Going to the mall for a shopping outing isn’t the best thing to do when you’re on a budget and a trip to the movie theater for 4 can set you back $60 dollars these days. But the weather isn’t great at this time of year for the cheap outside activities like hiking and biking. So what activities can you do this winter that will provide cheap family fun on the weekend? We’ve put together some money saving tips for you that will appeal to all ages of kids.

1. Go visiting. – Visiting has become a thing of the past but most friends and family would love to have a visit with you. The key? Don’t show up empty handed. Bring a dish of food and some drinks and even a game or two.

2. Take in a local high school basketball game. – It’s fun to route for your home school and you’ll probably see some friends you know.

3. Go on a local architecture tour. – Wikipedia is a great source for exploring your city’s architecture. Enter the name of your city with the word “architecture” in their search engine and you’ll be surprised by the great tour information you’ll get.

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a friend

½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pasta pot

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

7 plump garlic cloves, peeled and sliced

½ teaspoon peperoncino flakes, or to taste

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

1 large head cauliflower, cut in small florets

1 batch (1½ pounds) Fresh Cavatelli (preceding recipe), or 1 pound dried pasta

1 cup freshly grated pecorino (or half pecorino and half Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano, for a milder flavor)

Recommended equipment: A large pasta pot; a heavy-bottomed skillet or sauté pan, 12 inch diameter or larger.

Fill the large pot with salted water (at least 6 quarts water with 1 tablespoon salt), and heat to a boil.

Pour the olive oil into the skillet, set over medium-high heat, and scatter in the sliced garlic. Let the garlic start to sizzle, then toss in the peperoncino and parsley; stir and cook for a minute. Ladle in a cup of the pasta cooking water, stir well, and adjust the heat to keep the liquid in the skillet simmering and reducing gradually while you cook the cauliflower and pasta.

With the pasta water at a rolling boil, drop in the cauliflower florets, and cook them for about 3 minutes, until barely tender. Drop in the cavatelli, stir, and return the water quickly to a boil. Cook another 4 to 5 minutes, until the cauliflower is fully tender and the pasta is al dente (if you are using dried pasta, it will, of course, take longer).

Lift out the florets and cavatelli with a spider or strainer, drain briefly, and spill them into the skillet. Toss well, to coat all the pasta and vegetable pieces with the garlicky dressing, then turn off the heat, sprinkle over the skillet the grated cheese, and toss again. Heap the cauliflower and cavatelli in warm bowls, and serve immediately.

a friend

Our utility company, PG and E, has a wealth of information on their website when it comes to money saving tips for around the house. As we all become more thrifty, it is good to know that many actions we take to save money are also good for the environment. We call these tips “eco-thrifty”. The majority of these 10 ways to save money are totally free, but a few require a nominal investment that will pay for itself in the long run.

1. Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and use the air-dry cycle whenever possible.

2. Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees (especially if your dishwasher has its own heating element).

3. Clean the lint from the clothes dryer after each load.

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a friend

Gold Bond has a new product that you might like to try for free. It’s a combination hand sanitizer/hand lotion which will surely come in handy this winter. Visit the free sample section of Walmart.com to get your free sample. Samples are limited so get yours today!

a friend

This recipe is almost fool-proof for you “hate-to-cookers”. My family plowed right through this meal so it might be a good idea to double the recipe, especially if you have growing boys.

¾ lb. lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 ½ cups chunky red salsa, mild or medium
1 cup frozen corn, thawed and drained
1/2 cup water
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 can Whole Foods Refrigerator Biscuits (they have no hydrogenated fats)
1 cup shredded Mexican-Blend cheese
Cooking Spray

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown meat in a large skillet. When browned, add the half of the salsa, and all of the corn, water, cumin and garlic salt. Simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the moisture has evaporated.

Meanwhile, open the biscuit can and work each biscuit into a 6-inch wide circle. Place each circle on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

When the filling is done, place a scoop of the filling in the middle of each circle. You may want to use a slotted spoon to drain the meat. Add a sprinkle of cheese and fold over the circle to enclose the filling. Press the edges to make a closed half-circle.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

Serve with remaining salsa and a side salad for a complete meal.

a friend

Do you have a little money saved up in your Wish Jar? I have a little that I have stashed away from my compulsive coupon cutting. I was saving that $60 towards a new spring handbag but I think I’m going to give it to Clinton/Bush Haiti Relief Effort. It is tragedies like these that make us revisit the differences between wants and needs. For the people of Haiti, “needs” takes on a whole new meaning at this point since most of the people in the vicinity of Port-Au-Prince don’t have food, water, or a roof over their heads.

We promise we won’t ask you for money often, since our website is all about saving money, but if you can find it in your heart to send a few dollars to the Haiti Relief Fund, we’re sure that the good karma will be carried forward for years to come.

To donate, visit the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation Website.

a friend