Wednesday, April 29, 2009

FOOD BUDGET CALENDER

Okay, the first of the May is fast approaching. Anyone out there on a budget, finding it hard to make the food money last till the end of the month? Having raised a house full of kids, I know the Lord was in the budget. While I lived in Mississippi I had a Parent Aid Program, we taught budgeting, shopping housekeeping,etc.

Get your calender and your calculator. Do you know you can feed 2-3 for two days on 1pound of beef. Get a roast beef/pork and split it up for stews and for steaks. When I go out to Costco, I get one of their packs of ground beef, and divide them into individual meals. I think there are twelve in a pack. I take two for 1 meatloaf, 2 for chili or chili mac, I make patties for hamburgers and freeze them, etc. If you get three packs of meat (beef, pork and hamburger), it will cost approx. $50.00. Then I divide those as I did the hamburger. The beef can be chopped into stew meat for stir fry or whatever. The pork can be sliced for chops, boiled pork, or whatever your recipe calls for.

Speaking of recipe's, some folk will need to learn how to cook. It's really not hard to make good, healthy food. Betty Crocker is still the best cookbook around for all around cooking. Goodwill stores are full of them.

Usually I can get chickens at Albertsons for a lot cheaper. Watch for the sales for whole chickens, cut them up yourself. Watch for sales for frozen feggies, fruits and all sorts of things. Coupons are a pain, but if you do it right you can save. There are nine servings in a chicken if you use the back (white meat). If you don't like the back or neck, cook them anyway and take the meat off for chicken salad.

I haven't forgotten about the calendar. As you plan your meals, write them on the calender for each day (including leftovers). You will be surprised what a family of 2-3 can do for $200/mo. Don't forget your salads, and take advantage of gardens. So many ways to grow fresh tomatoes, beans and lettuce, even if you live in an apartment. If you have any questions or comments, please let me hear from you. Happy Eating!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

U.S. #1 PIRATES - ZIP

Wow, Thank the Lord this is over, and the Captain is safe. I applaud our government for taking a breath before going off half cocked. Now goes the job of seeing that piracy does not reign.

They are threatening, but most helpless people get desperate and sometimes do dumb stuff. I'm not taking up for them, in no ways are they right. And these thieves still have about 200 hostages to bargain with. The United States is not in this alone, and I have not heard a global cry of commitment to keep the seas safe. I still believe that every ship out there needs to carry protection, and have trained staff. This is a new day, but an old game.

Friday, April 10, 2009

EAT WELL EASY, SAVE MONEY TOO...

I love to cook. When I was a young woman and had my kids and it seemed like everyone elses at my house, we ate. I'm so glad that I had a mom and grandma, and aunties that taught me how to cook. But what they didn't teach me was about budgeting. They did teach me to how to streaaaaatch what I had.

There are a lot of young people today who do not have close family around to encourage them in the kitchen. Feeding your kids or yourselfe healthy, good tasting foods doesn't have to be a secret or hard.

Check out in your area outlet grocery stores. Even some of the dollar stores have fresh fruits and veggies now, much cheaper than you pay at your local well lit, high priced, grocery chain. Apartment living is almost a standard. Grow a garden in planters; tomatoes, green beans, green onions, collard greens and spinich are just some of the things that can be grown well in small spaces on patios.

Oh, you've never done this before. Go to Lowes, Kmart, Walmart ar somewhere that has a garden center. Tell them what you want to do, and how much space you have. For under $20. you can get started. This can give you a whole summer of veggies.

I freeze. If you grow onions, clean and dice them, put them in plastic baggies and use in soups, stews, chili, etc. The same with green peppers. That way you have veggies into the winter. Some of the herbs are really pretty. If you have a lot of sun and warm weather, consider red chili peppers - a buitiful plant that you can grow and keep for future use. They can be dried and used later. Make your own hot sauce or hot wing sauce. So many easy cheap things.

If you want to see more articles like this one for cooking and budgeting, please let me know. I'm here for you!!

Can anyone tell me what Show we recently heart that statement on?

Thursday, April 9, 2009

SMART CARS

I saw my first Smart Car up close today. It was cute, and cuter still it gets 45 miles to the gallon, and is $17,000. It's by Mercedes. Now I'm a van person, I carry so much junk and BBQ Sauce, and stuff that I couldn't possibly fit everything into this cute lil' thing. But for that price and that milage, I'm thinkin' about it.

The drawback. Yes, there is always a drawback. Though the company is offering extended waranties, you can only take it to a licensed dealer. Where I live here in Bellingham, the closest one that could work on my car is in Seattle; two hours away. Will they give me a loaner (free)? They are so new, what wears out first on them. The lady I talked to has had hers less than a year, and Mercedes has offered to give her a new transmission free of charge, though nothing is wrong with hers (that she knows of) mmmmmmm.

Only time will tell, but I bet Americans will get on the band wagon for smarter cars. As small as hers is, if GM would make a slightly larger model for that price, to get that milage - I'd go with them. I want to buy American.

So much of our Real Estate is owned by forign countries, I would hate to see our Automakers be sold to forigners too. Please GM, Chrystler get it together. We the people love you. Don't we?

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Pirates, Pirates EVERYWHERE!!

Okay, it seems like nowhere is safe. SOOOO, the question is what shall we do people? Are citizens doing everyday normal, honest work really going to be at the mercy of thugs at sea? PLEEEEEEEEZE! I am a peace lover, I don't believe in violence, but I do think there is a time to protect yourself.

If the waters are not safe to travel, then I feel everyship doing business has a right to bear and use arms. If that means the crews are trained in self-defense, so be it, do it and use whatever means necessary to protect your crew.

Am I alone in this? Please tell me what you think should be done.