Almost Free Valentine's Day Crafts!

My daughter and I were at Target recently, and she saw all the cute Valentine's Day cards and stickers. She was begging me to buy some to bring to school on the 14th! I convinced her that we would have more fun making Valentine crafts for all of her friends, and the crafts would mean more because she had put time and energy into them. I sealed the deal by saying we would make Valentine's Day cupcakes to bring in too!


The first project we embarked upon were stickers, and we did have a lot of fun. I found this About.com article on Free Valentine's Day Clip-art and we downloaded a few images from each site to make our stickers:
http://freebies.about.com/od/valentines-day-freebies/tp/free-valentine-clip-art.htm

We scaled the images down and printed them on plain label paper that we had leftover from when we made return address labels. The label paper isn't too expensive at Staples or somewhere like that, and we made 2 stickers out of each label. We had to cut them all ourselves, but it was well worth it! My daughter even colored on some and added tiny stars and polka dots to personalize the stickers.

For the cards, we used some of the images we had downloaded for the stickers, but we also designed some images ourselves. We used the Paint program on our computer to design some hearts and stars and fun words. My daughter liked this part a lot, since she was able to design some of the pieces. We printed the cards on regular white paper, and there were so many designs and words on each one that you could barely see the white!

We made homemade vanilla cupcakes that we dyed pink by adding powdered freeze-dried strawberries. The process was super simple, we picked up some freeze-dried strawberries on sale and put them in the food processor until they turned to powder. We added them to the cupcake mix and OMG what delicious pink cupcakes! Here is the recipe we used for the basic vanilla cupcake recipe:
http://mysanfranciscokitchen.com/homemade-vanilla-cupcakes/

 We doubled the recipe so that some could go to school and some could stay at home! We did use a whole bag (about 12 oz.) of freeze-dried strawberries to dye the cupcakes, but it was so much yummier and healthier than food coloring, and they weren't very expensive at all!

For the frosting, we used a recipe from the same site (there's a link on the cupcake recipe page, make sure you let the cupcakes cool first). We had some red writing icing (store bought) leftover from a previous project, so we drew hearts on each cupcake with the writing icing (you could use any color, or make extra homemade icing and dye it to make the hearts or words). My daughter's class was so impressed that we made homemade delicious heart cupcakes for them! They couldn't believe how yummy they were, and that we didn't use food coloring to dye them pink! It was fun seeing all the kids' faces as they received their little gifts...they sure did love those cupcakes! Even more than the stickers :) Thank goodness we saved some at home for my husband!

Hope this helps make your Valentine's Day extra special, and not so expensive <3

Make a list! Write it down!

Making a Grocery List:

Writing a list before you head to the store can save you a lot of money. It helps to avoid grocery store pitfalls like prepared foods and quick snacks that appeal to those who have no idea what to buy. It also helps you to avoid buying sale or bulk items that you really don't need, or ones that your family won't eat.

I'm going to jot down a few things that are great additions to add to any grocery list, items that last a long time and that add volume to any meal-

Beans (either dried or in a can)
Rice (bags of non-instant rice are the least expensive)
Oldstyle Oatmeal (larger containers are inexpensive and last a long time)
Flour and Sugar (instead of buying bread or muffins or cookies, make them yourself...there are some great bread recipes at heart4home.net.  (Bread recipes)
Canned fruits and vegetables (these are one good thing to buy when on sale!)
Eggs (good for baking, but also for quiche, scrambled eggs or any number of filling menu items)

These are just some ideas for shopping on a budget. You can find more ideas at grocerylists.org or by searching for Budget Grocery Lists.

Hope this helps you save some money!

Don't Be a Hoarder!

Visit aetv.com for more pics like this one.

We all keep some things we don't need, like that stereo that doesn't work anymore, but someone's going to fix, or that extra vaccuum in the closet.  Even extra clothes require space, and who really needs 10 sweaters in the same color?  Saving money isn't just about not spending, it's also about preventing money being spent.  Maybe we aren't as excessive as the Hoarders pictured above, but when's the last time you cleaned out your garage?  I'm planning a yard sale for a few weeks from now, and I've decided to sell all the extras.  Besides, I don't really need that neon pink shower curtain anymore.  So I've compiled a list of things you can check out.  See if you have extras of these, and then think about whether or not you really need them.  If you don't, sell them.  If you don't have time for a yard sale, donate all your extras.  Donations to places like Goodwill are tax deductible, so you may actually end up gaining money!  What we sometimes forget is that space costs money, and the more space you are using to store things, the more money you may be wasting.  You may not need a bigger closet after all, or maybe you'll realize you have a whole extra room you've never really used because it's "storage."  Designate is as your new office and take up a hobbie.  You never know, you may find out something new about yourself.  You may even figure out a new side job you love!
Extras we may be hoarding:
1. Shower Curtains
2. Bath Towels
3. Blankets
4. Pillows (this includes throw pillows and regular pillows)
5. Curtains
6. Tablecloths
7. Kitchen Utensils
8. Appliances
9. Pots and Pans
10. Planters
11. Containers
12. Pot Holders (and oven mitts, too)
13. Candles
14. Candle Holders
15. Sweaters
16. Shoes
17. Socks
18. Tee-shirts
19. Cords and Adapters
20. Arts and Crafts Supplies
So this is not a comprehensive list by any means, but it gives us all a place to start looking.  I know you don't want to end up with a kitchen like the one in the picture!  As I've mentioned, space costs money, and the less space you need, the more money you can save!  So let go of your stuff and embrace the savings - you can use the extra money to travel if you want, you'll certainly know how to pack light!

Save Money with Wheel Deals

If you are a member of the Wheel Watchers Club (i.e. you have a Wheel Spin ID), you are eligible to save money through a long list of retailers.  The Wheel Watchers Club is a community of Wheel of Fortune fans who sign up via WheelOfFortune.com.  Many Wheel Watchers Club Members are also members of our Spin ID Alert Service, as they may not get to watch the show every episode, and we call you when you win!  To become a member of the Spin ID Alert Service, Click Here!

To save money through the Wheel Watchers Club, you first have to have a Spin ID and login set up.  Then you can use all the Wheel Deals you need!  Below is a list of retailers that offer deals to Wheel Watchers Club Members, and their current offers.

Wheel Deals:

• Zales - $50 Off
• Meineke - Free Roadside Assistance
• LifeShield - Free Security System
• Vitamin World - $5 Off
• Maaco - 10% Off
• Aeropostale - $10 Off

WheelOfFortune.com is adding new Wheel Deals all the time, and we will continue to update you so that you can save money while you shop!  Click Here to visit the Wheel Deals page.
Add this Blog to your Favorites List or Bookmark it so that you can get the latest ideas on how to save money.  Brought to you by the Spin ID Alert Service.

Happy Earth Day!

In the last post, we talked about saving money from your kitchen - and now I want to talk about saving money from your Recycling!

Children are the greatest gifts of all, which means we always want to shower them with presents, but most children don't appreciate things like expensive toys or clothing because they're too busy being kids!

Why not give the children in your life the gift of time?  Spend some time with them creating something amazing, and start with your recycling pile!  Below is a list of great ideas for crafts and projects that are very low cost and also great for the planet!  Celebrate Earth Day with the children in your life - and teach them about sustainability by example.

• Homemade Paper:  Let the little ones' imaginations run wild as they gather paper products from around the house and gather plant products from around the yard!  You can include flower petals or wild grasses in your homemade paper to give it that extra boost of color, which is especially helpful if you're starting with a gray base of newspaper.  Link Here to Instructions on How to Make Homemade Paper.
• Crafty Mobiles:  Pick some toilet paper and paper towel tubes out of your recycling pile, add some old wire hangers and some thread or yarn, and create away!  You can make mobiles out of basically everything, but that's my favorite recipe.  Let the children color the tubes with paint, crayons, markers, or pastels (whatever you have in the house) and attach the tubes to the hangers with thread or yarn.  They'll love these mobiles, and they can hang them in their rooms so that they'll always remember the special time you spent with them, and the fun you had!  Link Here to Other Great Mobiles Ideas.
• Paper Lanterns:  Lanterns made out of reused paper bags aren't only good for the holidays, they're good for any time of year!  You can use any small reused paper bag to make a lantern - all you have to do is trim the top (you can trim it straight or make it fancy but cutting it in shapes) and cut into the front and back of the bag to let the light shine through.  These lanterns make great yard accessories!  You can make them in any shape - a face, a star, an apple.  Let the children pick their favorite food and make a lantern to celebrate it!  Or celebrate the bounty of the Earth and make a circle shaped hole in the front and back, to symbolize the warmth emanating from the planet, and from the love between you as you create together!  When you're done, be sure to put some sand in the bottom of the lantern when you put it outside so that it's safe!  Link Here to Instructions on Making Fancy Paper Lanterns.
• Translucent Wings:  Do you have an old pair of stockings and two old wire hangers?  Then you can make pretty translucent wings!  Don't worry about the rips, you can always cover those with paper or fabric.  Simply attach the two wire hangers together at the top (wrap fabric around the bits poking out so they're safe), cut the stockings (lighter-colored tights work, too) in half at the middle seam, and stretch the halves over each side of the set of wings.  Then you can put glitter, paint, paper, and fabric on the wings to make them beautiful!  Any child would love a pair of wings - these aren't just for girls.  Boys can have elf wings or they can become King of the Fairies with a pair!  Link Here to Instructions on Making Upcycled Hanger Wings.

You can find all sorts of crafts to make from your Recycling, if you look hard enough!  Spend some time with the wonderful kiddies in your life, and teach them about Reusing and Recycling by showing them how!  Happy Earth Day!

Save Money Right from Your Kitchen

I was just about to begin browsing the internet to search for an idea for this post, when I realized my muffins needed to come out of the oven.  And, thus, I begin a blog post about saving money from your kitchen.  All you need is some determination and some ingredients.
1.  Have a dinner party.
It is almost always less expensive to have friends over, compared to meeting friends out for dinner.  Not only do you save on tip, drinks, and food, but you're also not paying higher prices for atmosphere.  Clean your kitchen, light some candles, and have your friends over for a delicious, home-cooked meal.  And you could always have a potluck!  If you want to save even more.
2.  Cook your own food.
The term "cook" has come back into vogue recently, as it was almost replaced by "microwave" not too long ago.  But, now, people are beginning to realize that they can eat higher quality food without sacrificing cost, if they're willing to cook it themselves.  So shun those microwaveable rice dishes and ignore TV dinners in the grocery store aisles.  Instead, look for fresh produce (even fresher if it's from a farmer's market, and sometimes cheaper, too!) to cook up alongside a protein, and wow yourself!
3.  Love the icebox.
Okay, yes, now we call them "freezers," but we don't always use them the way we should.  If you are a busy person, what makes life easier than re-heating leftovers?  Don't just store pre-packaged foods in the freezer, store your own homemade, self-packaged foods in the freezer.  I pulled vegetable soup out of my freezer just last night, and it was delicious once we warmed it up and added salt and pepper.  So cook five portions instead of two, and keep it in the freezer until you need it.
4.  Start an herb garden.
Fresh herbs are expensive, so most of us end up buying canisters of dried herbs from the supermarket, but you could jazz up your meals and save money by starting an herb garden in your kitchen.  We grow rosemary, basil, mint, sage, thyme, and oregano in our kitchen herb garden, and it not only saves us money at the market, but it gives a delicious smell to our home!
5.  Eat vegetarian. (Or somewhat vegetarian.)
Meat is a very expensive food, especially when compared to other protein sources such as beans or tofu.  If you want to keep eating meat, eat less of it.  If you fill up on salads and produce, you won't need as much meat, and this will not only be cheaper for you, but it will also be healthier!

Saving "Green" by Going Green: Part 2

Our next money-saving/planet-saving tip is...

Tip #3:  Make Your Own Rags
Making your own rags gives you something to do with all those old tee-shirts you were going to trash, and it saves trees!  Instead of using paper towels, use homemade rags to wipe up spills and messy counters.  An average family could save more than $100.00 per year by making the switch from paper towels to cloth rags.  Below I've listed a few times when rags could be used instead of paper towels.

• Wiping down countertops
• Cleaning up spills
• In place of napkins

Follow this Link to see where I found the cost analysis on paper towels versus cloth.

Follow this Link to read a great New York Times article on paper towel use.

Be sure to check back with us later in the week to read more tips on How to Save "Green" by Going Green!