My favorite new product.

A friend recently turned me on to this product and I LOVE it! Fabuloso is an all purpose cleaner that you can find in most big box stores. It cleans ANYTHING and leaves a wonderful fresh smell. I use the Ocean Paradise scent.

Try Fabuloso, I can't recommend it enough!

Fabuloso helps make Home Made Easy.

Change of plans

Last week I was telling you all how excited I was for Thanksgiving, I teased about my beautiful tablescape and the meal I was cooking. CHANGE OF PLANS!

The original plan was dinner at my house for 12, no big deal. As the week went on, the neighbors and I started talking and several people didn't have anywhere to go. Others had family coming in that they didn't want to be trapped with and with this in mind we decided to all have Thanksgiving together. One problem, 30 people.

Only one house in the neighborhood was large enough for all of us, so we moved the entire Thanksgiving celebration across the street.

We divided up the tasks for the meal and I was responsible for a vegetable and dessert. My life just got much easier!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and really enjoyed our time together, but I must admit I was disappointed as I enjoy cooking the meal and doing the tablescape, but alas neither was necessary.

I did want to share with you what I had planned for the tablescape and apologize that there are no photos, but like I said, it never happened.

• Plain white linen cloth
• Antique crocheted overlay
• Wrought Iron Candelabra that runs the length of my table
• Petite votives
• Assorted photos in frames of various sizes of family and friends who I am thankful for. The photos would be interspersed along the table and at varying heights.
• Cobalt blue linen place mats
• Solid white china
• Silver flatware
• Cobalt blue water glasses
• Long stem crystal wine glasses
• Blue and white plaid linen napkins with silver napkin rings
• Place cards were to be my special message to each guest. On a white card and written in silver ink the card would say "Leigh, I am thankful for your kindness." "Clint, I am thankful for your generosity." etc. etc.
• Each person was to also have "to go" bags. Using craft paper lunch bags and tied with festive ribbons, each person would have taken away their left-overs for the next day.

Oh well, it didn't happen this year. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your celebration was Home Made Easy.

Things to Come

I am incredibly excited about Thanksgiving. I have planned a traditional menu, but I am most excited about my table scape, I will be setting it up this weekend, so make sure you stop in later for all the details and photos.

To make the table scape even more interesting, I am not buying ANYTHING, it is being created by things I have around the house.

Now that, my friends is the epitome home made easy!

Five Easy Budget Savers

The economy is in the tank and we are all struggling. I have been searching for as many cost savings tactics that I can successfully implement into my own household.

Today I share 5 easy cost-savings steps that you can put into effect in your own household to help get through these difficult times. I am always searching for more, so if you have any ideas, add them down in the comments section for others.

Dump the Dry-Cleaning

Until recently I was spending 40 - 50 dollars per week on dry-cleaning. I sent all of my work clothes out to be laundered. When the economic crunch hit, this was one of the first things I cut back on. Now, I am laundering all my work clothes at home. I have started ironing while I watch television and it isn't so bad. One of my biggest worries when I started doing my own laundry was wrinkles, I love heavy starch in my shirts and can't stand wrinkles. A friend told me about a great product, Downy Wrinkle Releaser, it really works and gives the clothes a nice fresh smell as well.

Weekly Savings $40

Yearly Savings: $2,080


Save Your Change

For years I have saved change. I don't ever spend it under any circumstance, I only spend bills. At the end of the day I have a large jar I put the change in. I average at least $1.00 per day in change. During the Spring I emptied the jar because it was full, imagine my surprise when I had $1,368.49 in change saved!

Weekly Savings $7

Yearly Savings $365

Internet Coupons

We all know about coupons in the newspaper, but in today's culture one of the most important marketing tools any company has is their website. Before I go to the grocery I make my shopping list and then check out websites. Product websites often feature coupons that you won't find anywhere else, check it out, on my last visit to the grocery I had $12 in Internet coupons, I am a single person household so I don't buy as frequently as most, you can do much better than $12.

Weekly Savings $12

Yearly Savings $624

Hang It

As a child I loved the smell of sheets that had been hung out to dry on the line. I have reinstated the clothes line tradition in my own backyard. I am fortunate this time of year it is still warm in south Florida, so I can hang year round, but whenever available I highly recommend it, a clothesline is a great cost cutter and it is good for the environment as well! As in the last hint, remember I am a single person household so my cost may be lower than yours, I usually do 5 loads of laundry per week total, I know people who do that many per day, but if you save just 50 cents per load, that comes to $2.50 per week.

Weekly Savings $2.50

Yearly Savings $130

Brown Bag It

One of the best cost savings tools you can do on a day to day basis is brown bag your lunch. I have started cooking roast and turkey breast that can be extended through the week, this helps keep lunch interesting and tasty. I can't brown bag it every day, but I am doing 4 days per week, I usually spend 8 - 12 dollars per day on lunch. Over 4 days at just $8 that is $32 per week, brown bag it and eat in a nearby park, you get some exercise walking to the park and save money in the process!

Weekly Savings $32

Yearly Savings (Based on 50 Weeks) $1600

Those are some easy cost cutting tools that have a big pay-off. Any idea how much we just saved with those 5 easy tips?

$4,799!!!

And that is how you live on a budget and reap the rewards, Home Made Easy!

Menu Planning on a Budget

We are all being hit by the uncertainty of our economy. I know in the last few months, I have had to look at my expenses and spending in ways that I have never had to do in my life.

While costs keep going up I am looking for ways to cut my spending. I am finding that small cuts add up to big savings in the long run. These are all small changes that I am making, nothing that hurts too much, and some that actually give me a feeling of accomplishment when I am finished.

Today I am going to address food, these small changes can make a big difference of hundreds of dollars each month.

Plan Ahead.


At the beginning of the month when I am doing my budget, I allocate a weekly food allowance. I am using the envelope system for food, I give myself a dollar amount at the beginning of each week, that cash goes into an envelope marked "FOOD". This envelope can't be used for anything else.... and no additional cash may be added to it.





Using the envelope system has forced me to plan ahead when preparing for the week.

My week's schedule is never the same. Some night's it makes sense for me to plan on cooking and eating dinner at home, other times I know I will not be able to do it. Same with work, there are some days that make sense for me to take leftovers for lunch because it fits my schedule, other days I know I am going to have to run out and pick something up, it is all in the planning.

If you plan ahead with your weekly calendar, the schedule seems to work out and the more you do it, the easier it gets to make everything fit. Living alone makes it easier for me than some, I can make some meals (roast, turkey breast etc.) last all week which is a great cost saver and can be used in a variety of different ways which eliminates redundancy in choice.

Add to the envelope.




Just because you allocate yourself a certain amount of $ each week doesn't mean you can't add to it! When I am preparing my weekly shopping list I have gotten really good at checking the sales papers and couponing. I usually do my weekly shopping on Sunday, this gives me time to check the Sunday paper for coupons, check my Internet sites for special offers and check the weekly sales sheet from my grocer.

By the time I get to the grocery, I usually add 5 - 10 dollars in savings or coupons. In all honesty I used to look down on people who coupon, but let me tell you, IT WORKS! Now that I have started, I get a sense of excitement when I am able to use what I clip, the savings make a difference.


Store Brands


Buy store brands whenever possible. Now, there are some brands that I am not willing to compromise on, but most you can't tell a difference in, so try the store brand and see how you like it.


Make a List



DO NOT go to the grocery without a list.... EVER! Grocery shopping without a list is the kiss of death to saving money. Write out a list and stick to it! I realize sticking to the list is difficult, especially when you have to walk by all those great cookies and chips. So, IF AND ONLY IF, I don't have any toiletries items to purchase I allow myself $3 to spend on something special, choosing my treat is always fun and feels rewarding in the overall scheme of saving money.


Be smart about how you cook



Crock pot, grill, microwave, and toaster oven cooking is always better than using the stove. When planning your meals, work towards combination cooking, if you can grill it, GRILL IT. If you can put it in the crock pot, do it! Combination cooking saves time, saves energy and gives you more opportunities for menu variety.


This week's menu



Sunday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast at home

Lunch: Watermelon

Dinner: I have Bible Study at 5 and we all bring our dinner, so I will stop on the way and grab a sandwich.

Monday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast at home

Lunch: We had a new restaurant open on property last week and I have a free lunch card.... WOOHOO, Monday's lunch is free!

Dinner: I will have time to cook because I get home Monday without having to work late. Bottom Round Roast is on sale this week. I will put the roast in my crock pot on Monday morning before I leave for work and include carrots, potatoes, and onion.

Tuesday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast at home

Lunch: Leftover Roast beef, potatoes, carrots and onions

Dinner: Salad, Vegetables and Toast

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Cereal and Toast at home

Lunch: Roast Beef Sandwich with chips and cookies (I buy the individual small packs)


Dinner: I have Pilate's and my personal finance class after work, I won't get home until late, so I will pack watermelon chunks for dinner.

Thursday:

Breakfast: Cereal and toast at home

Lunch: Watermelon chunks and homemade trail mix

Dinner: I have a meeting after work and won't arrive home until after 7:30. I will eat a roast beef sandwich

Friday:

Breakfast: Cereal and toast at home

Lunch: Lunch meeting and I was the one invited, so today lunch is free!

Dinner: Vegetable Soup (I canned some vegetable soup mix over the summer, I will warm that along with the remnants of the roast beef, this will be good for the weekend.)

Saturday:


Breakfast: Watermelon

Lunch: I am working at my part time job on Saturday, which includes free lunch!

Dinner: Vegetable Soup

I hope this helps you all with your planning and gives you some cost saving tips. Over the next few posts, I will share savings tips on other household plans and hope you will send in your tips also.

The economy may be in the tank and it looks like there is no end in site, but there are always ways to save and make your life Home Made Easy!

UPDATE:

I just returned from the grocery, I bought all the items needed for the week's menu, plus TP and Paper Towels.

Total spent: $47.01

Total savings: $9.26

Woohoo, I stayed under budget and got several Buy One Get One Free Items which will go into next week as well!!!!!!!!!