Don't Overpay- on Weekly Groceries

Do you ever find yourself planning ahead for a your weekly meals with just too much leftovers that are tossed by the end of the week? Did you make too much and no one likes leftovers? Let's see if we can ponder some ideas to put a spin on some leftovers and save money.

I don't care if you have enough money to buy a new refrigerator filled with food each week, it's just not right to waste food. We need to practice not wasting food while eating healthy. Also, portions play a roll in our food budget for the week. We can pass this plan on to our children as well. If you can eat healthy and save money on the food bill, what would you spend it on? Pay down debt could be a good start with the average household credit card debt at $14,743 ( from creditcards.com). No debt you say, then charitable contributions could be increased.

Back to your grocery shopping...so you start with a grocery list. This is kinda important unless you only need a few things. It becomes another savings if you don't have to jump in your car to drive to the store. Gas prices have been fluctuating but not dropping enough in my book. Anyway, how do you shop? Do you usually get the same basics each week: eggs, fruits, vegetable. pasta, meat and cheese? Or do you add donuts, chips, ice cream and crackers? Are you a prepackage sorta shopper or a fresh is best shopper? I shop fresh as possible.

You know we could save some bucks if we don't have as many choices in the house at one time. Let me give you an example:

You buy 4 boxes of cereal and you have 2 boxes at home. The family can see all the boxes and, as always, opens the new unopened box. Before long we have all the boxes open. If you're like most families, those boxes all have less than quarter left and in the trash they go. Or all those bags "stay" as more boxes are opened until YOU decide to toss them.

To fix this problem we have our extra container with all the mix of cereals. Don't buy an extra container for this but use an empty container you already have. Plus, we got smarter and now only allow two boxes in reach while the extra boxes are in our overflow room or pantry. Thus, using up more cereal before anything gets stale. The choices are smaller and so is the bill.

Now lets shake up some of your leftovers for a more enjoyable dinner. What happens when you make too much spaghetti? What do you use it for? Do you just reheat the same thing over and over? Here is an idea:

Make your own pizza crust or get a Boboli already made from your store. Add virgin olive oil to the Boboli and then sauce, spread your cooked leftover spaghetti noodles on the crust, add a few more spices or Lawry's Seasoning and cover with mozzarella cheese or cheese mixture. Bake your spaghetti pizza.

What else is leftover in the frig...Oh you had some homemade vegetable soup? Well, I can think of a few things to do with that. Add Couscous or a Tabouli with some cheese for a casserole if your vegetable soup has too much broth or if it doesn't have too much broth you could add it to a quiche recipe.

Chili could become taco salad on the second day and barbeque cups on the third. Get the picture and isn't it fun to come up with some creative ideas to feed the family on a smaller budget?!

How about all that fruit in the refrigerator? If we don't cut it up, it doesn't get eaten. So try fresh cut up pieces the first couple days and a grand mix with yogurt and cool whip before it's wasted.

I know you can think of a bunch more ideas. Now try it this month...See if you can spend less on your groceries without going hungry...Feel free to tell me how it's going!

Remember to use the new food pyramid of mostly vegetable and grains followed by fruits and protien (www.choosemyplate.gov).~~~Blessings.

Dont Overpay for Your Past

We are not held back by the Love we didn't receive in the past, but by the Love we're not extending in the present. Marianne Williamson

People wonder why I can be happy through so many trials of life....I believe happiness is a choice. I've been the struggling single parent of two then a widow of four, the sole provider while juggling the children's needs along with my own. There is never balance but we can only hope to create harmony! My now blessed husband, must have wondered-what did I get into.?.;-)...come, let's take our journey.

I've worked in a bar doing artwork and cleaning, in a Church as a secretary, owned a gift shop, worked in a bank as a teller on ward to a financial counselor, work for a book company, worked for a CPA firm, had my mutual funds license, I've remodeled, designed, built a couple houses, along with major landscaping design. I've owned several 'at home' businesses and still generate income from a few that I've continued. After working the corporate world of 'whining and complaining" I just had to get out. I love to partner up with like minded people who work on ideas and strategies rather than complaining of their circumstances and never doing anything about it.

If your relationship stinks, what are you willing to do about it, if money is an issue, sooo figure out what you CAN do about it. Use the library as a resource. Follow other successful people and do what they do. God gave me a few talents and I didn't know what to choose so I experienced several. If you are looking for something to change your circumstances in life, family or work. Start with books or go listen and learn about everything until you find something you can get excited about. But don't take years to do this! If it is an extra income you're looking for, list all the things you'd like to do if money wasn't an issue. Then ask people in that type of work or industry and let them share it with you. For an example, I loved to dress up, style hair and do my makeup...thought I'd become a hairdresser...didn't ya? Well I began a business in Mary Kay Cosmetics, I loved it though I found out that I was too shy to just go up to people but - I over-came, I was too shy to stand in front of a group, but- I over-came it. I earned the Director status and a couple cars etc, etc. Ya know, I still do some but I got tired of inventory and starting over every month. Who can relate to the sales numbers starting at zero each and every month? One year after my then husband passed away I gave up my Directorship and kinda re-looked at what I could get passionate about. Makeup and parties with all my women friends and customers didn't seem important anymore. I wanted more time to go to all my kids functions, without giving up the needed monthly income. I didn't want to go back to the ball and chain workplace either.

I had some health issues and then a car accident. So I researched some products, found some that was junk and some of value. Little by little my health changed for the better. I shared that product with people because I believe in it.

My new marriage took myself and the younger kids from Iowa to Wisconsin. Starting over, searching for my passion, and knowing all business was moving to this crazy internet technology..oh no, could I learn that? A classmate dared me onto Facebook which I fought for months. But when I started, within two weeks 60 people found me from my past..well well, never say never.

Ya know, not knowing what I wanted to do or what my husband would like to be involved in ~ I went back into banking. Oh, need I say annoying alarm clock, punch in, punch out, learn, do my best, always strive to do a little more, train your boss...for what? yada yada

Fortunately, the personal banker position allowed me to look at business plans of plenty...I always looked, always gave my opinion and then I FOUND IT...THE ONE...INTERNET BUSINESS... NO INVENTORY...DIRECT COMMISSIONS...SAVINGS...RESIDUAL INCOME. OhHHH SCORE

Have A Vision, plan your work, work your plan..keep yourself in a constant state of belief, taking action toward your vision in a consistent manner without taking your foot off the accelerator. Don't fall in the trap of negativity, without Vision you stay in a constant state of wondering around lost...Start thinking of your Vision...so you are constantly propelling yourself toward that vision.

Awakening Excellence- Clarity Brings Power

What is the Vision for you (lay it out), where r u taking yourself, how big is this going to be...think BIG! It is your responsibility to take charge! School is never out for the pro!

How do you begin to change your path, you wonder? Answer yourself these few questions: Did you have a dream as a child of what you wanted to be when you grew up? Did you follow that dream? Am I the person I want to be? Do I have something to offer the world? A service, a product, a touch, a smile? What are my strengths? What have I always enjoyed doing?

You may need to start a journal of your own. It is not easy to let go of your past. You are a sum total of those life experiences but it doesn't have to define you. A bad situation can stay just that a situation and not who you are! Changing course starts from the inside. Be your best friend, lift yourself up like you do a friend or child. Be aware what you are telling yourself...start today in focusing on the now, the present, then one step at a time begin action that will improve your circumstances. Easy - No; Worth It - Yes!!