Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Who Is Mara Dyer?

Watch the trailer and find out! 





Mara Dyer is the brainchild of my friend and favorite new writer, Michelle Hodkin. Her debut novel arrived on shelves today, and I ran out to buy it, even though I had the distinct pleasure of reading an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) a couple of months ago. It's an exciting, exhilarating story of well, who am I kidding? I'm no book reviewer. Just read it. It's frigging awesome. There's mystery, intrigue, lust, snark, and everything else you could want. And yes, it's a "Young Adult" book. Who cares? A good book is a good book. It doesn't need to be Tolstoy for you to enjoy it. Besides, I've never read Tolstoy and don't really care to. I have a Master's Degree and I thought it was great. I give you permission to read it.

I don't buy many books, since they can get expensive, and there are so many alternatives (the library, thrift stores, PaperBackSwap, etc), but I HAD to have this one in my greedy little hands. First of all, it's a beautiful book. Second of all, it's going to be getting a LOT of love. I like to read books over and over, so I just have to have my own copy sometimes. I mean, look at it! It just screams, "hold me!"

 
If I still haven't managed to convince you, go to MaraDyer.com and read the first chapter for FREE. Yes, free. I promise you will be hooked. Do it. Do it now.

Sunday Freezer Cooking

Since I have no life, I decided to do some cooking on Sunday. First up was Breakfast Burritos. I used this recipe from Money Saving Mom (surprise, surprise), with just a little change. I halved the recipe and added mushrooms, but essentially stuck to the original, since I'm a nervous nelly when it comes to cooking. I don't have that Ina Garten-esque "throw in some of this and a pinch of that" mentality. I do yell "Bam!" occasionally though. Exhibit #1:


I warmed the tortillas in the microwave for a few seconds under a damp paper towel for easier assembly. I dumped the eggs on the tortilla, rolled it, wrapped it in half a big paper towel (I have the HUGE Costco paper towels), and then in foil. I placed them in the leftover tortilla bag and a gallon size plastic bag, sucked the air out, which was the most enjoyable part by far, and threw them in the freezer. Evidence exhibit 2:

So there. 10 burritos done. I could price it all out to the penny like other websites, but I won't. I know it was cheap. I used less than a whole pepper (<$.50), onion, 10 tortillas ($.99), 9 eggs ($1-something), some cheese ($1.50?), a little milk, and salt/pepper. So these are maybe $.50 a piece? Pretty damn cheap compared to my bacon egg and cheese bagels from Dunkin Donuts. And I won't be tempted to buy a pumpkin donut to go along with it. And a Coolatta.

Next up? Taco meat. I got a pound of hamburger that was set to expire that day for $1 off. I brought it home and dumped it in the pan with a can of pink beans, and more pepper and onion. I also added some water and DIY taco seasoning. I didn't have all of the ingredients, but eh, it tastes fine. Here's another picture.


Yep, that's the same pan. I don't own a lot of cookware. Once this was cooked sufficiently, I spooned it into a gallon size zip-top bag, labeled it, and placed it flat on the freezer shelf to save space. Lastly was meatballs made with another pound of discounted beef. I didn't save the exact recipe, but it involved hamburger, an egg, breadcrumbs, and salt/pepper. I am a lazy bum and don't like to brown them and bake them, so I (well, the husband), mixed the meat and put them in a mini muffin tin. Notice the me-sized and the he-sized balls.


Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or so, and voila. Drop those puppies on some pasta, and you have a meal. We were able to get 24 mini meatballs out of a pound of beef. Not bad. They lasted through dinner and a few lunches.

So there you go. Cheap, easy, and yummy. Enjoy.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Pets and budgeting

I love my dogs. I have two. Cute, aren't they?


I would love to have more someday. They provide endless hours of love and entertainment, with some exasperation every now and then. But I wouldn't trade them for the world. They can, however, be costly at times. Some things you can never plan for; like a serious illness or an accident, but you can lessen costs when it comes to your pets without sacrificing their health.

First and most important, ADOPT!! There are millions of dogs and cats in need of good homes right now. Unfortunately, there are millions of dogs and cats also being put to sleep every year because there aren't enough homes. You can make a difference buy adopting your new dog or cat from a shelter or rescue. My favorite resource when looking for a new pet is Petfinder.  This site lists animals all over the country in need of homes. You can sort by breed, size, age, and location. If you can't find what you are looking for near you, inquire at another rescue or shelter. Volunteer transports make it possible to help your new friend make it home to you. I've done them! (Mileage is tax-deductible if you are driving for a registered 501C(3) rescue!)
Two of my happy passengers!

How does adopting help you if you are on a budget, you might ask? Shelters often have locally set adoption rates, as low as $5, and up to around $50. Many states have pet population control programs where you will receive a voucher for a free spay/neuter when you adopt a pet through a city pound. Rescue adoption fees are usually higher, around $100-$400, but this typically includes the pet's spay or neuter surgery, and often their first round of shots. Compare this to $1000+ to buy a dog from a breeder, and you are really getting a good deal; most importantly you are saving a life!

When you get your new pet home, you'll want to start thinking about training. Obedience training can be a great bonding tool, and it will help your pet become happy and well-adjusted. You don't have to spend a fortune, either. Many local pet stores, such as Petco and Petsmart offer basic puppy training. If you adopt from a humane society, you may receive some training classes for free as part of your adoption fee. (Another reason to look into adoptions before buying!) Once you get the basics down, there are many websites out there with free tips and tricks for you to continue your training, or check out books at your local library.

Another area where you might be tempted to cut costs is with food. However, I must warn against buying the cheapest food you can find. You would never do that for your children, so why would you do that for your pets? A good quality food will save you money in the long run on vet bills, and improve your pet's overall health and well being. Also, a good quality food often requires less food per serving, which means it will take you longer to go through a bag. I highly recommend looking at foods with a 4 star rating or higher on Dog Food Analysis's review page. If you are still in need of a break, try a 3 star food. Costco sells their Kirkland brand at VERY reasonable prices. There is even a grain-free version, which is great for dogs with allergies or if you just want to feed a better quality food. My dogs rotate between the Chicken and Rice kibble and the grain free Salmon formula. 

We all know that accidents happen, and pets get sick. As humans, we (hopefully) have medical insurance, and your pet can too. I am no expert, and as there are several companies out there, I can only give recommendations based on what friends have experienced, or what other websites suggest. One to try is petinsurancereview.com. to compare plans and prices. It really depends on your budget and your pet. If you are not interested in buying pet insurance, at least consider setting up a line item in your budget specifically for your pets bills. Set it aside and hope you never have to use it. 

I know this can all seem overwhelming, but pets are such a wonderful part of life. Don't feel like you can never afford to invite a new member into your family. Think it through, try putting everything into your budget and see how it will fit before jumping into anything. But please consider adopting a pet. They really are worth it. 

 

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sometimes you need to splurge a bit. Big E day!

Today was one of those days. We went with some friends to the Eastern States Exposition, otherwise known as The Big E. It is a huge food and junk extravaganza, where you can easily spend a TON of money. Here are some ways to keep it manageable:

  • Park off site. There are side streets across from the Big E where residents offer parking on their lawns for lower rates. Parking at the facility or close by is around $10. Park a couple of houses down, and you get it for $5, plus you walk off a few extra calories.
  • Go during off hours. The Big E in particular offers admission after 5pm for just $6 for adults, instead of the $15 during the day. That's $9 that can go toward your food and drink for the day! Look for discount coupons at local businesses, too. 
  • Remember what your parents taught you, and share! Food gets expensive at fairs. You both don't need the clam fritters or the huge turkey leg. Buy one and split it. This way you can afford another treat later. Buy a large drink and split it. 2 small lemonades would have been $8, but a large was $6. 
  • Free samples are your friends. Many places/booths offer small samples. You may have to wait in line, and it might only be a small piece, but they add up. Plus you can try things that you never would normally eat.
  • Watch the impulse purposes. It's easy to get carried away with all the gadgets and crafts, so be careful. If you see something you just HAVE to have, make a mental note of which booth you are at, take a walk, and if you still really want it at the end of the show, go back and buy it. With some smaller 1 or 2 day events, if you buy goods near closing, the owners are willing to lower their prices.
  • Look for coupons to other events. Ski resorts, zoos, and other attractions may be offering deals at fairs like this.
  • Relax! Remember, you need to have some fun once in a while. Hopefully you are setting aside money for fun or entertainment. Lots of these things are once a year, so let go and have fun for the day!


"They're coming to get you, Barbara!"
-Johnny, "Night of the Living Dead" (1968)

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Hello out there!

Not sure if anyone will read this, but I'm posting anyway. I'm Aimee, and my hubby is Rich. After numerous efforts to cut down our debt and build some savings, we're trying again, but taking some different approaches; blogging being one of them. I saw an article titled "Budgeting For The Zombie Apocalypse" and thought "brilliant!". That describes our philosophy right now.

I'm using this blog as a way to stay accountable, as well as hopefully share some of the things I learn with others in our situation. I'll be continuing my couponing, trying out freezer meals and cooking in bulk, and using the snowball method of paying down our debt. You get to sit back and watch it all unfold. Exciting, isn't it?

Don't let the whole zombie apocalypse thing scare you. It's really just a way of keeping our focus on what is ultimately important. Family, friends, and basic necessities are all you really need, right?

Your first of many Zombie/Apocalypse quotes:

"The first rule of Zombieland: Cardio."
-Columbus, "Zombieland"

Grocery Shopping 9/20/11

Tonight was grocery shopping. I'll post more about how I am saving money, but for now I just need to share my excitement about Aldi. If you have not been, you must check it out. It's a discount store that doesn't take coupons, only takes cash and debit cards (no credit), and carries about 95% store brands. But, you can score some great deals! Tonight, I scored all this for $14.02: mushrooms, 4 huge green peppers, pierogies, a box of Cheerio knock-offs, 2 pks of tortillas, pesto sauce, yogurt raisins, and a bag of chocolate chips. It was great! Thanks to a post on Money Saving Mom, I knew what to expect and planned accordingly. For your Aldi 101, check it out and be sure to read the comments for more helpful tips.

Stop and Shop was next, but mostly for the specialty items, so it was definitely more expensive. Just with buying sale items and using a couple of coupons, I went from $113.05 to $70.50. The pasta and oatmeal will go pretty far, and the B1G1 chicken is earmarked for a couple of recipes already: Chicken Tetrazzini and Chicken and Rice Casserole. The great part is that if I'm feeling really ambitious, I can make these meals ahead of time and freeze them for later. You'll notice I reference Money Saving Mom a lot here, but I receive no benefit to this. I just love everything she does. Haha.


"You know the only good thing about no soap is that you can smell hijackers a mile off!"
-Eli, "The Book of Eli"