Yeah for Friday! Today's frugal tip is perfect for date night or a night out with friends: Check your local restaurants for happy hour.
Last Friday, the kids were at Grandma's so we went to dinner and a movie with friends. Instead of an expensive dinner, we went to the bar area (non-smoking!) of a very nice restaurant. All their appetizers were 1/2 price from 3 - 7 and they had drink specials also. One drink each plus six appetizers fed us all for less than the price of two of us to have dinner there!
Of course the movie was free from previous Walgreen deals I had done (AXE bodyspray and Mamma Mia Ponds). We didn't need expensive popcorn as we were full from the much healthier appetizers.
Listen to these yummy appetizers we enjoyed: sweet potato fries, chipolte blue cheese potato crisps, Kobe beef sliders, salmon scallop lollipops, fried calamari and buffalo wild wings.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Works for Me Wednesday
Just for fun, I thought I'd participate in Works for me Wednesday - it's a fun place to get all kinds of great tips!
My tip of the week is how I use bread crusts. My daughter won't eat bread crusts. I used to either eat them myself (didn't need those extra calories!) or throw them away. Now I just tear them up into pieces and put in a gallon sized freezer bag in the freezer. I also tear up heels and stick those in there. When it's time to make stuffing, I'm all set - no need to buy extra bread.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Deal of the week!
A few good deals on restaurants and clothing this week!
Restaurant.com
Use the code TREATS at checkout (through 10/31) and receive 80% off your order. I was lucky enough to snag a $25 certificate at The Melting Pot for $2.00!!! It's off of two entrees and does include 18% tax, but it should still give us a relatively inexpensive night out. With my birthday coming up, I've just decided where I'd like to go to celebrate.
Taco Bell: Free tacos today from 2- 6 - we will all be heading over. Be sure to call your store before you go to make sure they are participating.
Ann Taylor Loft has an additional 40% off clearance. I've been looking for a few months now for a nice denim pencil skirt and I found one there for under $15. Score!!!
If you go to Restaurant.com or Ann Taylor Loft, be sure to purchase through eBates ( http://www.ebates.com/refer-a-friend/0809promo.htm?referrerid=XbrrVHIe6loxHLSmfRUsAw%3D%3D)
This will give you an extra % back on your purchases. Example - I just got $1 back from my two purchases of the day. It adds up! And if you register through the link above, you'll get $5 automatically!
Restaurant.com
Use the code TREATS at checkout (through 10/31) and receive 80% off your order. I was lucky enough to snag a $25 certificate at The Melting Pot for $2.00!!! It's off of two entrees and does include 18% tax, but it should still give us a relatively inexpensive night out. With my birthday coming up, I've just decided where I'd like to go to celebrate.
Taco Bell: Free tacos today from 2- 6 - we will all be heading over. Be sure to call your store before you go to make sure they are participating.
Ann Taylor Loft has an additional 40% off clearance. I've been looking for a few months now for a nice denim pencil skirt and I found one there for under $15. Score!!!
If you go to Restaurant.com or Ann Taylor Loft, be sure to purchase through eBates ( http://www.ebates.com/refer-a-friend/0809promo.htm?referrerid=XbrrVHIe6loxHLSmfRUsAw%3D%3D)
This will give you an extra % back on your purchases. Example - I just got $1 back from my two purchases of the day. It adds up! And if you register through the link above, you'll get $5 automatically!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Menu Plan Monday
So glad to be home for a week! Only one more week of travel and them I'm switching jobs within the company! YEAH!!! This has been a hard few months - lots of late nights and weekend working and I'll be glad to be done with it before the holidays start.
This week, I'm back to menu planning, but we have ordered a cow, so I'm trying to clean out the freezer further. That will keep my shopping to a minimum.
Monday - chili, garlic bread (from freezer)
Tuesday - Free Taco's at Taco Bell!
Wednesday - Baked Potato Bar (with leftover chili)
Thursday - Chicken Fried Rice
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - I'll be out of town (last weekend on the project) so hubby is on his own
Sunday - Taco Salad
Breakfasts will be pancakes, omelets/eggs, cereal, oatmeal and I think I'll make some pumpkin scones!
Lunches will be leftovers and sandwiches
Small grocery list so I think I'll stock up on baking items that are on sale right now!
This week, I'm back to menu planning, but we have ordered a cow, so I'm trying to clean out the freezer further. That will keep my shopping to a minimum.
Monday - chili, garlic bread (from freezer)
Tuesday - Free Taco's at Taco Bell!
Wednesday - Baked Potato Bar (with leftover chili)
Thursday - Chicken Fried Rice
Friday - Homemade pizza
Saturday - I'll be out of town (last weekend on the project) so hubby is on his own
Sunday - Taco Salad
Breakfasts will be pancakes, omelets/eggs, cereal, oatmeal and I think I'll make some pumpkin scones!
Lunches will be leftovers and sandwiches
Small grocery list so I think I'll stock up on baking items that are on sale right now!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saving Money with Baked goods
I love to bake - muffins, breads, cookies, you name it, I love to make it. However, in my family with just my husband, myself and two small kids we often can't eat a whole batch of something before it tastes stale! So, after I've made something, I pull out what we will eat in the next few days and then freeze the rest. If it's bread, I slice it, freeze the slices on a cookie sheet and then combine into a ziplock - same for muffins, cookies, etc.
I've found that if I pull out a slice of something or a muffin as soon as I get up, by the time my coffee is made and I'm showered and dressed, it's thawed out enough to eat. This is a terrific time and money saver on days I have to leave the house early or just don't have time to make breakfast! It also allows me to bake whenever I want, and have a nice variety of baked goods on hand in the freezer.
I've found that if I pull out a slice of something or a muffin as soon as I get up, by the time my coffee is made and I'm showered and dressed, it's thawed out enough to eat. This is a terrific time and money saver on days I have to leave the house early or just don't have time to make breakfast! It also allows me to bake whenever I want, and have a nice variety of baked goods on hand in the freezer.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October goals
Well, I know October is almost over, but I HAVE been working on my focus of the month (http://savemoneybehappy.blogspot.com/2008/04/too-much-change.html). October I chose to concentrate on two things I enjoy and want to learn more about. The first is blogging and the second is travel writing.
Here are the goals I've been working on:
1. Take a travel writing class through continuing education.
2. Complete and submit three query letters.
3. Investigate different blog ideas (i.e. weekly posts, series, revenue)
4. Limit blogging (and reading blogs) to certain hours of the day - things were getting out of hand!
5. Do another giveaway.
6. Increase blog traffic.
It's been an interesting month to say the least - I'll be sure and post updates in early November on what I did and the results!
Here are the goals I've been working on:
1. Take a travel writing class through continuing education.
2. Complete and submit three query letters.
3. Investigate different blog ideas (i.e. weekly posts, series, revenue)
4. Limit blogging (and reading blogs) to certain hours of the day - things were getting out of hand!
5. Do another giveaway.
6. Increase blog traffic.
It's been an interesting month to say the least - I'll be sure and post updates in early November on what I did and the results!
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