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Showing posts with label save money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label save money. Show all posts

Last-minute budget Thanksgiving dinner grocery shopping list for emergency party planning

Uh-oh, someone bailed and now you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner last-minute! Congrats! Are you nervous? Well don't be; here's a surefire emergency Thanksgiving dinner planner with quick, easy grocery shopping list including stores with best prices on holiday foods to feed a party of 10. For best prices, buy supplies on the grocery list from Aldi, Save-a-Lot, Meijer, Dollar Tree or Walmart.

Supplies:

large foil roasting pan with handles
4 disposable baking pans with lids (2-pack at Dollar Tree)
25 square-foot package heavy duty aluminum foil
10 heavy paper plates
10 good disposable cups
napkins
plastic cutlery

Groceries


turkey (choose a large one and freeze leftovers)

green bean casserole: 
6 cans cut green beans
1 large can mushroom soup
1 large bag french fried onions (Walmart)

candied sweet potatoes (you'll use some ingredients for other recipes, noted with an *)
8 large sweet potatoes
2 # bag brown sugar*
2 # stick butter or margarine (2 boxes)*
one large can pineapple or orange juice concentrate

stuffing
1 24 oz loaf of white bread
one large onion
one stalk of celery
one large box or can chicken broth
two sticks of butter, above

cranberries
one bag fresh cranberries
1/2 cup white sugar

miscellaneous
one can refrigerator biscuits or King's Hawaiian rolls
5 # white round potatoes (cook and add two sticks butter)
two frozen pies (you'll do homemade next year when you have more time!)
one 8 ounce tub whipped topping
one gallon milk
cornstarch or flour for gravy (1/4 cup)
poultry seasoning or sage
garlic powder
salt
pepper
pumpkin pie spice (you can use ginger, allspice, mace, nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon if you have them separately, otherwise get a blend)

Beverages
2 bottles medium red wine such as Pinot Noir or Carmenere
1 bottle semi-dry white wine like Chardonnay
12 pack session IPA like Founder's All Day
ice water
several bottles soda



Clean out refrigerator, use up leftovers and thaw turkey. Use the grocery list to go shopping or shop ahead and get best prices on holiday foods. Visit my blog Great Food 4U for recipes and ways to make this Thanksgiving dinner happen. Visit Diynhow24u.blogspot.com for ways to coordinate large gatherings in small spaces. 

2014 Swimsuit Trends, Tankini, Two-Piece Separates Provide Options

Plus size and apple-shaped women rejoice. 2014 swimsuit trends flatter larger women. The uber-popular tankini de-emphasizes thick midriffs, chubby tummies while accentuating hips. Unfortunately, chesty-curvy gals aren't so lucky. Swimsuit tops still aren't generous enough. But with tops and bottoms sold separately, there are swimsuits for all body shapes and sizes.  2014 Swimsuit Trends, Tankini, Two-Piece Separates Provide Options

Budget Graduation Open House, Party Shopping Guide With Recipes

Hosting a graduation open house and don't know where to start? Use this party planning guide to throw the perfect backyard bash for your graduate! Here are recipes plus shopping lists for groceries, supplies, decorations and equipment. Being the perennial penny pincher, I've listed cheaper and DIY alternatives--to save you money and hassle! Read on.  Budget Graduation Party Open House Shopping Guide With Recipes. Oh and be sure to use free printable decorations, cards and invitations to save even more. Check out my blog DIY Party Planner and click "graduation" for printables.

Lowfat, Low Sodium Gluten-Free Thai Recipes, Cheap and Quick

I love Thai food, but I'm trying to lose weight. So I improvise recipes with lowfat tweaks. I substitute foods to cut calories, sodium, gluten, fat and sugar. I swap for high fiber, vegetable and protein alternatives. As a busy work-at-home mom, I don't have time for labor-intensive cooking. Here are three quick, easy Thai recipes with diet alternatives.    Lowfat, Low Sodium Gluten-Free Thai Recipes, Fast and Simple

Cheap, Educational Stocking Stuffers for Kids

I have to laugh when I see what stores tout as "cheap" stocking stuffers. I don't consider anything over $5 "cheap" especially not for stocking presents which are typically filler gifts. If my child is getting three or four bigger, pricier gifts under the tree, I can't afford to spend big on the stocking, too. Having four kids to shop for, Christmas is crazy-expensive enough without the stockings.  Read more

Black Friday Shopping Strategies

 Black Friday...that 'morning after' when bargain-hunters descend like a swarm of locusts and devour every 'hot buy' in site, leaving exhausted, shell-shocked store employees and ravaged shelves. It's the great American dream in the land of plenty! I've braved this tsunami of shoppers before and have a battle plan to share, worthy of General Sherman himself! This was written about stores in West Michigan, but they're mostly big box stores that are available across the U.S. Best Buy, Walmart, Target, Staples, Menards, Sears and mall chain stores. My Black Friday game plan involves three phases: SURVEY, STAKE-OUT, SIEGE and SWEEP-UP Read more Black Friday Shopping Tips 

Scary Halloween Party Foods and Treats--Cheap, Easy

Want to scare some little ghosts and goblins this Halloween? Make these cheap spooky trick-or-treat party goodies. Ghoulishly yummy, monstrously healthy, these treats will satisfy every vampire, witch, bat, zombie, ghost, mummy and creature on your Halloween party guest list. Set out food in bowls, buffet style. Label each treat, just in case ghouls don't recognize them. Before eating, play the blindfold game. Give each guest a paper plate and blindfold them. Give out samples of each item, tell them what it is and let them touch and feel it before eating. Everyone should be good grossed out. Here's the menu (did I mention this was a cheap, easy party?) Read on for spooky Halloween party food tips 

Free School Supplies, Big Savings on Back to School Shopping

I can't resist free stuff and dollar stretching opportunities. I not only want the most for my shopping buck, I want it to sit up and bark! That's why I love these back to school promotions from OfficeMax (click for details).  First, spend $150 and get a free $58 value 3-piece bag set. Enter promo code "FREEBAG" at checkout. Also, buy certain ful backpacks, daypacks and laptop backpacks--Tremor, Sweet Melissa, Heartbreaker-- on sale for $18.74-$29.99, and they come stuffed with free school supplies. Links below say $24.98, but backpacks have been price-reduced even farther, saving you 53%! Oh, and orders over $50 get free shipping. Already bought your kid's backpack? Buy another for next year. Or buy one to donate. Operation Christmas Child is gearing up for their annual shoe box giveaway event. You could donate to Toys for Tots or church giving trees. For more back to school cost cutter tips, read How a Mom of Four Saves 80 Percent on Back to School Shopping 

My Cheap Wedding Under $1,000 for Everything

My husband and I paid for own wedding, reception and honeymoon. We had a cheap wedding, charged nothing and paid it off without going into debt. We paid under $1,000 for a 200-guest wedding, including wedding dress, accessories, tuxedo, invitations, stationary, flowers, decorations, church, music, minister stipend, rental equipment, hairstylist and pictures. Here's how.  My Cheap Wedding Under $1,000 for Everything

Cheap Weddings--How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

My husband and I are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss this year. When we got married, we paid for the wedding, honeymoon and most of the reception ourselves. We came back from our honeymoon debt-free and I'm glad we did. Money woes are major relationship-killers. We have friends who were in divorce court before their wedding was paid off. Here are ways to avoid wedding debt.  How We Paid Off Our Wedding Without Incurring Debt

Cyber Week Shopping and "Upgrade Your Parents Browser" Day Tips

Cyber Week Shopping and "Upgrade Your Parents Browser" Day Tips Cyber Monday , the biggest online shopping event, kicks off on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Cyber Week is like Black Friday, except that it happens at your computer and not in a store. Many people like cyber shopping: no standing in line, no dodging pushy shoppers, no tired feet, no need to get up early or deal with the chaos. Cyber shopping requires some finesse and lots of caution, though. Here are tips to make your Cyber Week merry. Read on...

Five Secrets for Financial Stability and Success

Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are uniquely qualified to give financial advice for several reasons. Teachers must budget carefully to plan for summer months of unemployment. Teachers are dependent on public mileage opinion for a paycheck. Here are personal finance tips from a teacher. I've been a Michigan certified K-8, CI and CE teacher for 20+ years. I've worked in public and private school settings. I've also homeschooled my children. This advice is culled from years of frugal living and financial prudence. Read on...

Easy to Make, Inexpensive Children's Baking Set

Inexpensive holidays gifts for children. Diy baker's kit. Easy, inexpensive holiday gifts. Here's how to make a Christmas baking kit for children. Read on...

Anchor Hocking 2 Qt. Glass Batter Bowl with Lid

Must-Haves for Cooking and Baking: Anchor Hocking 2 Qt. Glass Batter Bowl with Lid
I'm a veteran cook and baker. I'm also a space-saver and penny pincher. I've tried out all sorts of kitchen products, utensils and tools. The Anchor Hocking 2 qt. Glass Batter Bowl with lid is a must have for any chef, cook and baker's kitchen.
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Fashion Faux Pas and Styles to Avoid for Fall 2010

Fashion Faux Pas and Styles to Avoid for Fall 2010
Fashion is a nebulous, ever-changing concept. Fashion faux pas and off-the-mark styles for fall 2010 are common sense. Read More

Best Prices on USB Flash Drives


Where to Find Cheap USB Flash Drives for College
Several of our sons' college professors are requiring students in class to bring a portable USB or 'flash' drive to class. I did some price comparison shopping. Here are the best sources and buying options of USB drives.
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Oscar Schmidt -Washburn Guitar Product Review


Oscar Schmidt - Washburn Acoustic Guitar and Musical Instrument Review
Our son has been playing the guitar, entirely self-taught for about nine years. He cut his musical teeth on the ubiquitous Fender Strat (Stratocaster), and got an acoustic guitar about four years ago. An Oscar Schmidt, by Washburn which is a workhorse.
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Alpine X-Treme Hydrating Face+Body Men's Body Wash Product Review

Alpine X-Treme Men's Body Wash Mountain Stream and Volcanic Rush Product Review
With three men in the family, I've become a student of men's hygiene and personal care products. We've tried AXE, Bod, Tag, Adidas, Coast, Irish Spring, Old Spice, Gillette, Alpine X-Treme. For the price, Alpine X-Treme is our favorite.
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Back-to-School Shopping: Best Prices on College Textbooks

Back to School Shopping: How to Save Money and Find Best Prices on College Textbooks
With dwindling federal financial aid, fewer students get money for college tuition, let alone textbooks. College textbooks can actually rival tuition prices. And college textbooks are not tax-deductible. Here are ways to save money on college textbooks.
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The Art of Shaving Ingrown Hair Night Cream Product Review

The Art of Shaving: Four Elements of a Perfect Shave makes a product touted as 'all  natural' called Ingrown Hair Night Cream. We purchased The Art of Shaving kit at a cool $75, as an alternative to very costly dermatologist-recommended electrolysis. After spending $450 on the dermatologist (that's just for consultation and anti-biotic cream and doesn't even touch electrolysis) we thought The Art of Shaving Ingrown Hair Night Cream might do the trick. Alas another waste of money. Read on...

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