Author: abschilling

Tuesday’s Tip: Master Your Menu

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Last week I wrote about including all your family members in the menu-making process. It not only helps you plan for the week, but also aids in eliminating the moaning and groaning that may drive you completely insane. This week, I’d like to expand on that topic a bit and show you how planning a menu in advance can save you money in a couple of different ways . . .

First, creating a menu for the week will give you the building blocks for an efficient shopping list. When you come up with a menu, you can then make a shopping list that includes everything you need to make the meals. To begin, you’ll need to see what you already have in your cupboard, fridge, or freezer. For example, I keep things like pasta, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, rice, beans, cooking soups (you know, cream of chicken, etc.), bread crumbs, oils, broth, frozen and/or fresh veggies, spices, and the like on hand all the time. I buy these kinds of staples when they’re on sale, or when I have coupons, and they’re there whenever I need them. But these items are also common in lots of recipes, so it’s easy to base your menus on them as well. I even buy things like beef, pork, or chicken when they’re on sale, then freeze them for later use. Next, you’ll write down whatever you need to buy at the store. By doing this, you’ll cut down on extra trips to the store because you forgot something while you were there the first time. This saves more money than you think, because you may go to the store “for just a couple things”, but you almost always leave with more than what you went for in the first place. (You know it’s true . . .)

Second, having a complete shopping list cuts down on extra spending by cutting down on impulse buying. Grocery stores play the soothing music and count on you to take your time perusing the shelves, meandering up and down every aisle, and picking up more than you really need. The key is to have a list that is complete so that you can get what you need and get out without spending an arm and a leg. I’m not saying that you’ll never make that extra trip, but you’ll make them a lot less often. By only buying what you need, plus reducing the number of times you make extra trips to the store, you save a lot of money. Make sure you know which aisles to navigate, then skip the ones you don’t need to visit, and voila! – you’ll smile when you see the total savings on your receipt!

So there you have it. One of my little secrets to saving money on groceries. I recently told my sister about it, and she laughed, telling me that I was “so completely organized it’s unbelievable”. Well, I can’t afford NOT to be organized and shopper savvy. LOL 😉

Oh! And if you want to save even more money . . . have a snack or a meal before you go to the grocery store so that you’re not hungry when you’re looking at all that luscious food! Confession: I once looked at register receipts from two trips to the store – one when I was hungry and one when I wasn’t – and was completely flabbergasted to find that I’d spent almost $60 more than I needed to just because I was hungry! Oh, ugh!

Tuesday’s Tip: Muffle the Menu Moaning

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Too much whine with dinner? Tired of “What’s for dinner?” and the groaning that accompanies your response? Or have you gone completely insane trying to please everyone by making a few different things each night? Ugh. There’s a better way, my friend. A better way . . .

When I was growing up there were two options for dinner: Take it or Leave it.

Yeah . . . that didn’t work in my house.

So, I came up with a different plan: I asked my family what they wanted to eat.

I will admit, dinner in our house used to be a stressful power struggle. I hated dinnertime. Nothing I cooked made anyone happy. That is, until I began including everyone in planning the meals. Thankfully, our kids like vegetables and fruit, plus all the other stuff that most everyone likes – and even a few things out of the ordinary. So when I asked them for meal ideas, they all chimed in with their favorites. Over the past few years or so, they’ve taken an active part in planning dinners for the upcoming week and we posted the menu on a whiteboard attached to our fridge so that everyone could see it. I’ve also taken some time to peruse the 100 unused cookbooks in my cabinet and proposed some different things based on what they enjoy. Some were added to the ‘favorites’ list, others weren’t. But we encouraged our kids to at least try something new and they ended up developing a taste for some interesting recipes . . . and dinnertime has become much more harmonious.

So, if you’re looking to remove some of the stress and aggravation from family meals, try asking your family what they would like to eat. Put the plate in front the them and ask them to fill it. In doing so, you’re not only taking some of the pressure off of yourself by having to create the menu all the time, but you’re taking away their opportunity to complain. If they choose what to eat, then they can’t complain about what’s being served.

Tuesday’s Tip: Make it a Happy Year

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Happy New Year 2013!

This is the time of our lives when we typically look back on the year that’s just passed and turn our eyes to the year ahead. Hopefully, we’ve learned from our mistakes of the past, but sometimes focusing on the future is scarier than what’s behind us. We can think about what we’d like to do, what we need, what we want, how much it’s going to cost, and we can speculate until we’re hyperventilating (or blue!) . . . but the fact of the matter is that no one knows what the future has in store for us. That in itself can be pretty frightening, not having total control of our destiny. But there is a way to have at least a little bit of control over our financial situation – it’s called effective money management. And there is a simple way to learn how to do it.

The Money Roadmap can be set up any time of year, but it’s especially effective when you begin in January. You can use your year-end checkbook balance as a base to set up your Roadmap for the coming year. It’s a “fresh start”, so to speak. If you need, or want, to set money aside each month for something coming up, or even later on in the year, now is the time to design your Roadmap so that you can achieve those goals. For example, my husband and I put a certain amount of money in our “Christmas Fund” every month so that when the shopping bills arrive, we’re not scrambling to find enough money to pay them. The money is already there, waiting. It’s been building up, little by little, for a year. We pay our car insurance premiums every six months, so we use our Roadmap to put a small portion from each paycheck in the “fund” so that when the invoice shows up in the mail, we’re ready to pay it. No questions about “if” we can pay it. It’s just a matter of when to mail the check so it arrives on time.

It’s much easier to handle money when you tuck away little bits over time than to try to come up with a huge lump sum, wouldn’t you agree? Kind of like eating a watermelon. You wouldn’t dare try to swallow it whole. You’d break it up into bite-sized chunks. Much easier to chew and no fear of choking on it! The Money Roadmap is your opportunity to gain control of your finances one buck at a time. You create your Roadmap based on your unique situation, your needs, and your priorities. You then “break up” the big amounts into smaller, more manageable chunks that you will stash away every month. And when the bill arrives, you’ll have peace of mind knowing the money is ready for you to pay it out.

So, if you’re pondering your New Year’s Resolutions, why not make one that you can actually stick with for the long haul? Why not choose to do something for yourself that will help you succeed? Pave your own way to a less stressful 2013 with The Money Roadmap. And, hey! You can even use that Amazon gift card you got for Christmas and get free Super Saver shipping . . . just a suggestion.

Take Control . . .

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The new year is close at hand and if you, or someone you know, needs some help gaining control over everyday finances, now is the time to order “The Money Roadmap: You choose the destination and the way!”

For many people, January 1 means a new start, a fresh start, and it’s possible with your finances, too. By beginnning in January, you have the entire year ahead of you to take control of your money and make the most of it. You’ll learn how to prioritize your necessities, weed out what you can live without for a while, set up your very own Roadmap according to your situation, and use it throughout the year.

To order, please visit “The Book” page of the website. There, you can quickly order the book and have it shipped directly to you. Or you can order it through amazon.com, where it’s eligible for free Super Saver shipping.

Happy holidays to you and yours. I wish you financial success in 2013 and beyond . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: Holiday Feasts

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One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is EAT! I make meals or goodies that I don’t normally make . . . friends and family do the same . . . and whenever we get together to celebrate the holidays, sometimes we end up acting more like grazing cows than humans. Don’t get me wrong. Our family Christmas feast is a full-on, sit-down, stuff-your-face event with all of our favorite foods. But other social gatherings offer a help-yourself-as-many-times-as-you-can selection of foods and before you know it, you’ve filled your plate five times in one evening. Oh well. It doesn’t happen very often, right? Right?!

So, what does eating have to do with saving money? Well, as anyone can tell you, preparing for a holiday feast can get pretty expensive, not to mention stressful, especially if it’s left up to one or two people. Everyone knows someone who insists on taking care of absolutely everything, while others don’t seem to mind letting everyone else do all the work. So, for those of us that fall somewhere in the middle, it helps to share the responsibilities of preparing the meal. If you’d like to try divvying up all the work among family or friends, but don’t know exactly how to go about doing it, here are a couple of strategies that might work for you.

First, let each family or guest make their own favorite dish or two to bring to the table. Or, if you’re like my family and you already know who-likes-what, simply count up the number of different favorites and then split them up evenly among everyone. Then again, there’s my dad who insists on buying the shrimp, but doesn’t want to cook it! LOL (Love you, Dad!)

Second, try letting each family pick a part of a multi-course meal: appetizer, main dish, dessert, or drinks. For example, we have something called “Neighbor Night” and four families get together on a somewhat regular basis. Well, at least we try. And we’ve agreed to rotate responsibilities whenever we get together. For instance, whoever is hosting the party at their house provides all the drinks. The other three families then supply the rest, and it changes with every party. That way no one is stuck with the same thing every time.

With the economy the way it is right now, I don’t know too many people who can foot the entire bill on a huge holiday gathering. But then again there’s just something fun, exciting, and comforting about sharing a meal with the people we love and sharing our favorite things with them all. It’s not only easier on the wallet, but also less stressful knowing it’s not all on our shoulders. And who knows, you just might discover something new about yourself, your family, friends, and oh yeah . . . food!

Yum!

Tuesday’s Tip: Beware the Ads

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‘Tis the season to spend money . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Getting ripped off isn’t funny . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la la la . . . Tell the cashier that you’re watching . . .  Fa la la . . . la la la . . . la la la . . . And be careful what you’re charging . . . Fa la la la la . . . la la . . . la . . . la!

Ah yes, the season of giving is upon us. It’s that time of year when we all gather ’round the blazing fire, sing carols, share our favorite foods and memories, and bask in the warmth and love of our families.

‘Tis also the season for long checkout lines, cranky customers, outrageously ridiculous retail hours, and headaches from trying to keep track of all the holiday sales and the lengthy receipts that accompany the trips to the mall.

It’s an exhilarating time of year, filled with good cheer (for the most part) and the satisfaction of seeing the excited faces of our loved ones as they open the gifts we’ve picked out especially for them. We’d love to buy something for everyone . . . and thus begins our quest to find the perfect gift at the right price so we don’t end up in the poorhouse. Every year I watch the news reports come in about how much people are spending and I’m inclined to believe that Black Friday for the stores puts everyone else in the red.

There are things you can do to survive the season, however. First, you can apply your willpower. (If you don’t have any, I strongly suggest you get some . . . quickly.) Second, you can buy my book or take my seminar and learn how to save up enough money throughout the year to cover your holiday expenses. (Yes, of course it’s a shameless plug, but what do you expect? :)) Third, you can learn how to read and understand store ads so you can get the most for your money without being taken for a ride.

For example, “2 for $15” is not the same as “Buy 1, get 1 free”. If it says, “2 for $15” you can usually buy 1 for just $7.50. You don’t always have to buy 2 to get that price. It’s a marketing strategy to move merchandise by getting consumers to buy more than 1, thereby spending more money. That’s not the case with “Buy 1, get 1” sales. If an item is normally $40 and it’s being advertised as a “B1G1” item, then you must buy 2 in order for the price to average out to $20 each. See the difference?

Some stores offer a percentage, such as 10%, 15%, or 20% off your total purchase. Take a close look at the ad though. You may not be able to get 20% off unless you spend a certain amount, like, say, $100. If you intend to spend that much at one store, $20 off is nice, but if you’re going for just one or two items you may not get any savings at all.

And if you use a coupon for anything that you buy, whether it be merchandise or food, check the coupon closely for any restrictions or conditions. I recently wanted to use a coupon at the grocery store and realized, too late, that I could only save the printed amount when I bought both of the items pictured. It wasn’t a “save 75¢ on this or that”, it was a “save 75¢ on this and that”. Ugh.

With all of the goofy new shopping hours to accommodate those people who just can’t seem to wait until 8 am, be careful to read their ads. The fantastic price on that TV, video game system, or automatic whatever-it-is may not be honored by the time you get to the store at 10 am. That price was only good from 1 am to 4 am. Sorry . . .

Or they may only have 3 of them and if you’re not waiting in line 3 days ahead of time, forget it . . .

Or you may only be allowed to buy 1 or 2 to get that ‘special’ price . . .

So . . . my advice? ALWAYS read the fine print on store ads and circulars. And when in doubt, ask at the checkout or ask a manager to clarify. You’re a savvy shopper, my friend. And you have a right to know. You also have the right to save a little dough. Then you can pat yourself on the back, relax, and enjoy the holidays with everyone you love. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway . . . ?

Tuesday’s Tip: Don’t Bet On It

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This morning, my husband told me that he and some buddies at work were going to pitch in (a buck each) and play the lottery this week. “How much?” I asked. “$250 million,” he said. Not bad. Oh, what we could do with that much money, right? Admit it, you’ve thought the same thing at some point in your life. We all have. Who wouldn’t love to win the lottery?

What’s interesting to note, however, is what some people may sacrifice to increase their odds of winning.

I once stood in line behind a man who tossed fifty dollars on the counter and handed over several sheets of official lottery paper with all the bubbles filled in. I could tell by the slightly tattered edges and bent corners that they’d been used many times. And I wondered how often he sacrificed his fifty to the lottery gods . . . once a month? Once a week? Twice a week? And had he ever won anything? The cashier ran the papers through the machine, rang him up, gave him his pile of bubble sheets and tickets, then said goodbye – and called him by name. Oh my. I then stepped up to the counter, handed over my one dollar bill and asked for the computer to choose my numbers. (What?! Can’t I play, too?) The jackpot was one of the highest on record . . . I had to try. Ah, the lure of easy money. So tempting . . .

But it got me wondering . . . just what are the odds of winning? What is the likelihood that someone would win the big jackpot? Just how possible is it to beat disgustingly overwhelming odds and get rich quick? A better question might be ‘what other things are more likely to happen than winning the lottery’? Well, let’s see. You have a greater chance of being struck by lightning . . . dying from a bee sting or even some disease that will eat at you from the inside out . . . ending up on death row . . . and dying in a car crash on your way to buy the ticket . . . than you do of winning the jackpot. Some people believe that there are ways to increase your chances of winning by choosing the same numbers every time, studying the recurrence of numbers, avoiding certain numbers, or picking ones that aren’t popular. If you ask me, the only thing that increases is the amount of the jackpot.

All kidding aside, what’s really scary is how much some people actually fork over for their chance to win big. Gas money. Food money. Rent money. All in the hopes of striking it rich. I’m all for a little fun, but not if it means putting the needs of my family at risk. Sure, it’s fun to dream, but dreams alone don’t pay the bills or feed your children and not winning will get old pretty quickly. So, if you’re thinking of throwing your hat into the lottery ring, be realistic about your chances and just make sure you’re in it for fun.

Tuesday’s Tip: Love is Free

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I’m normally not one to openly broadcast the events in my life, but I feel compelled to bend that rule a bit today. I hope you’ll understand . . .

On Sunday October 28, my mom was rushed into emergency surgery to repair a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism. She surprised everyone by surviving the ordeal and a second surgery the next day to remove a blood clot in her leg. She fought valiantly for a week and a half, but infection and other complications finally proved to be too much for her and she passed away on Wednesday November 7. And just a few days later I had to say goodbye to the most incredible woman I’ve ever known.

When I think of her, I think of all the things that made her who she was. She was patient (tolerant!), kind, and generous beyond belief. She had a wicked sense of humor, an infectious smile that bordered on impish, and a passion for life. She was down-to-earth and had an amazing ability to make everyone around her feel special. She was a dedicated wife to my dad (they were joined at the hip for all of their 54 years together) and she was, of course, a very loving mom to my sister, brother, and me as well as a wonderful grandmother to all eight who called her “Nana”.

I know she loved us not because she told us all the time; I know it because she showed us.

Her love was in all the meals she made from scratch, from spaghetti sauce and cranberries to cinnamon rolls and Julekage. It was in the handmade Halloween costumes, cross stitched gifts for just about every occasion from housewarming to anniversaries, and the knitted caps for babies in impoverished countries around the world. She showed how much she cared by volunteering in the kitchen on Bingo night, stuffing stockings for soldiers overseas, and taking care of the finances for a community organization. She golfed for charity, could answer just about any computer software question you threw at her, coached youth bowling, and brought the best kinds of sweets to the monthly dinner meetings that made the guys get dessert first (just to make sure they got some!). She chaperoned school functions and class parties, and waited up nights until she was sure we got home safely, which also meant punishing us for breaking the rules. She loved us enough to set us free (even though it broke her heart), then welcomed us home without judgment when it didn’t work out. She gently, but firmly, raised us to be considerate, compassionate human beings. She knew when to give us advice, when to hold back, and when to just hold us and let us cry. She hugged her grandkids every chance she got. She quickly recognized people for a job well done. She kept us grounded and humble while, at the same time, lifting us up, supporting us in all our endeavors.

Her love was in everything she did and said. And for that I am truly grateful.

I’ve long since believed (thanks to Mom) that we should let the people we love know that we love them – all the time. Love isn’t something to be saved only for special occasions like birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries. It’s something to be shared on a daily basis, or at least as often as you can, in whatever way that you can. And I don’t mean with gifts and material things – I mean with simple words and actions.

Whose heart doesn’t flutter when her boyfriend tells her how great she looks in those jeans? What guy doesn’t feel special when his wife surprises him with his favorite meal for no reason in particular? How about when a child’s parents tell him how totally proud they are of him just for finishing the race? Or when a friend takes the time to listen to you vent, and does so without judging or advising? Or maybe doing something kind for a complete stranger? Or bringing a meal to someone in need? Or showing up to lend support to a friend?

Our words and actions have a greater impact on others than we realize. There are countless ways we can show our love, concern, and compassion for others. A few take some effort. Most take little effort at all. And yet those “little” things are what people remember the most . . .

Tuesday’s Tip: The Electric (Bill) Slide

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Ok, admittedly, I’m using Tuesday’s Tip this week to vent a pet peeve, but hey – it’s my website and I’ll crab if I want to . . .

Here’s a thought: TURN OFF LIGHTS in rooms or areas of the house that you’re not using. I know, duh, but how many times have I walked around my house turning off lights because no one seems to know how?!?! Sigh. And, really, it’s the poor laundry room light that gets hit the hardest. It’s the first one to go on when we walk into the house from the garage and it always seems to be the last one that’s remembered – usually by me. And of course it’s also the hardest one to replace. What a pain in the neck! But because it’s so badly neglected, it needs to be changed most often. The upstairs lights are next in line to be frequently forgotten. My kids left for school one morning and I walked around the upper level and literally turned off all 3 bedroom lights, the hall light, the foyer light, and the one in the bathroom. The basement light also has its fair share of neglect. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve called downstairs to see if anyone actually was there only to be met with silence. So, what is there to think about when it comes to simply flipping a switch, hmm? It’s really not that difficult. You turn it on when you walk in the room, therefore you turn it off when you leave the room. I think that’s pretty simple. Apparently, however, I’m the only one in my house that thinks so . . .

Here’s another tip (actually given to me by a rep from the electric company): UNPLUG items you don’t use on a regular basis. Obviously, we’re not going to unplug things like the fridge, computers, or TVs, but other appliances use energy even when they’re not turned on. It got me thinking, so I toured the house looking for small electrics that were plugged in, but not in use, or that we didn’t use on a very regular basis. As it turns out, we had about 15 or so items that were sucking juice from the outlets, but weren’t using it. Things like the document shredder, a space heater that we hadn’t used in 6 months, the air hockey table, can opener, wine cork remover, decorative lights in the china hutch that hadn’t been turned on in years, a couple of lamps that never get used, a portable stereo, decorative lamps in the kids’ rooms that haven’t been used since we installed ceiling units 7 months ago, a pencil sharpener, and other various chargers for phones or gadgets were all plugged in, but sitting idle. So do you know what I did? I unplugged them all. I can’t imagine that we’ll be saving a whole lot just by killing the feed on these things, but you never know. And any savings is better than none.

While these may not be tips that save you thousands per year, I hope they give you something to think about – especially in light of the recent news of rate hikes by the electric company. Ick. So you may want to do a sweep of your house, too, unplug what you don’t constantly need, and make a conscious effort to turn things off when not in use. It’s worth it to do watt-ever we can to save a little current-cy.