Living Without Health Insurance.

 For us, as a family, we can do this. Well I hope. None of us have medical issue. So we have decided to go without health insurance. Well our chooses were have insurance though hubby’s work and pay almost double of what we pay now, go with Obama Care and pay about triple, or go without. Then we looked back over the last few year we noticed that my hubby is the only one that has gone in for something and it was just to urgent care about 2-3 times a year. So with not having insurance, we have paid off one credit card that we will use as insurance.

So how do I care for my family?? Essential oils!!! Yup for the past year I have taken care of us with oils. Well mostly the kids and I. As I type this I have both of my kids on the couch, watching a movie with oils on. I will do other post about the oils I have and what I use them for.

I have always been a person who does not like meds. I do not like taking something that has a ton of side effects. So we have chosen to stay away from most meds. As I learn more about the oils and use them I have been able to personally deal with everything for me without the meds.

I look forward to being able to spend alittle extra if needed on better for you foods. Like Melissa has stated in other post, though, I am not going to stress about it. I am going to use common sense. I already make my own bread, pasta, tortilla, and most sauces. We started a garden last year, and I can not wait to get planting again. Also I can learned to can my own foods.

I will be doing more updates about living without health insurance. Also I am working on blog post about canning, gardening, recipes I use and making things on your our. As I do more blogs you will see that I am trying to get to my childhood dream of being Ma from Little House. 

I will add links to this post to the other blogs as I get them done. 

Spread your Fragrance

               Make sure to pamper yourself in some way so that you can spread your fragrance to everyone. When you make sure to get alittle time to yourself your enabling your ability to love others. This can be as simple as a foot soak or sometime at a spa treatment, whatever suits your style.

               By doing this you have spent time reflection on all the wonderful things that you have and are ready to cherish those things. I like to do my pampering on Sunday. Right before a new weeks starts. I want to be able, to be ready to face whatever may come my way.

Here are some things that I do that help me:
~ Detox Bath http://www.astitchofcountrytime.blogspot.com/2012/12/lavender-detox-bath.html
~ Foot soak with just warm water and Epsom salt
~taking a Sunday nap
~ asking to go to the store alone
~ sitting in the garden with a good book (when it is not too hot)
~ crafting...Yup I love to do crafts so just doing something by myself helps me relax.
~ Paint my nails.
~ Doing a simple face scrub

       I try to find ways to do it so that the cost is down. But the point is to relax and reflection. Once you are relaxed you can spread your joy to others. Everyone is watching you as you go throughout your day, What kind of a person do you want them to see.  Even if the only people that see you is your household, don't you want them to remember you as a mom who was spreading her joy and building up her house.

Proverbs 31:12 " She does him good and not evil ALL the days of her life."

Bookmarks!!

It always seems like I need a bookmark for something or other. So I make tons. I went to the dollar store and got some big paper clips and put ribbon on them. Fast, easy, and made tons. We have them in books all over the house. They have been  wonderful to have. ~Jen

Duck Tape Book Cover

It was such a sad day yesterday, part of my Bible cover fell off at church service.

I have had this Bible for about 15 years and I always carry it with me with every change of purse. Every purse change it has been one ideas that is a must move. It has been to Mexico, Florida, Virginia, the beach and a few places in between. Well I did not want to replace the Bible. So I thought that if maybe people can make dresses, wallets, purses, etc. out of Duck tape then I should be able to fix my cover too. So my hubby took me to Walmart after church and I found some tape I liked.

 

So now to figure out how to do it. I like to figure things out on my own. Yup I’m a rebel, I can not stand to follow directions..LOL So here we go. I did the outside of the front cover first. Making sure there was extra to fold on the side, top and bottom.

Next fold over the top and bottom.

Then the side. I did cut a little out so there would not be too much tape.

Now line the inside.

If your tape is in a pattern that you are matching up then continues the pattern as you line the bind and the back cover.

Repeat what you did on the front cover with the back cover.

Now the binding..I did have to over lap a piece because the seem came apart on the binding but the tape blends in so you can not really tell.

I cut the tape down short and folded it inside the binding.

And there you go. It looks like a whole new book now.

Turning Lemons into Lemonade for the summer

Parents,

As we head into summer let’s focus on making this a summer that counts. I have already heard so many people say this summer is going to be long, with having the kid’s home and nothing to do, but that all depends on you as parents! I have big goals this summer of things I want to do, but I know that I must look at the reality of it and will be making a plan to make the most out of it.

Each day of the week will be themed but not set. I am planning to do a learning day, one week it may be on Monday and the next it may be Thursday. The goal is to get in one day of each kind so each week we will have a day focused on learning. Other days include: Craft, movie/game, free, and outing day.

There are so many ideas that you can find to fill each day. Just make sure that the focus is on making some kind of memory that day.

Here are some ideas to get you going:

~We each will be making our own Summer Bucket list. I am letting the kids pick one thing that requires money and the rest have to be cheap or free ideas. Pinterest has tons of summer idea list to get the ball rolling. My summer board is: http://pinterest.com/jenhaddy/summer/

~ Our local city halls do movie in the park night.

~Join your local Libraries summer reading program. There is also one though Barnes and Noble. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570/

~Make an “I’m Bored Jar” http://www.shabbybeachnest.com/101-idea-im-bored-jar/

No matter what you do remember to take time out to watch your kids. They will only be this age this summer and you do not want to miss it. Just like my husband said “Man, the kids are growing fast.” They are and will continue to. Stop and fly a kite with your kids before it is too late.

Homemade Cleaners

Well my goal for 2013 is to learn how to make more things. I love making things myself. So The first task on my homemade list is cleaners. I choice not to go out and buy all matching and nice bottles so I reused what I had. I did this to save money. Make sure that you label the bottle so that you can not misuse them. Also there are so many ideas out there and every time I get ready to post this I find a new one I want to add. So I am going to post this for now and may to updates to it later as I like to test out the cleaners before I share them.

So lets get cleaning. I have made, use and like all of these on the list.

Carpet Freshener

1 Quart Jar

½ cup Borax

baking soda to fill the jar with about a 2 inch space

2-4 drops essential oils ( I did and liked 1 drop lavender & 1 drop eucalyptus)

Shake well and let set for 24 hours. Shake again before each use. Sprinkle on carpet and let sit for 5-15 minutes. Vacuum up. *I also use this on mattress!

Air & Fabric Freshener (24oz.)

1 oz of fabric softener

2 TBS baking soda

Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well before each use

Dishwasher Soap

(small batch)

½ cup Borax

½ cup washing soda

¼ cup kool-aid

¼ cup salt

Mix well. Use 1 Tablespoon for each load. Make this in a small batch so that you can adjust it to your water and washer type. If you have hard water you may need to add more salt and/or kool-aid. *With this it all depends on your water and your dishwasher. If you know you have hard water you can add twice as much salt and Kool-aid.

Kitchen Cleaner (32 ounces of magic..LOL)

12 oz White Vinegar

12 oz Dawn Dish Soap

1 tsp Landry Detergent( I did use the homemade powder. Just dissolve it in about 3TBS hot water add water and dissolved detergent.)

Shake well before each use. I love this stuff!!! * It can be soapy so I just wipe it with a wet towel when I am done. It works great.

All Purpose Cleaner (24oz)

5 oz rubbing alcohol

3 oz Vinegar

1 tsp Landry Detergent( I did use the homemade powder. Just dissolve it in about 3TBS hot water add water and dissolved detergent.)

1 tsp Ammonia

2 drops of essential oils (I used lemon.)

Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well before each use.

Bleach Cleaner (24oz)

2 oz bleach

1 tsp Landry Detergent( I did use the homemade powder. Just dissolve it in about 3TBS hot water add water and dissolved detergent.)

Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well before it use.

Window Cleaner

1 oz Ammonia (I used lemon)

4 oz Rubbing Alcohol

1/4 tsp Landry Detergent( I did use the homemade powder. Just dissolve it in about 2TBSP hot water add water and dissolved detergent.)

Fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake well before it use.

Floor Cleaner

¼ cup Vinegar

1 TBSP Dish Soap (I used Dawn)

¼ cup Baking Soda

2 Gallons of hot water.

Mix and scrub!!

Baking Soda: This stuff is great.

~Sprinkle some in your sink, tub, and toilet. Then scrub, make sure to rinse well.

~Oven cleaner. Sprinkle in the bottom of the oven. Then drop some fresh lemon juice in different areas on the bottom. Let set for about 20 minutes, then scrub well and rinse out with just a wet rag. This works well with a warm oven.

~Pet messes. Sprinkle enough to cover the mess right away to help soak it up and to cover the odor. This also works well for vomit and wet mattresses.

Laundry Soap

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax

1 (3 lb 7 oz)Box of washing Soda

1 (3 lb) Container of Oxi Clean

2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap (I used Fels Naptha. If you do use 4 bars of it.)

1 (4 lb) Box of Baking soda

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener optional But I did do it in my clothes. To help them smell better.

The hardest most time consuming part is grating the cheese soap. Stick to either a hand grater or food processor. The soap dissolves just fine, even in cold water. I know that tends to be a concern but you need not worry. Oh and I would recommend using a large mixing bowl to grate into and using the fine side of the grater. I mixed all of it together in a 5 gallon bucket. Adding some of each thing as I went so that it was not so hard to mix. I also did put the lid on and roll it to make it much easier. The kids enjoyed that part. I then store it in Half gallon mason/ball jars. That way it is ready to go for when I need it. Add 1-2 Tbsp per load. I still add fabric softener because we love good smelling soft clothes!!

Fabric Softener

6 cups Hot water

2 cups Conditioner

3 cups White Vinegar

Mix the hot water and conditioner together until dissolved then add vinegar. Shake well before each use. Use as you would the store stuff.

Please feel free to let me know how you like them. Also please share any cleaner ideas so I can test them out and share with all.

Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken

I am a cooking rule breaker.  I don't really follow directions well which is why I am better cook than baker.  Tonight I did a bit of exploring with a favorite dish of my families. 

1 lb of chicken breast
3 tbls ketchup
2 tbls gluten free soy sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tbls honey
1 cup cornstarch
salt, pepper, garlic to taste

 I chopped the chicken into bite size pieces and then sauteed it in a little butter with the salt, pepper and garlic in my wok.  (a frying pan would work just as well)  While that was cooking I mixed the ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar and honey into a sauce.  Once the chicken was cooked through, I mixed in the cornstarch and then poured the sauce over it.  I baked it on 350degrees for 30 minutes.   I think next time I may add sesame seeds.  We ate it over rice, but it would be good over veggies too. 
My five year old son proclaimed this the best dinner I ever made and considering he is my picky eater, I take this as the highest complement.  Enjoy!!

Our Life In Christ By Jenafer Haddy

Our Life in Christ

 

Sometimes it may be hard to tell our kids things without being hands on. Yup, I'm a hands on learner. So I grabbed a few things and had fun.

You will need:

a clear carbonated drink

a clear cup

4-6 raisins

the Bible

 

Yup that is it. Pour the drink into the cup, add the raisins and watch. As the Raisins sit on the bottom the bubbles will attach to it. Then once it has enough bubbles it will float to the top. As it loses bubbles it will fall.

 

This is how we are in Christ. As we spend time in His Word, Pray and follow His Word we will be adding on more bubbles. Soon we will be floating high in His peace and grace, but if we take our eyes off Jesus and spend less time with Him we will fall down. Jesus is always there around us, just as the drink is always around the raisins, we must take the time to spend it with Him.

 

Once done you should Read John 15.

John 15:4-5

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you [are] the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. “

 

 

Corned Beef Cabbage Rolls

Looking for something to do with your leftover corned beef?  Or maybe just a change from the regular boiled dinner?  I found a recipes for cabbage rolls made with rice and hamburger and they looked really good, so I decided to give it a try with my corned beef.  It was so easy and really good.
I baked my corned beef in my deep dish baker I got from Amanda Henderson, my good friend and Pampered Chef consultant.  I then cut the meat into small chunks. I boiled my entire head of cabbage (whole) for about three minutes.  When it cooled enough to touch I peeled the cabbage and rolled up my corned beef  in each leaf and placed them in a well sprayed slow cooker.  I added some tomato sauce, seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper on top and cooked them on low for about four hours.  They were soooooo good!  Enjoy!

What you'll need:

1 head of cabbage
1 corned beef brisket
2 small cans tomato sauce
season to taste


(my pictures are not cooperating, but hopefully they show you the process a bit)



Money Saving Tips- Household Items

Well here it is, the next installment of Money Saving Tips. This time I will be sharing on how to spend less and save more on common household items. I am so so sorry it took me so long to get this post up! I have been a busy bee working at my new/old job (those of you who know me personally know what I mean) so on with...

 

Tip #1- Make your own detergents and cleaners: There are a plethora of household cleaner and laundry detergent recipes out there on the world wide web all you have to do is utilize our good friend Google and they will be at your fingertips on no time. Most homemade cleaning products use the same basic ingredients and said ingredients are available at most big box stores. I personally get my basic ingredients for detergents and cleansers at Wal-Mart. They are very inexpensive and you will get multiple recipes from one container. Here is a list of what I have on hand to make cleaner and laundry soap: Borax, washing soda, fels naptha (all 3 are in the laundry soap aisle at the store), white vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, castile soap and essential oils. You will need to determine what you need for the recipes you want to make. The list may seem long but you can replace almost all of your household cleaners with these items. They are also more natural and safer for you, your family and your pets. I'll be perfectly honest and tell you I have not found replacements for dish soap or dishwasher detergent that I have been satisfied with. But I do use my own counter cleaner, laundry detergent, shower/tub cleaner and fabric softener. If anyone would like any of my household cleaner "recipes" let me know in the comments :)

 

Tip #2: Shop On-line- Amazon is such a great resource for getting household items either cheaper or easier... as they say time is money. Most items on Amazon are priced comparable to Wal-Mart and Target. Plus you can get the added bonus of free shipping (with restrictions) with out ever getting out of your pjs. Half.com, eBay, and Craig's List are also great resources for books and other household goods. My dad recently found us cell phone chargers 2 for $5 with free shipping on eBay (for newer phones). They would have been four or five times more expensive at the T-Mobile store. Always do a Google search for on-line coupon codes for whichever site you are using you may find one for free shipping or a percentage off your order. Target.com offers free shipping if you pay with your red card (debit or credit). I have a debit red card it links to your checking acct. and is free to sign up, you get 5% off your total purchase and you can sign up a school to get 5% of your purchase (Mount Vernon Christian School is on there FYI).

 

Tip #3 Shop Thrift stores and Discount stores- I can honestly said that about 75% of what I own has come from one of the following stores: Goodwill, local thrift stores, Ross, Grocery Outlet, Marshall’s, Big Lots, Wal-Mart and yard sales. Always check the mark down or clearence rscks, you never know what you might find. Consignment stores are a great resource for baby items and gently used clothing, some even have housewares. I always have my eye out for a good deal and if I can't find a good deal on something I want, I wait until it is on sale or discounted. You know how our mothers always said patience is a virtue. Well they were right! We need to break ourselves of this instant gratification sickness that has taken us over as a society. Most of the time great bargains take patience... there is nothing worse than buying something impulsively and then finding it somewhere else for less. Some things just don't really ever go on sale so it's important to know what a good price is on these particular items so you can avoid over spending.

 

Tip #4:  Do your research!- When buying big ticket items (or smal ones) compare prices from as many stores as you can. Some store will price match other stores items and some stores will even beat competitors prices by 10%. Don't forget about Craig's List, consignment stores, and used appliance stores. Gently used furniture and appliances can be huge money saver. Plus you never know when they're might be some awesome free item listed!

 

Tip #5 Use Store Discount Cards- They are usually free and now some stores are letting you load manufacturer coupons on to your store card. I know Fred Meyer does this for sure. This is also the time to be using your manufacturer coupons, stack them with a store coupon or discount to save even more! Don't be afraid to ask the cashier if their store has some kind of discount card. A lot of stores that you wouldn't think have discount cards actually do. Big Lots has a discount card as well as some clothing stores. I also like my local coffee stand (Morgan's) that has a daily special and a punch card, not to mention awesome coffee and a ton of sugar free flavors!

 

Tip #6 Follow a coupon/deal website or blog- I am a big fan of QueenBee Coupons, I follow her on Facebook and I go to her blog site.  There are many to choose from so find one you like and check it often. I have gotten quite a few good deals by checking out her site.

I am sure there are many more ways to save money on common household goods, so if you have a great way that works for you please share it with us! I am always striving to save more... a penny earned is a penny saved, right :) Have great day and have fun shopping! As always blessings to you and yours. <3 Annette

Day before payday pasta

Today was payday, tomorrow is shopping day. As I opened up my cupboards I realized mother Hubards cupboards were bare. I wracked my brain for what I could make for dinner. Then I remembered this dish my dad used to make when I was growing up. I thought my kids would really love it and I had everything. At least I think so. I never really made it before so I just sort of went on memory from watching my dad. He got it from his dad. I made up the name. I really have no idea what it's called. Here it is:

Boil 1 lb spaghetti noodles
While they are boiling mix together 5 eggs, a splash of olive oil, a couple shakes of Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
Rinse the noodles with extremely hot water and immediately return them to the pot. Quickly add the egg mixture and stir it around to coat the noodles. Put the lid on for a few minutes.
I have an electric stove so it stays hot, but if you are cooking on gas you may want to put it on low. You want the eggs to be cooked. That's it, super easy and my kids and husband LOVED it! As I side I cut up the last of my cucumbers and peppers. I really need to go shopping soon, but it's nice to know we have a winner!

DIY Cell Phone Holder

It drives me crazy that my phone never fits into the phone pocket in my purse.  Before I leave the house, I have plenty of time to shove it in, but when I'm out it winds up at the bottom every time.  Also, its extremely hard to find it when I'm standing in the grocery line and my phone is ringing like crazy.  I had an idea to make a little pocket for my phone.  I'm sure this has already been done, but I actually thought it up without looking at a pattern. 

First, I took a scrap of fabric and I measured it to my phone.  I folded the material and cut it to fit,  leaving allowances for seams.  I sewed it inside out so the seams would be on the inside.  I know it seems obvious, but for someone who needs it all spelled out, that is the first thing I always forget. Once my pocket was made, I took a long scrap of fabric (I used part of what I had trimmed) and I folded it in half to make a strap. I wish I had one of those fancy long metal rods for pulling strips right side out, because then I would have made it seamless.  (on my Christmas wish list)  Once that was made I hand sewed a snap on and voila, I was done.  The entire project took me less than an hour, start to finish.  All I have to do is wrap the strap around my purse strap and drop it into my purse and it will be easy to find and has been.  I've only used it for a day and love it already!



Slow cooker "Baked" sweet potatoes.

I can't believe it, three posts in one week!  I am on a role!  I want to share my new favorite way to eat sweet potatoes. I placed 4 medium sized sweet potatoes in my slow cooker, I drizzled a little olive oil on top. (next time I may try coconut oil) I then shook a few very generous shakes of pumpkin pie spice on top. They cooked on low for 4 hours to absolute perfection. Now, when we eat sweet potatoes for the holidays, my husband usually bakes them with brown sugar, cinnamon, syrup, coconut and loads of butter. They are amazing, but not healthy at all. I did want a healthy alternative to putting butter on them.  I decided to take 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, two tablespoons of honey and a couple of healthy shakes of that pumpkin pie spice and blended it all together. We put it on the potatoes and it was amazing!  I also plan to keep the coconut oil mixture in the fridge for many other goodies to come. I hope you all enjoy my new favorite Paleo side dish.

Honey Mustard Slow Cooker Chicken

I am a huge fan of my slow cooker. I use it a few times a week. It is so convenient to throw something in while the babies are napping and have it perfectly done when the hubby gets home. I don't usually follow recipe directions, I tend to take an idea and just go with it. I love honey mustard chicken so I went ahead and made my own. This recipe can easily be converted to Paleo by making your own mustard. ( I plan on doing that very soon with this recipe here)

My plan was to make it ahead of time and cool it so we could eat it over salad. We did do this and it was very good, but I couldn't stop tasting it right out of the slow cooker. I was afraid we weren't going to have enough. Next time I'm going to double the batch. Here is what I did.

3 tbsp sweet hot mustard
3 tbsp regular mustard

1 tbsp honey

1 garlic clove 

1lb of chicken breast

I blended the ingredients together and poured them over the chicken. I cooked it for six hours on low because I wanted it to fall apart, but 4 hours would be sufficient. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!  Next time I will take a picture too!

Money Saving Tips- Food

 


Hello Everyone! Annette here :) I'm starting a new series of posts on ways to save money. Let's face it times are hard for a lot of people and we should always be good stewards of what God has given us.
 Tip #1- Keep a well stocked Pantry having simple pantry items on hand at all times will ensure you always have something to throw together for dinner and will help you avoid those last minute grocery store runs... you know the ones where you go in for 1 or 2 items and come out with 20! Stock up on pantry items when they are on sale so you won't have to pay more later. Also with a full pantry you don't have to worry about going out in that freak snow storm or flood... those things don't happen often around here but, you should be safe rather than sorry:)

Tip #2- Make it yourself! It's no secret that pre-package items cost more and often times include unhealthy ingredients. There are a ton of recipes online and on pinterest for homemade mixes and other pre-packaged items. Have you seen the inflation on prices of things like a ranch dressing packets? I recently made a ranch seasoning mix from Budget Savvy Diva (if you don't follow her on pinterest you should) and it was fantastic! No more expensive ranch packets for me. I never buy pancake mix or bisquick because pancakes, waffles, biscuits and dumplings are very easy to make homemade. I know what fat/oil I am using and I can make them whole wheat. You can also freeze homemade pancakes and waffles to make your own eggos. I will admit I do buy brownie and cake mix pre-packaged when they are on sale (nothing else ever seems as moist). I am planning on making up some different mixes in the near future. I will do an update with recipes once I see how they turn out.

Tip #3- Can it (or freeze, or dehydrate)! Home canning is a great way to save money. It definitely has some up front costs but, the equipment should last you a long time (if not a lifetime). A lot of times you can find mason jars at thrift stores and you my be able to find canning equipment on Craig's list or at estate sales or garage sales. Soon the only extra cost you have will be the disposable lids (which are cheapest at Wal-Mart). I also suggest getting a canning book, my favorite is "The Ball complete book of home preserving" it contains information on canning and freezing. Canning can provide your family with quick and easy meals so you won't end up wasting your money on unhealthy fast food. When you pressure can you are able to jar up whole meals. So far I've done: Beef stew. Chili con carne, ham and bean soup and chicken soup. I've also canned chicken breast, beef chunks, pork chunks and diced ham that can be thrown into an easy soup or casserole. Freezing and dehydrating are also good ways to preserve food and save money. I got an older dehydrator from my dad and plan to use it on this year's fruit and veggie harvest.

Tip #4- Grow a Garden. Every little bit helps whether all you have room for is a couple of potted tomatoes or multiple raised beds. Lettuce and kale are very easy to grow and do well in containers as do most herbs. I have strawberries on my back patio in pots and a little 3ft X 5ft garden in the front. I have lavender, lemon thyme, sage, Echinacea and lemon verbena in one half and Kale that will come back in the spring in the other half. I usually plant lettuce and zucchini in the spring. My parents have raised beds at their house and we grow tomatoes, green beans , corn, zucchini, and yellow squash. This year we are going to try potatoes in a trash can (this could be done even if you only have a patio). I am also lucky that my parents have 2 plum trees, 2 apple trees, a peach tree and 2 new pear trees. Last fall I asked my friends (via facebook) if they had any pear or apple trees that needed to be picked and if they had fruit to spare or even wanted at all. I was able to get both fruits and canned up some delicious pear butter and applesauce. Every fall I see fruit just rotting on the ground. Be brave! Knock on your neighbors door and ask if you can pick their tree. The worst they can say is no. You can also offer to pick the fruit and split it with them providing them with free labor and you with free fruit, it's a win/win. If you find yourself unable to plant some of your own veggies, you can join a CSA (which I plan on doing this year) and shop at your local farmers market. Also if you have a freezer try buying 1/4 cow or pig from a local grower. It is often less money per pound and raised much more naturally. Furthermore see if your land zoning allows you to keep your own chickens... I would if I could. Fresh eggs daily :)

Tip #5- Shop Sale Ads and Discount Stores I almost never buy anything unless its on sale or at a discounted price. Plan your meals around the weekly sale ads (I personally don't meal plan very well instead I buy what's on sale and then get creative) and buy extras of items that are a great price now to save for later. Meats, peppers, avocado, berries and breads can all be frozen for later use. Do your research and know your prices- it's the only way to know if you're getting a good deal or not. Don't forget to shop discount/overstock stores. I get some of my best deals at Grocery Outlet, Deal's Only and Big Lots (yes big lots has a great dry and canned food section). The Dollar Tree sometimes has good deals too but you have to be careful, just because it's a dollar doesn't make it a great deal. The same goes for Costco/Sam's Club/Cash n Carry just because it's wholesale doesn't make it cheaper, divide the product out by volume or weight compared to a normal size item. Some items I have noticed that are always less expensive in wholesale are: nuts, oils (olive and coconut), quinoa, splenda (but not sugar) and many spices, yeast, and baking powder. Don't give into impulse buys, sometimes... ok a lot of the time I find myself putting things in the cart I don't need. Right before I check out I always re evaluate what is in my cart and most of the time I end up putting something back.

Tip #6- Don't use Coupons on Items you don't Normally Buy!!! I am not saying using your coupons is a bad thing, but why would you get a product you don't normally use and or like just because they are cheap? You will end up spending more in the long run. Coupons are very hyped up right now, but using them on products you would be buying anyway can save you money. I get a free paper on Tuesdays that come with the smart source coupon book. I go through it and clip the ones I (or my mom) might use and I keep them in my purse. If you think you're going to be getting $800 worth of groceries for free think again. It takes multiple transactions and tons of coupon inserts and 8 hours in the grocery store to do that. It's a full time job! Plus when ladies on TV accomplish this amazing feat they shop at stores that match coupons to take more money off and they end up with 100 boxes of hamburger helper. Personally I don't think it's worth it. I am happy if I save 5-10 bucks on things I'd buy anyway. Some people do have great success with the Walgreen's and Rite Aid rewards programs. I just never shop at those stores.

Tip #7- Don't Throw your Food Away. Research and learn the truth about "sell by" and "best by" dates on your food. The USDA requires food manufactures To date all food items even if they are safe to eat past that date. All canned food is safe to eat after the "date" on the can as long as the can is not damaged or bulging. However the nutrition quality may decrease a bit and the food may start loose some texture, flavor should be fine. If any type of food tastes "off" it should not be eaten. For dinner the other night I had a can of solid tuna steak dated from 2011, it was perfect! I used to freak out about dates until I did my own researched and discovered most dates on food products are false. Truth be told this morning I had eggs that were dated Jan 14th, they tasted delish! You can test egg freshness by submerging them in a glass of cold water, if it sinks it's fresh if it tilts up somewhat it's borderline and needs be used and if it floats it's old. I personally never test mine and I've never had a rotten egg. Any dairy products should last seven days after the sell by date and I keep anything cultured (yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk) up to 14 days after the date, it's already full of good bacteria. Do you have a bunch of milk that you can't drink up before it will go bad? Make buttermilk by adding a little cultured butter milk to it and let it sit on the kitchen counter for 12ish hours. I encourage you to look up a tutorial on-line. Now that its cultured it will last for weeks! Just keep re culturing and you'll never need to buy buttermilk again. If you have veggies going south freeze them until you have enough to make a soup, veggie, or meat stock. You can also freeze the ends of your onions, celery, and carrot ends and peels to make stock because your gonna toss them out after the stock is done anyway. When I make stock I just rinse, chop and throw everything in the pot skins and all. Save all your meat bones (steak, whole chicken carcass, pork chops, bone in roasts, ham) in a freezer bag and when you've collected enough, make your family some super healthy bone broth. Is your garlic or fresh herbs going to go bad? Chop them up and mix them with olive oil. Then freeze it in ice cube trays. Just pop one in the pan while your cooking and you've got fresh herbs and garlic! I have a specific ice cube tray set aside for this purpose, garlic scented ice cubes do not sound very good to me :). Save your bacon grease, it has amazing flavor! I keep mine in a small glass dish in the fridge. It's great for frying up potatoes or eggs, put a little in your refried beans, use it to sauté veggies like green beans or collards, swiss chard or kale, or use it to make country gravy. Even I have my limits and I am very careful with raw meat and I also only allow cooked meat seven days in the fridge after cooking or opening of package (lunchmeat, hot dogs). If after a few days no one wants to eat the leftovers, toss 'em in the freezer for a homemade TV dinner or save all the odds and ends of roasts to make a kitchen sink soup (that's what I call my throw in anything I've got soup). Re-purpose leftovers, just go into google and type in "what to do with leftover ____" and an abundance of ideas will pop right up. In the USA we throw away 96 billion pounds of food, that is half of the food we produce. I really could go on and on about the environmental impact and the fact that people are still going hungry in the US. Instead I strongly urge you to rent the documentary DIVE! living off America's trash, it is an incredible movie. Don't over load your (or your kiddos) plate. You can always serve seconds but no one wants to eat food someone else has picked through, so it ends up in the trash. Finally if the veggies are too far gone (mushy and/or moldy) compost it! Egg shells can be composted too :)

I really hope these tips can help you lower your food bill and encourages you to try some things you maybe have not considered before. If you have any tips I haven't thought of please feel free to leave a comment. May God bless you and your families! <3 Annette