It was a pleasure to featured on Fox 26 News. Hopefully, the information was helpful and can help you save a little money during this difficult time.
*Prices are rising at the grocery store. What advice do you have for people so they don’t blow their budget?
1. Setting a food budget is the first step in saving money. You have to be able to track your food buying habits and with working from home and home schooling we are spending more money on food than ever before. My family is hungry all the time!
2. Plan your meals. This is an essential part in being able to save money. Having a plan also takes the stress out of cooking dinner every night. This saves you money because you are only buying what you will use that week, no waste. I have a two week menu plan with printable shopping list to help you out.
3. Limit eating out to once or twice a week and set a dollar limit on your eating out spending. If you want to limit your weekly eating out budget to $100 them make sure you do not go over that amount.
*If you’re new to couponing, what do you need to know to be successful and save?
1. Buy only the products that your family will use, if you know that your kids will not eat bran cereal then do not buy it even if it is half off.
2. Combine store sales with coupons to save the most money on an item
3. Utilize digital coupons at the local grocery stores and they can be applied to you cart for pickup or delivery
*How much can you save by couponing?
By using coupons you can easily save 25% to 50% with just a little effort.
*Which stores offer the best deals?
1. We are very lucky in Houston to have such great grocery stores. I look at the sales for the week and then plan my menu around what is on sale and what coupons I have to help me save the most money. The grocery stores seem to rotate with their Best Deals, so I do not shop at the same store every week.
2. Don’t forget about the warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s. They have monthly coupons to be applied to items in their stores, so no clipping is required, just buy the product and the coupon comes off the price.
*When is the best time to get the best deals at the grocery store?
Grocery stores have a new sales add that comes out on Wednesdays. So if you shop on Wednesdays, the store is unlikely to be out of stock of sale items.
Please check out the FULL Segement and leave your feedback.
https://www.fox26houston.com/video/685623
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Follow along with this Two Week Dinner Menu.
We have included a convenient printable shopping list and easy to follow recipes.
Join Us on this Journey!
Make these fun and easy treats to share with friends.
The kids can help with this. It really is simple! Plus, these are super cute!
Just grab some mini candy canes from the past Holiday Season. I always buy extra just for this project. Mine came from the Dollar Store and have 30 mini candy canes for $1.00 in each package. We will be using two candy canes, to make one treat. Each box will make 15 heart shaped treats.
Mini Candy Canes
Candy Melts and Bag
Arrange in Heart Shapes
Fill with melted candy
[recipe title=”Valentine’s Day Treats” servings=”15 Treats out of 30 Mini Candy Canes” time=”30 minutes” difficulty=”easy” description=”Easy Valentine Treats out of Candy Canes”][recipe-notes]Credit: Nora Kapche[/recipe-notes] [recipe-ingredients] – 1 or 2 Boxes Mini Candy Canes – 1 package of White or Red Candy Melts – 1 Pack Small Treat Sticks – 1 Microwavable Bowl – Foil or Wax Paper – Spatula – Small treat bags with Twist ties – Scissors – Candy Sprinkles (Optional) [/recipe-ingredients][recipe-directions] 1. Gather all ingredients 2. Place foil or wax paper on working surface. 3. Unwrap individual mini candy canes. 4. Arrange two candy canes in the shape of a heart. 5. Leave a space in the bottom (point of the heart) to place a treat stick. 6. Place stick half way in heart, this is to make the treat more secure and won’t fall off the stick when eating. 7. Place 1/2 bag of candy melts in microwavable bowl. 8. Melt per instructions on package. Do not over heat and stir with spatula to remove all lumps. 9. Place melted candy in quart sized resealable bag. 10. Zip or tie the top of the bag. 11. Cut a small whole in the tip (bottom) of the bag with scissors. 12. Hold the bag over each heart and fill the heart with the candy melt by squeezing the bag. 13. Take your time, you may need to reheat the candy melt in the bag for a few seconds if it hardens too quickly. 14. Add candy sprinkles to wet candy melt (optional) and let dry. 15. Wrap each Valentine’s Day treat individually in a small treat bag and secure with a twist tie. 16. Add Decorative Ribbon and/or Valentine’s Day Message [/recipe-directions] [/recipe]
Examples of treats using Red Candy Melts and Colored Mini Candy Canes.
Wrapped in individual treat bags and secured with decorative twist ties
*If you like saving money (Who doesn’t?!), Browse and Print FREE Grocery Coupons for all your Favorite Brands at CouponSurfer.com. Start Saving Today! You save money, and, as an affiliate, we may receive a small fee for your free participation in CouponSurfer.
If you enjoy saving time and money by meal-planning based on sales, check out our Recipe Page.
https://www.click2houston.com/video/houston-life/2020/01/06/houston-couponing-expert-reveals-why-you-should-consider-re-gifting-unwanted-holiday-gifts-houston-life–kprc-2/
Please join me on Houston Life KPRC Channel 2 Houston where I will be sharing tips to help you decide what to do with those unwanted gifts from the holidays and save a little money. Please check out the fun TV Segment.
Every once in a while we get an item that maybe is not our style or that does not fit properly. Don’t worry, most national stores will allow you to turn in the item for store credit. They will search their system for the item and give you the lowest price that the item sold for during the holidays. That is not necessarily what the item was purchased for, but it is what the store will give you back in store credit. That is if you do not have a gift receipt. If you were given a gift receipt then you will be able to get the price paid for the item and this makes things much easier.
Exchanges are where you exchange the item for a different size or color. The value is the same for the item being exchanged and the new item. The store will give you a dollar amount of the item, then you pick another item to get in that price range.
Gift Cards
You can try to sell them on an online website like Ebay, Gift Card Granny or Card pool. The price of a $50 Target gift card will sell online from $35 to $40. So, you will be loosing a good bit of money through this type of sale.
A better choice is to use your local Facebook or Trading group to trade your gift card for another gift card for the same value. For instance if you have a Home Depot $50 gift card that you know you will not use, ask in the group for a trade to Kohl’s or Target. There are lots of possibilities with this, but be careful and check the balance of that the card you are trading for, before making the transaction complete.
Re-Gifting
I know this is very controversial, but in the new year where everything is about using what you have instead of buying more, recycling and reusing, this is a great fit! A family member has a great system that she uses to re-gift items that are not her style. She has a shelf in her closet that she puts gifts. She will place a sticky note on the gift of who gave the item to her, what part of the family and the occasion that the gift was given. That way when she wants to re-use the gift, she does not give it in the same circle that it was given. This is a small step that ensures feeling do not get hurt from the original gift giver.
These are just a few ways to make sure that those gifts and gift cards get used.
Save Online with Discounts
Ebates is now Rakuten and it is super easy to save. Sign up for a Free account, then go through their website before heading on to the store that you choose. All coupons can still be applied for the transactions that you find and you will earn cash back on your purchases. Right now Rakuten is offering Double Double cash back so the savings will add up fast.
Earning potential examples for your cash back bank:
Macy’s 6% was 2%
Old Navy 10% was 2%
COACH and Athleta 4% was 2%
Refer a friend program: use the link provided and you can earn $10 off your $25 purchase and I will get a cash back offer as well.
*If you like saving money (Who doesn’t?!), Browse and Print FREE Grocery Coupons for all your Favorite Brands at CouponSurfer.com. Start Saving Today! You save money, and, as an affiliate, we may receive a small fee for your free participation in CouponSurfer.
Look for coupons to restaurants so that you can save a little money when you dine out. Usually around the holidays, restaurants offer bonus gift cards with the purchase of a gift card (like spend $50 get $10 free). If it’s a restaurant I know we will visit, I take advantage of these offers for free dining dollars.
If you enjoy saving time and money by meal-planning based on sales, check out our Recipe Page.
Subscribe on our Home Page to receive our weekly newsletter in your inbox with links to menus and more.
Check out our Pinterest Boards for more ways to save time, money, and sanity!
Need some inspiration? Check out our Motivation Articles.
Looking for some ideas for projects, see what we have been doing with our DIY Articles, or our Pinterest DIY Board and Things to Try Board.
As the “most wonderful time of the year” quickly approaches, you may feel a bit overwhelmed wondering how you can get everything accomplished to create a magical Christmas holiday for your family and friends.
Click the picture below for a checklist and tips to help get you prepared for Christmas, and hopefully being organized will allow you to enjoy this time of year with your loved ones instead of being frazzled! Happy Holidays, and Stay Organized to Save Time, Money, and Sanity!
“What’s for dinner?” can be one of the most frustrating questions to answer. Coming up with meals that fit our busy lives and that everyone likes is quite a challenge. More often than not, families are turning to takeout meals, fast food, or pizza. However, a little planning can go a long way in providing healthier meals while saving us time and money.
We are big fans of making multiple meals from a protein. (See what we do with leftovers from Pork, Ham ,and Turkey.) Cooking extra meat to use later in the week saves us a lot of time and money. No one wants to spend more money or more time in the kitchen!
Nora visited with Courtney and Derrick on Houston Life to discuss different things to do with leftover chicken. See it here or watch below!
We encourage you to roast a whole chicken and try these meals. Let the chicken come to room temperature. Take it out of the refrigerator of about 20 minutes. Rub a little bit of butter on the skin and stick it in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour. Take the chicken out of the oven and let it rest for 20 minutes. Then cut the legs and wings off. Take a knife and cut the right down the breast bone then across to quarter the chicken. Enjoy and make sure to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Share your favorite ways to stretch your dining dollars with us
For a Far East taste from home, try this Peanut Thai Stir Fry
[recipe title=”Chicken Peanut Thai Stir Fry” servings=”4-6″ time=”30 minutes” difficulty=”easy” image=”https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/04/18/16/46/veggie-728987_960_720.jpg” description=”Add Asian flair to leftover chicken.”][recipe-notes]Credit: Nora Kapche[/recipe-notes] [recipe-ingredients] – 1 Tbsp olive oil – 1 tsp minced garlic – 1/2 tsp minced ginger – 1 1/2 cups diced cooked chicken – 1 package stir fry vegetables (thaw if frozen) – 3 Tbsp peanut butter – 1/2 cup water – 2 Tbsp soy sauce – 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes – cooked rice or noodles – peanuts (optional garnish) [/recipe-ingredients][recipe-directions] 1. Add olive oil to pan, and saute ginger and garlic on medium. 2. Add remaining ingredients except rice/noodles and peanuts. 3. Stir occasionally until sauce has thickened and vegetables are desired tenderness. 4. Serve over noodles or rice. 5. Top with peanuts.[/recipe-directions] [/recipe]
Enjoy a taste of Louisiana with this gumbo!
[recipe title=”Chicken and Sausage Gumbo” servings=”4″ time=”4 hours” difficulty=”medium” description=”A flavorful and hearty gumbo stew.”][recipe-notes]Credit: Nora Kapche[/recipe-notes] [recipe-ingredients] – 2 cups water or chicken broth – 3 cooked chicken breasts(or Leftover Chicken), shredded – 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil – 1/2 pound okra, sliced (optional) – 1/2 cup vegetable oil – 1/2 cup flour – 1/2 lb sausage links, sliced and cut in half – 1 28 oz. can Italian-style whole peeled tomatoes, chopped (optional) – 1 green bell pepper, chopped – 2 stalks celery, chopped – 2 carrots, chopped – 2 cloves garlic, minced – 1/2 yellow onion, chopped – 3 green onions, chopped – 1 bay leaf – 2 teaspoon salt – 1 teaspoon dried thyme – 1 teaspoon dried basil – 1 teaspoon ground black pepper – 1 teaspoon filé powder – 2-3 cups cooked rice [/recipe-ingredients][recipe-directions] 1. Heat 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. 2. Add okra and cook until no longer sticky, stirring frequently; about 20 minutes. Set aside. 3. In new sauté pan, stir flour and 1/2 cup oil. Cook over medium heat until deep golden brown, stirring frequently; about 6 minutes. 4. Add 2 cups of broth or water to the saute pan with the flour and oil; mix well. 5. Transfer to crock pot; add chicken, sausage, tomatoes with their juices, bell pepper, celery, carrots, garlic, yellow onion, green onion, bay leaf, salt, thyme, basil, and pepper. 6. Cover and simmer on high for at least 3 hours. 7. Spoon off any fat from the surface of the gumbo. 8. Add okra and filé powder to gumbo and simmer gently for 15 minutes. This thickens the gumbo. 9. Serve over rice. [/recipe-directions] [/recipe]
Enjoy an easy weeknight pasta dish using leftover chicken!
[recipe title=”Chicken Pasta” servings=”4-6″ time=”25 minutes” difficulty=”easy” description=”Use leftover chicken to create a delicious and easy meal.”][recipe-notes]Credit: Nora Kapche[/recipe-notes] [recipe-ingredients] – Leftover chicken, shred chicken meat – Store bought Pasta Sauce – Spaghetti Pasta[/recipe-ingredients][recipe-directions] 1. Shred Chicken 2. Prepare Pasta using Directions on Package. 3. Heat Pasta Sauce and Chicken 4. Top Spaghetti with Pasta Sauce and Shredded Chicken 5. Top with Parmesan Cheese [/recipe-directions] [/recipe]
*If you like saving money (Who doesn’t?!), Browse and Print FREE Grocery Coupons for all your Favorite Brands at CouponSurfer.com. Start Saving Today! You save money, and, as an affiliate, we may receive a small fee for your free participation in CouponSurfer.
Look for coupons to restaurants so that you can save a little money when you dine out. Usually around the holidays, restaurants offer bonus gift cards with the purchase of a gift card (like spend $50 get $10 free). If it’s a restaurant I know we will visit, I take advantage of these offers for free dining dollars.
If you enjoy saving time and money by meal-planning based on sales, check out our Recipe Page.
Subscribe on our Home Page to receive our weekly newsletter in your inbox with links to menus and more.
Check out our Pinterest Boards for more ways to save time, money, and sanity!
Need some inspiration? Check out our Motivation Articles.
Looking for some ideas for projects, see what we have been doing with our DIY Articles, or our Pinterest DIY Board and Things to Try Board.
Having the Ultimate FRUGAL Halloween Block Party is easier than you may think…
All it takes is a little planning and the party is sure to please even the Scariest Little Ghosts.
The very first year that we ever had a Halloween block party, I gave all my neighbors pumpkins to carve and candles to place in them with the invitations. It was a very fun time and everyone loved the thoughtfulness of the invitation.
Since then, the economy has taken a different turn and now our money situation is very different. But that does not mean that we can’t have a party for $50 instead of $200. We had to make a few changes such as cut back on the alcohol for the adults (yes, very sad, but the easiest way to save a ton) AND ask neighbors to bring a dish, beer, wine (for the adults) or a healthy snack to share. Everyone was very happy to bring something. It keeps my costs down. Plus there is always a big variety of food to enjoy. Just making these two small changes dramatically dropped the cost of the Halloween Block Bash.
Decorating is cut to a minimal; the party is held outside on Halloween evening. By pulling out a few tables and covering them with plastic table covers from the dollar store, the basics are set. The tables will soon be filled with howling good food. A few strategically placed jack o lanterns on the table add to the atmosphere.
Food finds its way to the tables. There are spider cupcakes and skeleton cookies. The hot dog mummies make a short appearance. Bloody eyeballs arrived dripping and the witch finders are crawling all around.
Impress with a simple and inexpensive Spider or Eyeball Punch Punch.
In a punch bowl, add one can of regular or low sugar Grape Juice and one can of Pineapple Juice. Mix together and then put in a small piece of FOOD GRADE Dry Ice, find this at most large grocery stores. (Warning: Use gloves to do this. Do not let the dry ice touch your skin.) Throw in a dozen pre washed spider rings or plastic eyeballs.
If you are too busy and find yourself needing a last minute costume, here are a few options:
Grab some colorful clothing, glasses, hat and a wig to be a Peaceful Hippie.
Puppy Sale Costume: Large box, cut hole in bottom, use suspenders and attach to the top corners, step inside box, let box hang, stuff paper inside to fill box, take stuffed animals and place all around box, some hanging over, make sign that says “Puppy Sale” and put it on the box.
Sports Fan – Grab that Jersey a Hat and sneakers.
Bull Rider – Cowboy hat and boots with jeans and a plaid shirt.
Crayon – Dress in all the same color, place construction paper over a funnel and use it as a hat.
Don’t forget the Trick or Treaters… since we are not IN our houses… we line up all the candy cauldrons and let the kids walk down the Candy Line. This is a fun way to see all the awesome costumes and a great time to socialize with the neighbors.
The ultimate Halloween Party is a collaboration of many small parts. The spooky bottom line is that Halloween is Fun all around.
*If you like saving money (Who doesn’t?!), Browse and Print FREE Grocery Coupons for all your Favorite Brands at CouponSurfer.com. Start Saving Today! You save money, and, as an affiliate, we may receive a small fee for your free participation in CouponSurfer.
Look for coupons to restaurants so that you can save a little money when you dine out. Usually around the holidays, restaurants offer bonus gift cards with the purchase of a gift card (like spend $50 get $10 free). If it’s a restaurant I know we will visit, I take advantage of these offers for free dining dollars.
If you enjoy saving time and money by meal-planning based on sales, check out our Recipe Page.
Subscribe on our Home Page to receive our weekly newsletter in your inbox with links to menus and more.
Check out our Pinterest Boards for more ways to save time, money, and sanity!
Need some inspiration? Check out our Motivation Articles.
Looking for some ideas for projects, see what we have been doing with our DIY Articles, or our Pinterest DIY Board and Things to Try Board.
Kroger Buy 5 Save $5 Deals a variety of items are included in this sale. Everything from BBQ sauce to Toilet paper so look for the tags on the shelves and make sure to buy in increments of 5! Examples: Coffee creamer, La Croix, Chips, Coffee, Cereal Buy One Get One Free Sale: Breyers
It is Grilling Time! Fourth of July is coming fast! HEB has some really good deals. Take advantage of the chicken, steak, pork chops and pork loin deals to stock the freezer. All these deals are with a $10 additional purchase so check out the P& G deals below to save $5 on
A system is only as good as the effort put into it… Those words woke me up this morning.
I have a confession to make; I can come up with many ways to get organized, but I’m not always great at following through with keeping things organized. Case in point, my method for managing
“What’s for dinner?” can be one of the most frustrating questions to answer. Coming up with meals that fit our busy lives and that everyone likes is quite a challenge. More often than not, families are turning to takeout meals, fast food, or pizza. However, a little planning can go a long way in
Taco Soup is one of my family’s favorite! They love the fact that the house smells so yummy and also that they get to use sour cream, cheese, avocado and chips for toppings. They always got back for seconds, so leftovers are out of the question. If you want to have lunch for the
Stainless Steal Water bottle with a personalized name. It was an easy project to make and It was a wonderful surprise for the person that has an unique name. Give it a try and make sure to leave a comment and even send a picture! This is a super simple way to personalize a
Saving money is easy with a little planning. Make a menu like this one before going to the store with the sale items and stick to your list. Allowing yourself to only put 3 extra items in your cart that are not on your list will help you save money on all those impulse
Update: On January 12, 2012: ALL COUPONS/DEALS/OFFERS WILL Contain an AFFILIATE/Friend Refferal link IF Available. Please see Disclosure Policy for more info.
Impress with a simple and inexpensive Spider or Eyeball Punch Punch.
In a punch bowl, add one can of regular or low sugar Grape Juice and one can of Pineapple Juice. Mix together and then put in a small piece of FOOD GRADE Dry Ice, find this at most large grocery stores. (Warning: Use gloves to do this. Do not let the dry ice touch your skin.) Throw in a dozen pre washed spider rings or plastic eyeballs.
If you are too busy and find yourself needing a last minute costume, here are a few options:
Grab some colorful clothing, glasses, hat and a wig to be a Peaceful Hippie.
