Happy Birthday, Clara!

Clara has turned one year old! We invited some family members over for a daisy-themed birthday luncheon this afternoon. It was a great success, and it didn't break the bank! The key to planning a party on a budget lies in the little details. These tiny touches do not have to cost much, and might not even take up a lot of time, but are done with love and intention.

The paper daisies hanging from the ceiling came from Big Lots and cost just $2 for the set of 3. The fresh flower bouquet came from our local grocery store. It was filled with yellow carnations, and of course daisies! The napkin rings were made of ribbon with a piece of cardstock attached to serve double-duty as placecards.

In our household, Mark is the baker, and he baked and decorated this cake all by himself. Fresh flowers are a beautiful alternative to icing flowers, and no cake-decorating class is necessary.

Tea sandwiches are a great way to make your guests feel special! I wrapped these in waxed paper to keep the bread from going stale, and also to dress them up a bit.

All this attention made for one very happy little girl!

Simple First Birthday Luncheon Menu

Selection of Tea Sandwiches (Ham and Swiss, Turkey and Provolone, Cucumber and Cream Cheese)

Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

Fruit Cocktail (Fresh Watermelon and Blueberries served in a Martini Glass)

Drinks

Lemonade, Ice Water, Coffee, Tea

Dessert

White Birthday Cake with Lemon Icing

Tips to Cut Costs:

Keep the Guest List Small -- By keeping our guest list small, I was able to use dishes instead of paper plates, glasses instead of plastic cups, and silverware instead of plastic utensils. This is both budget-friendly and good for the planet.

Skip the Soda -- Lemonade, Iced Tea, and Water are great, inexpensive alternatives to soda.

Late Afternoon Works Best -- To avoid having to serve a meal, schedule your party to begin late in the afternoon when guests have already eaten lunch.

Vacation on a Budget -- Part II

Here are some other low-cost or free activities our family enjoyed while on vacation in Montebello, VA. (You could probably do most of these on any camping trip too!)

Mark took Emily to the lake to feed the fish. I think she was throwing in entire hot dog rolls -- they were quite stale. Mark tried to show her to break them up into small pieces, but those fish got mostly huge chunks.

On one of the last days of our vacation, Clara turned one before our very eyes! Incredible! Here she is listening to suffering through the three of us while we attempt to sing Happy Birthday to her.

We splurged on a pony ride for Emily on the last day -- $20. I'm certain she will remember Clover (the pony's name) for a long time.

All four of us went in the paddle boat, but it was too difficult to get a photo while the baby was sitting on my lap. Here's Emily steering the paddle boat while Mark does all the work. The boats were just $4 for an hour.

Another free activity we enjoyed was driving down the Blue Ridge Parkway, and watching the sunset from an overlook. Who knew a kid would have so much fun waiting for the sun to go down?

This was well-worth the wait.

Another place Mark could not resist checking out -- Gertie's Country Store. Borrow a pen, and if you can find a space, sign your name on the walls or ceiling (they are covered with signatures of people who passed through). Try their potato salad, barbeque and slaw, and be sure to meet the owners, who are well-known for their hospitality.
Coming up.... more frugal crafty goodness, another fun giveaway, and recipes for tasty (and cheap) summer eats! Mmmmm!

Vacation on a Budget -- Part I

Here are some more details from our week long vacation in Montebello, VA. It is beautiful there! We stayed in this cute cottage at the Montebello Camping and Fishing Resort. The rates are very reasonable, and the cabin included a full kitchen, two bedrooms, a pull out sofa in the living room, and a full bathroom. You can see more photos of the cabin we stayed in (as well as make reservations for your own camping trip) here.

Mark and I developed an interesting language while we were there. We felt we weren't really camping. Camping involves a tent, and we were hardly "roughing it". So we called it campin'. And if we were doing something, but not really doing it we would leave off the "g". (i.e., shoppin', fishin', hikin').

We cooked all our meals during our stay, and this saved us a lot of money. For Mark, in particular, this trip offered a chance to unplug from everything -- no phone, no internet, no TV, and most importantly no cell phone access.

There is plenty of hiking or hikin' (whichever you prefer) in Montebello, and lots of places to picnic. We went out for picnic lunches almost every day during our stay.

If you are in the area, a must-see attraction is Virginia Safari Park in Natural Bridge, VA. I have never seen or heard of anything else quite like it. You drive through the zoo and feed the animals right from your car! The zoo can be expensive, but this was a real highlight from our trip.

We also enjoyed swimmin' in the lake, a free activity, and I think the girls enjoyed this the most.

And lots of beautiful overlooks along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Here's Emily at Big Spy Mountain overlook. Gorgeous and free!

Another free attraction, while in Natural Bridge, VA we came across this very interesting sculpture. It is a full-sized replica of Stonehenge, only this is made from foam -- not stone. It is called Foamhenge, and Mark thought it was pure genius.

More photos, free attractions, and tips to save money while on vacation coming soon....

Top 5 Things to Buy in Bulk

If done properly, buying in bulk can save a substantial amount of money. Check unit prices to make sure you are getting a good deal. Here are some of our family's top picks for stock piling and buying in bulk:

1. Toilet Paper -- I would say paper goods, but we have replaced paper towels and napkins with cloth instead. Toilet paper is usually a better buy in bulk, and with a good stock pile you will have the added bonus of being prepared for an emergency.
2. Shampoo -- Check beauty supply stores for prices on shampoo by the gallon. If you are worried that kids will not be able to use such a large bottle, try adding a pump or pour into a smaller bottle as you run out.
3. Peanut Butter -- This can be significantly less expensive when purchased in bulk, but check unit pricing to make sure. 
4. Cheese -- American cheese has a very long shelf life, and if you have a big grilled cheese eater in your family buying in bulk is the way to go. For other hard cheeses, buy in large blocks, shred or grate desired amount and then wrap the rest of the block in plastic wrap then aluminum foil before putting back into the fridge.
5. Honey -- Did you know that honey never spoils? If it crystalizes, simply warm it up a bit to bring it back to life. I have found this to be a better buy when purchased in bulk and never have to worry about running out for using in tea, baking, etc.

Tip -- Studies have shown that people tend to use larger quantities of items when purchased in large containers. Even though you have 4 pounds of peanut butter, try not to use more than you normally would to make a sandwich, or you could be negating your savings.

Has your family tried buying in bulk? I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Frugal Meal Planning 101

For many households, food can be one of the highest monthly expenses (second to rent or mortgage). Fortunately, there are several tricks to slashing your grocery bill while still maintaining a healthy diet.  Meal planning is one technique, and you may find it works well for your family. If you have never tried to reduce your food bill before, this may be a good place to start. You can begin by just planning meals for one week, and try increasing this to two weeks to help limit the number of trips you make to the grocery store.

First, draw up a chart for each day of the week Sunday-Saturday. Next, list a week's worth of breakfasts for your family. Here's an example of one week worth of breakfasts for our household:

Sunday: Banana Nut Waffles

Monday: Scrambled Eggs and Whole Wheat Toast

Tuesday: English Muffins with Peanut Butter

Wednesday: French Toast and Sausage

Thursday: Homemade Granola Cereal

Friday: Breakfast Burritos - scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, and sausage wrapped in a whole grain tortilla

Saturday: Pancakes and Low Sodium Bacon

(We usually drink orange juice, water, or hot tea)

Next, draw up the same chart, but list lunch items for one week. Here's an example from our household:

Sunday: Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup

Monday: Tuna Melt on Whole Wheat Bread, Apple, and Fat Free Yogurt

Tuesday: Mini Pizza on Whole Grain Tortilla

Wednesday: Bean Burrito with fat free refried beans, cheddar cheese, and salsa

Thursday: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Friday: Loaded Baked Potato with leftover chili, cheddar cheese, and low fat sour cream

Saturday: Leftover Homemade Buffalo Chicken Pizza

(we usually drink seltzer water, juice, or hot tea)

Getting hungry yet?  Another tip -- Do not do the grocery shopping when you are hungry. The best time to go is after you have had a good meal, or at least a snack to tide you over. Why? When you are hungry, you are much more likely to pick up impulse purchases which can wreck havoc on your food budget!

Now it's time to think about dinner.  Here's a one week example from our household:

Sunday: Broiled Salmon, Brown Rice, and Green Beans

Monday: Blackened Cajon Pork Chop, Roasted Potatoes, Honey Glazed Carrots

Tuesday: London Broil, Baked Potato, and Petite Peas

Wednesday: Beef Fajitas, Spanish Rice, and Fat Free Refried Beans

Thursday: Homemade Chili with Corn Bread

Friday:  Lemon Pepper Chicken, Brown Rice, Broccoli

Saturday: Homemade Buffalo Chicken Pizza

(we usually drink water, skim milk, or hot tea)

The next step is to the list the ingredients for the week onto a shopping list, and compare your list to the items you already have in your refrigerator, pantry, or freezer. Try to only buy what you need so no food is wasted. Cross off whatever items you already have at home, and the remaining items will become your official shopping list for the week. 

Tip -- Some ingredients can be used for more than one dish. For example, our family rarely finishes a London Broil in one dinner, so the leftover meat is used for Beef Fajitas the next evening. Similarly, we usually have some leftover pizza from dinner, so we will have this for lunch the following afternoon. You may want to try cooking a slightly larger dinner and having leftovers for lunch the next day.

Have you tried meal planning? I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share your stories with us!

Afternoon Play Date

Mark worked late almost every night last week, so the girls and I went into "survival mode". In case you are not familiar with "survival mode", it goes something like this: 1. Do the bare minimum to get by with housework, laundry, or cooking. 2. Leave piles of dirty dishes on the countertops. 3. Do not invite ANYONE to your home when you are in "survival mode", or you are sure to lose friends. Fortunately, at the end of a very long week, I was thrilled to be invited to my friend's house for an afternoon play date! She has two daughters - one the same age as Emily, and the other is a few years older. The girls had a fabulous time. They baked cookies....

They all played with a tea set and other toys. Clara received lots of attention from my friend's oldest daughter. She read stories to Clara and kept her entertained with rattles and stuffed animals......

Emily did not want to leave, but when we arrived home, we were all pleasantly surprised.  Daddy was already waiting for us! And fortunately (for me) very understanding about my "survival mode" tactics!

There were three important things I noted this week: 1. I do all of the grocery shopping for our household just once a month, so I did not have to worry about schlepping the girls to the grocery store or if we were going to have enough food for the week.  2. By letting my standards slip a bit (okay, a LOT), it really did help ease the stress. 3. Now that Mark is home, I cannot wait until the house is back to normal housedom! I am such a product of my environment.

Does your spouse ever work late or travel for work? How do you handle it? Do you find it harder or easier to stick to a budget?

8 Tips for Healthy Eating on a Budget

You may be surprised to learn that eating healthy foods can be good for your waistline and your budget! Here are some of our favorite tips for eating healthy without spending a lot of money:

1. Drink Water -- Kick the soda habit. Not only is soda loaded with sugar and calories, it is also not friendly to your wallet. If you do not already have a Brita Filter at home, consider purchasing one and using it on a regular basis. If you must have something carbonated to drink, try flavored seltzer water with a slice of lemon or lime.  
   
2. Avoid Pre-packaged Foods -- Purchasing convenience foods means you are paying for all the packaging, and marketing that goes into those products. Fresh ingredients are often better for you, and are usually much cheaper.
3. Buy Meat in Bulk -- Sometimes super markets offer loss-leader specials on meats. If you have a large freezer, stock up. You will be purchasing meat at its lowest possible price, and avoid going to the store (so you will save money on gas too).
4. Farmers Market -- Your local farmers market may have great deals on fresh vegetables and fruit, particularly at the end of the day. If you get a good deal on tomatoes, for instance, you could make your own sauce or salsa.
5. Bake Your Own Bread -- Often, store bought bread can be expensive, and it usually contains high fructose corn syrup. If you do not already have a bread maker, search at thrift shops or yard sales. I frequently see nearly-new bread machines there for only a few dollars. Baking your own bread can save a lot of money, and you have the satisfaction of being able to pronounce all the ingredients.
6. Grow Your Own -- This spring we plan to start gardening with vegetables that are easy to grow such as: green beans, tomatoes, and green bell peppers. Not only will this save money, the food you grow yourself contains more nutrients since it does not have to travel to reach your dinner table.
7. Buy Only What You Need -- Before you visit the store, make a grocery list and stick to it. If you find yourself picking up impulse purchases, place those in the front basket of the cart. When you are ready to check out, keep just one of those items in the front basket and put the others back on the shelf.
8. Never Waste Food -- Find creative ways to use leftovers. Soups, casseroles, and even fajitas can be made using leftovers and taste great. Don't forget about re-heating last night's dinner for today's lunch.

Photo by Rick McCharles

Related Article: Printable Coupons for Organics

Do you have a great tip for healthy eating on a budget, or does your family plan to start a garden for the first time this year?  I would love to hear from you! Leave a comment and share you ideas with us!

Top 5 Things to Buy Used

Photo by DIY City Mag

I am a huge fan of shopping at thrift stores, consignment shops, and yard sales for used items.  Not only is this a great money-saving strategy, it is also better for the environment.  Buying used requires less resources to produce, and helps keep waste out of landfills.  

Here is my top 5 list of things to buy used:

1. Books --  I never buy new books anymore.  Instead, I frequently borrow books from the library for free, or search for used books.  See my related post: Alternatives to buying new books for more information.
2. Wooden Furniture --  Huge savings here!  Check the condition and if the furniture seems sturdy, you may be able to refinish the surface and have a "like new" piece to add to your home.
3. Lighting and Home Decor --  Lamps, light fixtures, and other home decor items usually go for about 10% of the original purchase price.  With lighting, be sure it is UL certified.
4. Children's Clothing --  Kids outgrow their clothes at such a rapid rate.  Instead of stressing over whether or not that stain is going to come out of little Johnny's new outfit, try finding quality used kids clothes and save yourself a ton of money. If the price is right, I have been known to stockpile clothes for the girls for years to come.
5. Glassware/Bakeware -- You can find significant savings in used glassware or bakeware.  If you see an item you like, be sure to purchase it right away.  Items in thrift stores tend to move very quickly!

Have a favorite thing you like to buy used?  Leave us a comment and share your ideas with us!

6 Tips for Motivation to Stick to a Budget

The New Year's resolutions have been made, and many people have resolved to "spend less money" in 2009.  Setting up a budget for the new year can be easy, but finding ways to stay motivated can mean the difference between budget success and failure. Here are some strategies to keep you motivated and on the road to success with your budget.

1. Positive Attitude -- The most successful budgets are those you have entered into with a positive attitude. A budget does not mean you need to deny yourself, rather you are freeing yourself from debt and financial struggles. Now is the time to think positively about what living on a budget will do for you and your family.
   
2. Realistic Goals -- Having both long term and short term realistic goals is crucial to the success of your budget. Long term goals, like saving for a house, can be discouraging if too much time slips by and your back to your old spending ways. Instead, be sure to have short term goals that help you to reach your long term goals so you stay motivated.
   
3. Reward Yourself -- With each goal accomplished be sure to reward yourself with something you truly enjoy. Have a family game night, picnic lunch at the park, host a movie night with other families, and spend quality time together.
   
4. Calculate the Savings -- Spending $5.00 a day at Starbucks doesn't sound like much, but cutting out the little expenses can add up to huge savings. Use a savings calculator, like the one at CNNMoney.com, to figure out that investing those $5 a day (or $150 a month) for five years at 8% interest will generate $11,021.53.
   
5. Minimize Impulse Spending -- Take a photo of your biggest long term financial goal, and tape it to your credit card. The next time you go to use your card, you will be reminded that this small purchase is sending your goal a little bit further away. Another trick to limit impulse buys is to keep an index card in your wallet. When you see something you would like to purchase, write it down on the card and think about it for at least a week. If you see something else you would like to buy, write it down also, but only keep room on the card for about three things. If you need to write down something else, then you must remove something from the list first to make room for the new item. If something stays on the list for a long time, and you have the money, go ahead and buy it.
   
6. Forgive Yourself -- Living on a budget can have its ups and downs, but if you have a bad day, be sure to forgive yourself and move on. The key is to not be so hard on yourself that you will not want to continue with your budget. Leave more time for relaxation and meditation to limit any additional stress. Keep track of your goals, and reward yourself when you achieve them.  Sticking to a budget can help you find financial stability, eliminate debt, and spend more quality time with friends and family -- all powerful reasons to keep you motivated.
   

Have a budget motivation tip to share?  I would love to hear about it!  Leave a comment and share it with us.

Come Join Me on Financial Bliss

Good news! I will be a contributing author for the Financial Bliss channel of Blissfully Domestic. I plan to contribute articles at least twice a week and focus on frugality and budgeting. I feel honored to be included with such a strong group of women writers. The site is launching in the next few days, and I cannot wait to get started!

I would love to hear your topic suggestions and article ideas you would like me to write about for both Financial Bliss and Frugal Family Fun Blog.  Please leave a comment and share your ideas with me!

Preparing for Next Christmas

Now all the presents are unwrapped, and the holiday rush is just starting to settle down. I was tempted to just relax at home and enjoy time with the family, but the truth is now is the best time to score some awesome holiday deals at after-Christmas sales and start planning a holiday fund for next year.

You can decorate a plain 3-ring binder and use this as your Holiday Planner. Include address lists for cards, budget worksheets, recipes, gift ideas, etc. The key to saving money is to plan ahead and stay organized.

Here are some ideas to help you prepare for next year:

1. Shop After-Christmas Sales -- Many stores have wrapping paper, cards, trees, ornaments, lights, candles, and even gifts for 50% off or more. I also stock up on holiday chocolate to chop up and use in baking, hot cocoa mix, or homemade granola bars.
2. Set Up a Holiday Fund -- This is so simple to do and can help alleviate much of the financial strain of the holidays. Go to ING Direct to set up a high-interest savings account that is linked to your existing checking account. Set up an automatic weekly direct deposit of about $10, or whatever your family can comfortably set aside. At the end of one year, you will have saved $520 plus interest!
3. Holiday Cards -- You can purchase these at after-Christmas sales, and you might as well go ahead and address the envelopes now. If you use the Forever stamp, you might save on postage if the rates go up again.
4. Set up Next Year's Holiday Budget -- Make up a list of everyone you want to buy for, and how much you are willing to spend per person. ThrifyFun.com has a great example of a printable Holiday Budget Worksheet.
5. Photo Gifts -- Shutterfly has photo cards available for 20% off and photo calendars for 25% off. Get creative, upload some photos, and you won't have to stress over whether or not your cards/calendars will arrive in time for next year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
If you have a holiday planning tip to share, please leave us a comment and tell us about it!