his Grammy and Grandpa, so he started today.  Emily seems to like 5th grade so far, but wasn't as eager to wake up this morning.  I walked with her to the bus stop, since today was her first day riding the bus, and when another girl she knows came to the stop, she told me I could leave.  Sigh.  They grow up so fast.  Ian was very nervous about school.  He told me I needed to go in with him since he didn't know where to go.  Poor guy seemed more nervous today than he did on his first day of kindergarten.  He is so shy that it is hard for him to interact with the teacher.  He'll be fine as time goes by, and I'm sure he will have a great day.  So, I am sitting in a very quiet house with the dog and cat.  There are lots of birds flitting around outside my window.  The barn swallows that built a nest by our front door love to fly around; all 5 babies and the parents!  Plus there are some other chickadees, or something, that are flying into the rain gutter eating something.  It sounds funny, and I can't figure out what they are getting in there.  Silly birds!  I guess I should get back to school as well--got a lot of writing to do with four papers due in the next three weeks.  Happy Monday!

Monthly Menu

So, a friend of mine recently asked me to share how I plan my monthly menu. This is not a secret and it isn't something I made up on my own. I figured I would share here what I shared with her so others can benefit from some of the research I have done. It is a big task to plan a months worth of meals, but it is worth it. Here are the links I shared with her:

* The Pioneer Woman has some really yummy recipes that are NOT low cal. :) http://thepioneerwoman.com/
* Another site she started, but anyone can contribute to is http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/
* Just a great all around site http://allrecipes.com/
* Another great site, especially with kids http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/main.aspx
* Great site for monthly meal planning. I don't like all the recipes, but some good ones and great help! http://www.monthlymenuplanner.com/
* Although this site does cost money, it is well worth it for what you get. http://www.e-mealz.com/

We do one big shopping trip per month and smaller trips each week for things like milk, eggs, produce, etc. Feel free to ask any questions or make comments. Good luck!

Listening to Obama is like sex????

Oh man! You think you've heard it all and then someone else comes out with another crazy statement. The latest came from Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos. He said that listening to Barack Obama give a speech is like sex. I'm not sure who Alex is having sex with, but listening to Barack Obama doesn't do anything for me. For me it's more like getting a cavity filled. The video is from the interview with John King where Mr. Castellanos made his crazy statement.

Life as a brownie mom

Well, I spent an hour in 20 degree weather with winds making it feel like 6 degrees and blowing snow. Why? Our brownie troop decided to put together a donation drive for the Olathe Animal Control. So, we were going to stand outside Wal-Mart for 2 hours collecting donations. Of course, the weather just had to turn on us. It was 70 degrees two days ago. Today, there was 3-4 inches of snow on the ground! But, being the dedicated leader that I am, I went anyway. Emily was less than thrilled, but when her BFF arrived she perked up a little. Of the 8 girls in my troop 3 showed up. I had one home because she had surgery last Saturday. One was home because her mom injured her foot and didn't want to go out in the weather. Another was at home because her mom had to work. The other 2 . . . .well I have no idea. I was really disappointed! Do we reschedule? This is supposed to be a community service project that all the girls participate in, and now I don't know what to do. And what to do when my daughter seems to be losing interest? I am the leader, but is she doesn't want to continue, then why would I? Sigh. Ok, so this is not a tragedy and the world will continue to turn. I just wonder why I am trying so hard to make things work when no one else seems to care. This is why I quit boy scouts. It was no longer any fun and seemed like a chore. I commend all those women who are lifetime Girl Scouts. I'm just not sure I am one of them.

Garofolo thinks I am crazy--oh no

Well, I used to admire many actors and actresses for the talent they have. After the election many of them no longer seemed that impressive to me. The things many of them spouted off were so ridiculous it made me wonder if any of them had half a brain. Well, Janeane Garofolo has shown how loony they can be. While speaking with Keith Olberman she likened Rush Limbaugh to Hitler and any woman who likes him to Eva Braun, Hitler's girlfriend. She also said that a woman who likes Rush is like the women who fall in love with prisoners.

The reason she was on the show Countdown was to talk about a recent poll that shows Rush is less popular with women than men. I'm not really sure why this was an important topic of discussion or what expertise she has to offer on the subject. After mentioning that Daryn Kagen (a former CNN anchor) used to date Rush, Garofolo said, "She dated him, so either she suffers from Stockholm Syndrome – a lot like Michael Steele, who’s the black guy in the Republican party who suffers from Stockholm Syndrome, which means you try and curry favor with the oppressor." She goes on to say any woman or person of color in the Republican party is also suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.

Gosh, I am so distressed. Not only do I love prisoners, but I am also suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Whatever shall I do? :) Honestly, it is famous people like this that spout off this nonsense that makes me wonder what is happening to America. It is a bit scary to see how crazy some liberals have become. I continue to pray that America as a whole will wake up and see things as they really are.

Oh, and to clear something up--I have never once loved a prisoner. I've never even loved someone who spent even an hour in jail. And, I like Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly.

Emily's afghan

A few years ago I decided that I wanted to learn how to crochet. I had tried knitting and was completely unable to do it. Crocheting came easily to me, and I began making afghans for the family. Emily's was my second afghan and a challenging one. I love the colors, though, and hope to make a similar one someday but with softer yard. I used Red Heart yarn which is very strong and warm, but not too soft.

President compared to Washington????

Ok, so I will admit here and now that I am not a huge fan of Obama. I support him as the President, but I do not think he is qualified to be President. Getting that out of the way, I have to comment on something I read today. According to ABC's Terry Moran, "Barack Obama is the first President since George Washington to be taking a step down into the Oval Office. I mean, from visionary leader of a giant movement, now he's got an executive position that he has to perform in, in a way." Excuse me, but I have to disagree with this 100%. I am curious as to what giant movement Obama was a visionary leader of. I heard him being touted as this great leader during the election, but he never really led anything. His time in Chicago didn't accomplish anything of merit and it certainly does not qualify him to be called a visionary leader. And, as Scott Whitlock of Media Research Center so aptly stated, "For those who have forgotten, George Washington defeated the strongest military power in the world. Barack Obama was a community organizer." So, how can you possibly compare the two in any way? How can anyone say this is a step down for Obama? I am daily amazed at how blinded some people are by Obama's charisma. I pray that soon, America will open it's eyes and see Obama for who he really is. I pray that we will continue to support him as President, but stop supporting his ridiculous policies.

Easy, Cheap Dinner

Some of you may already know this, but this was a new experience for me. I bought two whole chickens last week. They were on sale for under $2.00 each and were both about 6.5 pounds. We have a roasting oven, but you can roast them in the oven as well. It took about 1.5 hours to cook them and they were so yummy! And we had lots left over. I made another meal the next night with some of it and froze the rest. I have enough for at least one more meal, maybe two!! That's 3 or 4 dinners for under $4.00!!! So, I plan on looking for whole chickens everytime I shop and buying them on sale. They will freeze well and are a wonderful, cheap meal.

New Year Resolution

I don't usually make New Year Resolutions, but this year I am making one. I am resolving to get our finances in even better shape then they are now and to continue to find new ways to save money. We have gotten rid of a lot of our debt, but I hope to find ways to get rid of the car payments faster. One way to do this is to pay off a debt, say a credit card. Then, take the money you were paying to that card and put it toward the next debt. Now you are paying double towards a debt and it will go away faster. Every time a debt is paid off, take the money you were putting toward that debt and add it to the payoff on another debt. The only debt I want to have eventually is our house payment. It's a long road, but I know we can do it. Who wants to join me in this resolution? If you have any questions on how to pay off those debts, feel free to ask. I'm no expert, but I have a great book I can refer to for help.

May God bless you and your loved ones in 2007!

Spa in a Jar

I wanted to share a jar recipe I recently made. I got this from Mary Hunt in her Cheapskate Monthly newsletter. This was shared as an alternative to Origins Salt Scrub. I've never used that, but I love this Spa in a Jar.

Mix about 1 cup Epsom Salt (or Dead Sea Salt), 1/2 cup baby oil (or sweet almond oil). The mixture should be the consistency of slushy snow. If it seems to dry add more oil, too wet add more salt. Pour into a jar. Use a small amount after washing your body. Rub in a circular motion and then rinse with water.

Ok, some specifics. When buying a jar consider a few things. If you are using a scoop to get the salt mixture out the jar mouth can be smaller, but otherwise you want a wider mouth jar. Apothecary jars are great, but not always easy to find. I used "Emma Jars" that I found at Wal-Mart. They have a lid that fits in the top of the jar snuggly. Where will your jar be in your shower? If it will be on a small shelf you might want to consider a plastic jar. This can make the shower floor slippery, so you might spray a little cleaner on the shower floor after getting out. Then no one will slip getting in after you. Want a little fragrance? You can add essential oil, or do as I did. I bought lavender baby oil. It was the same price as the regular baby oil. I also saw lavender Epsom salt.

Cost? Well, the plain Epsom salt was about $2.12 at Wal-Mart and the lavender baby oil was about $2.50. The jar was also about $2.50. The bottle of baby oil will make about 3-4 jars, depending on the size of the jar and how much oil you use. The Epsom salt will make many many jars. These make wonderful gifts for friends and family, and a nice gift for yourself too. :) Enjoy!

Viruses, Bacteria, and Germs . . . OH MY!!

This post is a bit different, but I thought it would be a good idea to talk a bit about germs. It is the time of year a lot of us get sick. It might be the flu, a stomach virus, or a cold, but they are all a bummer. I want to share a few ideas on how to get rid of germs and stop the illnesses from spreading.

Toothbrushes carry lots of germs. You brushed your teeth before bedtime and then in the middle of the night you start vomiting. Well, you probably already had those germs in your mouth when you brushed. Now they're on your toothbrush. Yuck! Yes, you can throw your toothbrush away and get a new one. But it is much easier to put it in the dishwasher or soak it in a cup of peroxide. It is a good idea to do this a few times while battling a cold.

Where do lots of germs hang out? Door handles, faucets, toilet flusher, and toys. It is so easy to take a can of Lysol and spray these areas periodically while an illness is in the house. When my kids are sick, I spray the faucets and toilets a couple times a day. I also spray the stair railings. Another place to spray is the pillows and sheets. As you all probably know, when you are sick you don't want to have to wash the sheets everyday. Obviously you will want to wash them once you are feeling better, but spraying a bit of Lysol will do a lot in between washings. You'll want to clean the bathroom once you're feeling better, but Lysol kills the germs as well as most cleaners, so always keep some handy.

Make sure you encourage hand washing, even if it is just plain soap and water. Carry a small bottle of antibacterial gel in your purse and/or car. Got little ones? Carry wipes in the car. They're great for everyone, but much easier to use then trying to wash baby's hands.

No, we probably won't escape some illness or another, but we can try to fight them. These few things can really make a difference. When my son got the stomach virus, no one else got sick. I sprayed things and kept him cleaned up. Yes, I tried to keep the other kids away from him, but that's easier said then done.

Have a wonderful winter and stay healthy!

Hillbilly Golf

In the evening on Labor Day my husband and I took a walk around the neighborhood. Another couple was outside in their yard playing an interesting game. We stopped and asked them about it. It is called Hillbilly Golf or Ladder Golf or a number of other names. It looked like a lot of fun and really easy to make. I found a website that explains how to make the game and play it. Here is the link http://www.missouriscenicrivers.com/Laddergolfplans.html. I'm hoping some of you will find this helpful. The couple said it is a really fun game and they take it lots of places with them since it is easy to set-up and play. Enjoy!

Uses for Peroxide

I got an email a couple weeks ago saying that Peroxide is safer than bleach and offering lots of uses for it. Well, some of the uses in the email are true, but not all of them. I thought I would post some uses here based on the research I did.

I found that hydrogen peroxide is seen as an environmentally benign alternative to chlorine-based bleaches. I'm not sure if it was really used during WWI, but it was first isolated in 1818 by Jacques Thenard. Remember to always keep peroxide in dark bottles and in dark places. The light causes the peroxide to "break down" and not work as well. It has something to do with its chemical makeup. Here are the uses:

1. Take one capful and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. This is known to help whiten your teeth and keep canker sores away.

2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a fresh cup of peroxide to keep them free of germs. This can be done weekly, but definitely would be a good idea after any illnesses.

3. Clean your counters and table tops with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters.

4. After rinsing off your wooded cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria.

5. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system.

6. If you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. This will give natural highlights that lighten gradually, so it's not a drastic change.

7. You can add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. It there is blood on clothing, pour it directly on the soiled spot. Let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary.

8. If you have blood or other stains on your carpet, put a few tablespoons on to the stain. The excess liquid can be bloated after a few minutes. Always test in a small area first as this can sometimes bleach the carpet.

9. Some gardeners use it to enhance root development and treat root rot. Add 1 tablespoon to every quart of water.

I hope you find some of these useful. Always make sure you look into the claims you find in emails. You never know what kind of false information is floating around!

Homemade Glass Cleaner

Homemade Glass Cleaner

Mix in a sprayer bottle:

1 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
1 cup water
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ammonia

According to my friend, this worked better than Windex. She uses Bounty paper towels to clean her mirrors and glass and says this cleaner didn't leave a film to collect more dirt.

I cleaned mirrors today with the Windex I still have, and it left streaks as always. I'm dumping it today and making my cleaner!