$7 (or less) Slow Cooker Suppers
Molly Makes $7 Slow Cooker Suppers is finally here! I’m so excited about this cookbook! It’s been a long time in the making and that’s because of all the extra work we went to. This cookbook is over 160 pages and, like $5 Dinners and $3 Desserts, lists cost breakdowns for each recipe. But this time we went even further!
Every single recipe was taste tested and includes comments and tips from our testers. Not only that, but over half the recipes include photos from our test kitchens. These aren’t prettied up magazine-style photos, but pictures from real life moms just like you! And to make things even easier for you, both the Table of Contents and Index are linked to take you right to the recipe you want. Click, print, and start cooking!
Don’t believe me? Check out this sample.
And if you haven’t already purchased Molly Makes $5 Dinner and $3 Desserts, you can get a special price on our Frugal Family Dinners Combo Pack.
Continue reading $7 (or less) Slow Cooker Suppers …
From Econobusters.
Valentine Link Love
I have many blogs that I read every day looking for great ideas that I can share with you, and even learn a few things myself. This last week there have been some great Valentine links that I thought I would share with you:
The Frugal Family Fun Blog has a cute idea to make scratch and sniff Valentine’s.
Little Birdie Secrets shares her tutorial to make Heart Strings.
If you have some of those cute heart buttons, you can make this adorable onesie called Wearing Your Heart on Your Chest.
Print these free Chuck E Cheese Valentine Cards (they are good for five free tokens per child)!
Skip To My Lou shares her tutorial on making a Ladybug Valentine.
Dollar Store Crafts has a cute Valentine lei that looks absolutely adorable!
What have you found around the Internet lately that is Valentine related? Is it something we would all enjoy? Email me the link! I would love to see it.
Continue reading Valentine Link Love …
From Econobusters.
Find the Christmas lyrics at Caroling Corner
I found this web site today when looking up lyrics for some of the lesser-known Christmas carols for my Sunday School lesson tomorrow …
Caroling Corner – www.carolingcorner.com
Go there to find the lyrics for popular but often mangled religious and secular Christmas tunes such as The Grinch, Go Tell it on the Mountain, Children – Go Where I Send Thee and Auld Lang Syne. If you have kids or grandkids to entertain, it would be a fun frugal family activity to teach them some new holiday songs!
I’m building myself a new Christmas carol binder since the kids’ caroling books I own were hard to find in the first place, and are falling apart even though it’s my second set of books. But I do know how to sing a lot of the popular songs. If I have the words in front of me, whether they are from a hymnal, lyrics page, or other resource, I can teach the songs to the students in a repeat-after-me format.
If I have the music notes, I can also play the songs on flute. But I’ll settle for just the lyrics when needed to expand my collection.
Continue reading Find the Christmas lyrics at Caroling Corner …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Today’s headlines: Christmas customers spending less
Here’s an assortment of headlines from the news this morning about the frugal / penny pinching / handmade Christmas 2009 season in Michigan and across the U.S.
- Detroit News: It’s going to be a merry, but frugal Christmas.
- AnnArbor.com: Retailers turning to discounts. (Local reader alert: Interviews include a shopper from Maybee, Mich.).
- Associated Press article at MSNBC: Shoppers are out, but wait for more discounts.
If you are looking for ways to spend less money, but still have an enjoyable Christmas, go to my sidebar “Help! I Can’t Afford Christmas!”.
It’s a little late in the season to take on tasks that require advance planning such as negotiating a smaller gift-giving list among the relatives or applying for financial assistance. But if you are looking for frugal family fun or gift ideas under $20, it’s still possible to follow up on those tips.
Continue reading Today’s headlines: Christmas customers spending less …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Eight Frugal Family Gifts
One of my favorite gift-giving strategies is to focus on family gifts rather than individual gifts. This approach is an effective means of saving both time and money, two very important resources,One of my favorite gift-giving strategies is to focus on family gifts rather than individual gifts. This approach is an effective means of saving both time and money, two very important resources, especially this time of year! Deciding on one large present is much quicker than choosing several individual gifts. In fact, I can often find an appropriate family gift to fit several families on my gift list. One large gift is often less expensive and of better quality than several smaller, individual gifts. The fact that a family-oriented gift encourages families to take time to have some fun together and enjoy one another is a wonderful added bonus!
A little creativity in presentation can make all the difference between an average gift and one that feels special, so make the effort to be creative. For example, rather than just hand my college-student nephew a fast food gift card for his birthday, I asked for an empty fry container from the restaurant when I bought the card. Then I made sugar cookies, cut them to look like french fries, and put them in the fry box along with the gift card. A little extra effort gave a rather plain gift some pizzazz! Since my family ate (and enjoyed) most of the batch of cookies, the cost of the few “fries” in the gift presentation was very minimal.
Over the years, I’ve built up a repertoire of gifts that families love to receive. Take a look at some of the following ideas and see if one isn’t just what you’re looking for. Present it with some creative packaging and I’ll almost guarantee you some happy gift recipients!
Movie Night
One of my favorite, not to mention easiest and least expensive family gifts is the Family Movie Night package. I take a white cardboard paint tub from the hardware store and fill it with a 2-liter pop, several bags of microwave popcorn, some large boxes of candy from the dollar store and a movie rental coupon. I create a gift card to look like a filmstrip or ticket stub. A tub like this can be made for well under $10 and is easy to mass produce if you have several families you’d like to remember. You can also bump it up a notch by using a large glass, plastic, or metal bowl and including DVD(s) rather than a rental certificate.
Super Sundaes
Who doesn’t love ice cream—especially when you get to make it just the way you like it? This gift looks extra special when presented in a big basket (from the thrift or dollar store, of course). Include a bunch of bananas, various toppings, sauces, nuts, and a $10 grocery store certificate for the purchase of ice cream and whipped topping. Search your dollar or thrift store for inexpensive sundae glasses or banana split dishes to give the gift some extra punch. You could also include long dessert spoons and/or napkins. Don’t forget a jar of Maraschino cherries! Create a gift card that looks like a banana or tub of ice cream.
Fun and Games
A family game night package is sure to be enjoyed. Depending on your budget, you can include inexpensive card games or a more expensive board game. Visit a game store and you’ll find a surprisingly large selection of both types. Snacks could range from popcorn and candy to cheese, sausage, and crackers, to a batch of your favorite brownies or cookies.
Christmas Morning
We had a friend who gave us the same gift every year and I always looked forward to it with eager anticipation. On Christmas Eve day, she would deliver her homemade version of Cinnabons® along with a Mason jar of homemade hot chocolate mix. These yummy treats were intended for us to enjoy on Christmas morning. This gift was inexpensive and simple, but was always a favorite to receive.
Photo by Sheila Scarborough
Get Corny
I don’t know anyone that doesn’t love popcorn. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to put together a gourmet popcorn gift basket. Make up some caramel corn or popcorn balls, but don’t stop there. Search the Internet for “flavored popcorn recipes” and find everything from Jello® flavored, to pizza, to ranch, to cinnamon popcorn. I even found a recipe for cranberry popcorn balls! Package each flavor in its own tin, box or basket and label appropriately. You can even go the extra mile and include recipes so the family can recreate their favorites.
Winter Warm-Up
Buy a great puzzle that the family can work together, include a cute or comfy pair of socks for everyone and some fancy hot chocolate, and you’ve got the makings for a cozy winter evening. Include a wonderful apple pie or vanilla scented candle to help set the mood. You could even bake them a real apple pie, for that matter!
Sports Fan Fun
Sports fans will appreciate a gift based around their favorite team or sport. Set the tone with a homemade Sports Fan Hand and, just for fun, include a mini football, basketball, or homemade pom poms. Depending on the sport being highlighted, you might include seat cushions, hand warmers, sun visors or knit caps, all in appropriate colors, of course. Be sure to include water bottles, trail mix, and peanuts.
Book Lover Basket
Are you giving to homeschoolers or a family of book lovers? What about putting together a package with personalized bookmarks and book plates? These elastic bookmarks are unique and easy to make. An Internet search for “printable book plates” will provide you with lots of options. You could even make your own from scrapbooking papers or buy some at your local bookstore. Include a great family read-aloud or even a favorite book on CD.
So, can you save time and money this year by gifting families instead of individuals? I hope these few suggestions have given you some inspiration. Bless a family with a gift they can enjoy together, and boost your budget at the same time!
Molly Green is passionate about cheerful, creative homemaking on a down-to-earth budget. Visit her online home, www.Econobusters.com for tips on frugal and tasty cooking, fresh decorating ideas, affordable family fun, simple but effective organizing, and much more! Sign up for her free weekly E-Newsletter, and get a bonus menu-planning E-Book too!
Molly’s favorite project is her monthly Money-Saving Digest. In each issue she features columns on decorating, hospitality, parenting, and more, as well as one featured topic, like working from home, education, frugal vacations, family organization, or gardening.
Molly is learning that frugality means freedom, not drudgery, and it can be fun, too! especially this time of year!
Continue reading Eight Frugal Family Gifts …
From Econobusters.
What to get a frugal person for Christmas
Trent at the Simple Dollar has a good discussion going on “So, What Do You Want for Christmas?” – specifically, what to get a frugal person or frugal family for Christmas!
One of the commenters, Tradd, has an excellent idea:
I find that when buying gifts for frugal folks, it helps to keep in mind just WHY they’re frugal. Are they frugal out of sheer necessity (ie, do they make sacrifices for one parent to stay home with the kids, is there job loss/health issues, etc.?) or do they do it to be good stewards (ie, they make a comfortable living, but are still frugal?).
The frugal couple I’m buying for this Christmas are in the first category. They love good coffee and Starbucks, but there’s not much room for that in their budget right now. So I got them a bag of Starbucks coffee as well as a $15 Starbucks gift card (they like going for coffee as a date away from the kids).
Continue reading What to get a frugal person for Christmas …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Santa visits, parades and other free fun in Monroe County
This post is for my readers who live in or near Monroe County, Mich.
If you are looking for frugal family holiday fun to replace the more expensive Christmas entertainment such as visits to the zoo’s Christmas light display, a personal visit from Santa, tickets to a holiday musical or ballet, you are in luck.
A lot of the community Christmas events in the Monroe County, Mich., area are free or on a donation basis. And this is the week when many of those events take place. I’m one of the reporters who gets those notices scheduled for The Monroe Evening News, so I know what’s been announced.
I have all the local holiday events posted and tagged at the MonroeTalks calendar. The notices include when Santa is making appearances, when the parades are kicking off, where you can admire a collection of Christmas trees, and when and where the holiday music concerts are taking place.
Be sure to check that list frequently during the next two weeks – I’m pretty sure we don’t have all the holiday event notices on file yet. I have appealed many times during the past few years to event committees to get notices to the newspaper way in advance so to get the best impact for the publicity. But some events still get announced on a very short time frame. A bunch of those notices arrived to my desk just in the past couple of days.
Continue reading Santa visits, parades and other free fun in Monroe County …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Do you make money out of this blog?
I got the following comment from a spammer. Yes, it was spam because of where the author’s link went to, and also because it was tagged on an old post.
But it’s a good question, so I’ll address with question without giving the spammer any advertising link:
Do you make money out of this blog? just curious.
I’ve made just under $100. And that’s not been from the blog itself. That amount is from two public appearances as the Monroe on a Budget blogger.
That wasn’t the plan. When The Monroe Evening News launched the BlogsMonroe site in late 2006, the goal was to build up a buzzing community of local bloggers and the newspaper would make some money off the ads. The newspaper employees take care of the I.T. details and market the blogs on our reader forums, in our print edition, on our main web site, etc. We also host a blogger meet and greet at the Monroe County Fair.
Our success stories include three people who originally launched on our site and then spun off to set up their own freelance sites. Others have given blogging a try, and realized it wasn’t for them. But none of BlogsMonroe bloggers have been out out any money for being in our network. We’re not charging the bloggers hosting or participation fees.
The bottom line is that the ad revenue keeps the network running.
We’re not earning enough money off the blogs to spin off stipends to the authors. That’s not just an issue with our blog network – it’s a situation with web advertising overall.
To make money beyond the banner ads, some frugal, family and financial bloggers do sponsored reviews or accept pay-per-links. I would not do that as a newspaper reporter, so I don’t do it here.
Other bloggers join networks like the one we have at BlogsMonroe. A few months ago, I was invited to join another blog network and earn some money by writing pieces specifically for them. But as the site owner looked over my blog and I looked over their offer, we realized there might be a conflict of interest with my job. We parted ways in a friendly matter.
Here’s where my paycheck really comes from: The Monroe Evening News. I’ve been one of the reporters there for 10 years.
My job description was rewritten to include hosting this blog. I’m allowed (encouraged) to blog at work because this is a sponsored blog. I’m allowed (encouraged) to copy and post content from our newspaper and our affiliated sites because this is a sponsored blog. My co-workers also send press releases and links my way that come from their sources – so there’s a lot of behind the scenes participation.
Now, one could argue that a reporter with a social media resume has made herself a more valuable journalist. At this point, I’m glad to still have a job. I know too many former newspaper employees who are no longer in the business. While my newspaper is still printing and delivering on a daily basis, we are doing it with fewer employees than before. Two of the nearest newspaper towns – Detroit and Ann Arbor – have drastically cut back on their staff and production in the past year. And the northwest Ohio newspapers where I used to work in the 1990s have had so many layoffs that I’m certain I would now be unemployed had I stayed in that area.
Here is where my extra money is showing up:
During the past several months, I’ve been on the speaking circuit in the Monroe and Toledo areas. I originally decided to give frugal living presentations just in Monroe since that’s my target audience, but I will do programs elsewhere if I can be on a team or panel rather than a solo appearance.
Most of those appearances are booked by libraries, civic and social clubs. They have budgets so tiny that the reimbursement is usually lunch or a thank-you gift. So I consider those events to be marketing and public relations opportunities for this blog and my newspaper. The hosts are gracious about that tradeoff.
The two bookings I’ve had so far that resulted in actual cash were workshops at Monroe Public Schools Community Education.
So why do I spend so much time feeding this blog?
Well, as many of you readers have figured out, my family is on a budget too. I’ve been able to add a lot of money-saving tricks into my personal collection because of the content I have found for this blog.
And it should be obvious from the headlines that Michigan and Ohio families have to be as resourceful as they can to get through a nasty economy. When it was just our region in recession, the rest of the country paid little attention to the economic woes in Detroit, Monroe and Toledo.
If one less family in the area goes into foreclosure, if one more family can keep the electric bill paid, if one more family can cut their Christmas budget in half and still enjoy the visit from Santa, if one more family has figured out how to use coupons and other grocery tricks to keep a decent amount of food in the house …
Then all of us in southeast Michigan and northwest Ohio benefit financially.
Continue reading Do you make money out of this blog? …
From Monroe on a Budget.
Frugal Family Gifts & Reader Question
Be sure and check out this article I wrote on my favorite frugal family gifts at Heart of the Matter. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well as some of your favorite gift giving ideas. In fact, I had this email in my inbox yesterday, and I’m hoping you can help. You always do such a great job of responding to reader questions!
Hi Molly,
Thought I’d ask you about suggestions for celebrating the holiday with really large families. Both my husband and I come from large families with 4 of our own children – and most of our family members are local. So, the holidays are always frustrating, exhausting, expensive, over-commercialized, etc. with gift exchanges, drawing names for both sides, meals, and time expectations. I so want to simplify and not feel forced to spend so much gift money and I don’t know how to go about making suggestions that will still appease most everyone (especially the gift giver love languages in both families). The whole gift thing is very stressful each season (probably because gift giving is last as a love language for me). And, I want to carve out time and money for the six of us – to be able to keep our own traditions and buy gifts for my own children and spouse – who usually get the short end since there’s not much left by the time we’ve covered everyone else. Gifts ideas for parents would also be helpful.
Any suggestions or things you’ve heard that other large families do would be greatly appreciated.
Warmly,
Jennifer
Continue reading Frugal Family Gifts & Reader Question …
From Econobusters.
Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt
One fun and frugal family activity is a fall scavenger hunt. Have fun with just your family, or invite a few friends to join in the fun. You can wrap up the festivities with pie and ice cream. Ask each family to bring a pie to help keep things simple.
Use your imagination to make your own list of items to find or use one of the lists below. Give each individual, family, or group a list of items to find and a bag for their goodies and you’re off! A digital camera can be used as a fun way to record items that are too large to carry.
Here is a great Scavenger Hunt list from EverythingMom.com. It’s unlikely you could find everything on the list, but it would make a great contest to see which team could find the most items. Or work on the entire list as a family, maybe taking more than one outing to find all the items.
Or try this ABC checklist or this more simple list of items to hide and find. Here is a pretty, ready-to-go list that involves getting to know your neighbors.
And you don’t need to freit if the weather is uncooperative. Simply use this fall newspaper scavenger hunt to have some fun!
Enjoy! (And don’t forget the pie and ice cream once you get home!)
Continue reading Day 25~Frugal Family Fun: Scavenger Hunt …
From Econobusters.