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.
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.
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.
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.
One of the best ways to save money that we know of at Rubbingnickels.com is to put yourself on a cash budget. On January 1st, I put myself on a cash budget to try to get control of the amount that I was spending on discretionary items (i.e. makeup, clothes, shoes, lunches with the ladies, etc.). I made it about 8 days and then I had a lapse of concentration and ordered a book at Amazon.com. Whoops! But in general, I think it’s a good idea to try a cash budget if you need to work on decreasing your credit card debt.
There are lots of advantages to spending cash. For one, having cash in my wallet keeps me away from places that I don’t belong anyway, namely, Neiman Marcus and the Kate Spade store. You may have $200 in your wallet for the week, but it won’t last long if you wander into one of those stores. Another reason that cash decreases my spending is that it keeps me from shopping online. I’m online off and on all day long (as many bloggers are), so limiting my online shopping is a great way for me to save money. Here are some other reasons that we think cash budgets are the bomb:
Paying with cash makes you pause and think about how much you NEED the thing you are buying.
Cash budgets stop your “extra” credit card spending and can help you decrease your credit card debt.
When that gorgeous, glossy catalog comes in the mail, you’ll choose frugal living and throw it in the recyle bin.
Paying with cash makes you search harder for “good deals” on items you want or need.
I promise that I’ll take another shot at my cash budget if you will.
Sincerely,
Darcy Ratner and Julie Arnheim
Founders, Rubbingnickels.com
We love Organic Valley products and we’re happy to announce their new sweepstakes giveaway! Enter the Organic Rising online sweepstakes for a chance to win a Trek bicycle, a subscription to Organic Gardening, or a Year of Free Organic Valley products! Free groceries and magazines are always welcome at MY house. Good luck!
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.
Wash only full loads in the dishwasher and use the air-dry cycle whenever possible.
Lower your water heater temperature to 120 degrees (especially if your dishwasher has its own heating element).
Clean the lint from the clothes dryer after each load.
This week at the market, Safeway had 12 oz. cans of coffee (Yuban) for $1.99 (with the club card). My Rubbing Nickels mentality wouldn’t allow me to pass it up but I knew that I might have a difficult time with the cheaper coffee’s flavor given that I’m a long-time customer at both Peet’s and Starbucks. I had a thought, though. What if I were to mix the Yuban with a flavored gourmet coffee. It was worth a try. This morning, I mixed Yuban with coffee from a local roaster called Peerless Vanilla Nut Cream ($9.99 per 10 oz.) and it was nicely flavorful and highly drinkable. The most important part is that I can put at least $8.00 per week in my Wish Jar towards my Ladies’ Weekend trip (it’ll buy 1/2 of a Grey Goose martini).
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!
In these “trying” times, and by that I mean “trying not to use my credit card”, having a little extra cash in your pocket could really come in handy. Paying with cash gives me a rush and makes me appreciate what I’m getting much more. So this week we’re talking about what we can do to put a little extra of the green stuff in our pocket.
We all have natural talents. Mine lean towards sewing and baking, as opposed to cooking and gardening (which is why I write the Hate to Cook recipes) . I discovered over the holidays that my Mom can cut hair, and I promptly plopped both of my boys in front of her with wet heads and the scissors. Our Co-founder, Julie, has realized that she has an affinity for raising (and chasing) chickens. Here are some of our ideas for cottage industry that you can get started with little or no capital and no formal training.
Dog Walking – Do you know a few busy families that could use a hand with their dog walking? Make a phone call or put a note in their mailbox. Charge a reasonable rate and you’d be surprised how many people will pay for peace of mind. If you have your own dog, this is a no-brainer since you have to walk your own dog anyway.
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
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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.
Joe’s New Balance Outlet is my “go-to” site for my family’s athletic footwear needs. My last pair of running shoes cost only $40 (what do I care if they’re last season’s model?) at this website. I usually find shoes for my boys for under $30. Check them out. Visit www.joesnewbalanceoutlet.com.
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.
a friend
