Monday, August 17, 2009

FREE money!

I have been hearing nothing but good things about CASH CRATE and so I decided to join! You simply answer surveys and complete free offers and earn cash. Today alone, I earned close to $6. (HINT: I use a separate email address when answering any type of survey to avoid any spam in my regular account.) I've heard many stories of people earning hundreds of dollars a month from this program, so I figured I had nothing to lose. Click HERE to try it out for yourself and let me know what you think.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Meal Planning

A new goal of mine is prepare as many meals at home as possible. We only eat out once or twice a week, but even that is too much for our budget. I have been trying to plan meals around what is on sale at the supermarket and what I have stockpiled in the pantry. Over the past week, I have been able to prepare 3 dinners that cost LESS than $5 for our family of 5.

#1) Shepherds Pie
1.5 lbs. ground beef ($1.47/lb @ Harris Teeter) $2.19
2.5 lb red potatoes ($1.99/5 lb bag @ Aldi) $1
2 cans of sweet corn (2/$1 @ Aldi)
TOTAL cost: $4.19

#2) Rotisserie Chicken ($3.97 @ Harris Teeter)
Knorr Chicken Flavored Rice Mix (pantry stockpile item, paid $0.25 X2) $0.50
Earthbound Organic Salad ($3.99 @ Harris Teeter, on sale B1G1, used $0.75 coupon, doubled) $0.50
TOTAL cost: $4.97

#3) Taco Night
1 lb ground beef ($0.99/lb @ Harris Teeter) $0.99
Shredded cheddar cheese 8 oz ($1.97 @ Harris Teeter) $1.97
Taco Shells ($0.99 @ Aldi) $0.99
Yellow Saffron Rice (pantry stockpile item, paid $0)
Peach Slices (peaches were $0.35/lb @ Walmart) approx. $1
TOTAL: $4.95

I'm hoping once the kids are back in school, I can devote even more time to budget meal planning, and maybe even make and freeze some meals to use after the baby is born.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Starting to get excited!

Wel, after a miscarriage, months of trying, 26 weeks of pregnancy plagued with spotting issues, thyroid issues, and placenta issues LOL...I am finally starting to get excited that we will be bringing home our new little man soon!! We got to see our baby boy's face a few weeks ago and it makes it so much more real. His name will be Camden Robert and as of 25 weeks he weighed a hair under 2 lbs already! We grow 'em big around here!!

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