Meal Plan Monday- 7.7.14

Meal planning Monday is here again...it comes so soon every week!  Its been awhile since I've posted my meal plan, but Im back on the posting wagon!

Monday  - Dinner out - its a special day this week because papa doesnt have to work!

Tuesday - Ball Park All Beef Hot dogs

Wednesday - Spaghetti Bake

Thursday - Crockpot BBQ Ribs

Friday - Fish and Chips

Monday  - Dinner out

Things you need: Your debit card, and the van

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put family in van, and drive to restaurant.

2. Eat.

3. Pay with debit card.

Tuesday  - Ball Park All Beef Hot Dogs

Things you need: $0.50, Ibotta and Shopmium

DIRECTIONS:

I checked it out and there was a $1.50 rebate there.  For good measure I checked Ibotta and they had a $1.50 rebate as well!  I redeemed both, and the final cost was $0.50 for some solid hotdogs. Enjoy!

Cost: $3.50

Ibotta rebate - $1.50

Shopmium rebate - $1.50

OOP: $0.50!

*Ibotta is a rebate app that offers cash back for various items purchased.  There are also additional bonuses available.  You can click on the Ibotta hyperlink, and sign up.  Then you download the app, and you can view a gallery of product offers.  You need to go through the offers you want and complete one or more of the tasks - generally worth between $.25 and $1.00.  There are usually 3 tasks for each one, and doing all three maximizes your earnings.  The tasks are things like sharing on your Facebook, watching a video, taking a single question pole, etc.  They are very simple tasks.  After you complete the tasks, they are added to your checklist.  Then you go shopping at one of the approved retailers, scan your receipt, scan the barcode on the item, and wait for your cash to come rolling it.  This is generally worth a few bucks, and it is usually useful items for your household.  On occasion, there are bonus deals where you can earn more rebates for redeeming combinations of different product offers.

*Shopmium is a rebate app similar to Ibotta with less options.  The major bonus of this program is that the money is deposited directly into your payapl account without having to wait to accumulate enough money to cash out. If you are new to shopmium, and would like a free Lindt candy bar, use this referral code - YUCGFGTQ after downloading the app to your phone.

Wednesday  - Spaghetti Sauce

Things you need: 1 lb lean ground beef, 1 box rotini, 16 oz jar of spaghetti, 2 cups of shredded cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In large skillet, cook hamburger until brown. Mix most of the spaghetti sauce into skillet. Reduce heat and simmer.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Mix in pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. Mix together spaghetti and meat mixture, pour into 9x13 pan. Top with cheese and bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.

*I like to add whatever random stuff we have in the fridge at the moment so this week I'll miz in spinach, onions and red pepper.

Monday  - Easy Stuffed Shells

Things you need: 36 uncooked jumbo pasta shells, 1 jar (24 ounces) spaghetti sauce, 36 frozen fully cooked Italian meatballs (1/2 ounce each), thawed, 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

DIRECTIONS

Monday  - Crockpot BBQ Pork Ribs

Things you need: rack of ribs, 4 c. Bbq sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put ribs in crockpot, and cover with bbq.

2. Put crock on high for 4 hrs, or until meat begins to fall off the bone.

*I make my own bbq by jusy pouring a few basic things together - red wine vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, Worcester and a bit of mustard.

Monday  - Fish and Chips

Things you need: 4 six ounce cod filets, beer batter (2 c. Of flour, a can of beer, garlic, salt and pepper), 2 potatoes sliced like fries, oil

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Preheat over to 450. 

2.  Layer fries on baking sheet, brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. 

3.  Bake 35-40 min until they are crisp. 

4.  Heat oil for fish in pan until hot.

5. Salt and pepper the cod and dredge in the beer batter.

6. Drop in hot oil and fry both sides.  Set on paper towel to absorb excess oil. Serve with ketchup and tartar. 

ENJOY!

October 16th, 2013 - Family Fun Time

At the Poenisch house, most of our nights are spent getting into some mess or another.  So when my daughter asked if we could do an experiment, I grabbed the cornstarch, and figured we'd make something up.

 

The ingredients for this were:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Bowl
- Something to mix with
- The space to make a mess

We talked a little bit about solids and liquids before we started.  My three year old was able to easily understand that water was a liquid and cornstarch was a solid.  We didn't get to complex with matter though.  We explained that liquids don't have a certain shape, and they flow.  We tipped our measure glass back and forth and watched the water move.  We talked about how solids have their own shape, and are hard when we touch them.  Then we poured some cornstarch in the bowl and touched it.  We spent a few minutes having Isabel identify other solids (her blocks, and her cat...well, close enough anyways) and liquids (her bubble bath and apple juice).

 

 

We poured some cornstarch in, and added a bit of water.  Isabel stirred it until it was too stiff for her to stir, so I took over.  I mixed it until it was thoroughly mixed.  Then we talked about solids and liquids again.  We poked and prodded the cornstarch water mix.  We talked about how it felt solid when we touched it.  We even squeezed it in our hands, and watched it go from solid to dripping.

 

 

At this point, she asked what would happen if we poured more water in, so I told her to go ahead and pour more water into the bowl.  She mixed it up, and was less than thrilled to see that the cornstarch suspension seemed to have lost it's magical half solid, half liquid properties, and was now all liquid.

 

Her papa's explanation of how the molecules are no longer lining up when she touches it, and that's why its not firm anymore did not help her.  So this is where it gets interesting.  Isabel turned and asked, 'Mama? How can we make it feel hard again?'  I figured this was a great time for the scientific method, and so off we went on our adventure.  Here is the simple version of the scientific method we use with our little lady.

 

Isabel has asked the question - how to make it firm again, and sort of did the research backwards (prior to asking the question.)  We reviewed what we had learned already about the suspension of cornstarch and water.  We talked about how each had felt separately, and how they felt when we mixed them.  Isabel described what it felt like to poke, and to squeeze after we had mixed the two, and the again stated her dismay at the cornstarch turning all liquid when she added more water.  Her next step was to come up with a hypothesis - a proposed solution, and then to test that idea.  Her hypothesis was to squeeze the mixture.  This was a pretty good idea, since with the first round, when it is squeezed, it becomes firm.  We were proud of her for thinking of it.  She dug her hand in, and squeezed.

 

No dice.  She was not impressed when it ran out of her hand like water.  Her conclusion was that squeezing it was not a successful solution to make it hard again.  Though, I think she put it something like, 'well. That didn't work. What now?' So she thought some more.  Her next solution (hypothesis) was to pour more of the cornstarch in.

 

So, we poured some in, and she mixed it up.  Then, when it got too stiff for her, I mixed a bit.  She tried touching it, and...

Success!

Her second hypothesis was successful and correct.

She was very proud of herself, and so was I (she's my only smallie :) ) and because we were now satisfied with our experiment, we spent the next twenty minutes or so just playing in the mixture.

After we finished playing in the cornstarch water mix, we called in the troops (daddy) to help clean it up.  Everyone had a lot of fun, and it was a great hands on learning experience for our little lady.

 

Enjoy!

~Danielle

October 15th, 2013 - Frugal Living, Budget pt. 3

Hello again!! This week, we are working on the functionality of your budget.  You've had a week now, to think on things, and see how they are going.  What you will need this week if your spreadsheet, and your check book, or however you keep track of expenses. 

First things first, look through your budget once more.  Make sure you are meeting all your needs - and make sure you are paying yourself.  Some people like to put aside a certain percentage of money each month, and some people select a dollar amount.  At our house, we have set dollar amounts that go into our emergency savings, 3 month savings, then our 'whatever we are saving towards right now' and our daughters savings account.  Those don't vary, and if need be, we cut from other areas first before cutting from savings.  We also put the grace money that isn't used into our savings each month. 

After you make sure you get your savings sorted out, go through your budget and consider where you can make cuts.  For instance, maybe you go out to eat as a family once a week - eliminating one time out to eat, or even two, can often add $50-$100 to your ability to save each month. I know in our budget, we were able to cut our gas costs by a third each month, just by altering our work schedules so that my husband could drop my daughter and myself off each day and pick us up.  We also cut down eating out to twice a month, as well as started meal planning, which has saved hundreds of dollars alone. 

Another thing that helps is setting an allowance of sorts for everyone.  We don't have a lot of weekly costs, so we each take out $20 a week for discretionary spending.  It is much easier to turn down lunch out at work when it will use all of your spending money, versus just swiping a card.  Keeping daily discretionary spending to cash only is a fast, efficient way to cut down on spending.

Now that you have freed up some money, gather your cc's.  If you have none, that's great. If you have some but maintain a zero balance, even better!  If you are like most of middle America, you are fighting a losing fight to pay down the debt.  So, sit down, and write down all of your cards, their balances and their interest rates.  Pick the one with the highest balance, and pay as much as you can (while still paying yourself first) towards that card.  Maintain your minimum (or higher, if you can) payments on your other cards, and just move towards carrying a zero balance on all cards.

One last tip. Make sure your spouse is on board.  Budgeting and becoming debt free can be very stressful and frustrating - don't shoulder it alone if you have a partner. They helped you get where you are and they will help you better your position in life.

Hope this helps! Enjoy!

~Danielle
  












 

October 8th, 2013 - Frugal Living, Budget pt. 2

Welcome back to how to get to D world in ten easy steps....errrr, I mean, building a budget and working towards financial health. Whichever. lol.

Today, we are just putting the budget together - in motion, so we can get right to it!

Take out all the hard work you did last week, and get it all together.  The first thing to do is look for a template that works for you. I have posted here three that I like from simple to more complex - choose one that fits you, based on your preferences.  It doesn't matter if you choose based on what is more easily formatted or which color you think is prettiest - choose one that appeals to you.  Once you decide, you can fill in all of your information - both fixed, and flexible spending, income, savings, and possibly a 'grace' amount, that allows for some error - or, you know, you are running late and decide a breakfast sandwich from McDonald's is going to be faster than making breakfast at home!

Template 1

Template 2

Template 3

Once you select one, grab a glass of wine, or juice, and a quiet corner.  You'll want to take your time as you input things. Don't fret if you find you forgot something - just add it now.  Chances are this will be a moving, changing document for you.  When you are finished, put it all away, and take you mind off of it for a few hours, then go back to it, and just make sure you have everything you want or need in there.  Some people also like to list balances they are working on - such as credit card balances, school loans, home loans, etc, so they can see the number going down (hopefully) every month - it can be encouraging.  That's all we are doing this week! It doesn't seem like much, but it can be very taxing to see the input and outgo of your month, so after you are done, just relax and kick back!

Enjoy!

~Danielle 

October 1st, 2013 - Frugal Living - Budget, pt 1

Hello October!This month, my husband agreed to something we've been considering for some time. And I am bursting at the SEAMS in anticipation.  You see, he's agreed to take me on this trip. This trip of a lifetime - with magical wonder at every turn. That's right folks. He is taking me to Disney World! There's just one catch.   

We have to take the kids.  

I know. I know you are probably thinking, what kind of jerk would go to Disney without the kids? And, lucky for my kids, not this kind of jerk lol.  Anyhow, in anticipation of Disney (well, and the new baby), we have decided we ought to revamp our budget. We havent done so since we moved to Nebraska, and now that things are settled down, and we have made our home here, it's time. So, I think the month of October, we will have a budgeting month series - so we can all budget together. And maybe you can go to Disney as well!

Part 1, Budgeting your life

Budgeting is important. Everyone knows that on an abstract level, right? But why? Why is it SO important to have a budget?  There are a lot of reasons, actually, and we'll go through many right now. 

1.  It gives you power. 

This is my number one reason for budgeting. It gives you power in your life.  It lets you see exactly where you are at, and where you have come from. It allows you to see where you are going. It creates a road map for you to follow.

2.  It saves money

A given, obviously. When you track your money, you are more aware of where it is going and spend less frivolously.  (This is the part that gets you to Disney World!)

3.  It builds discipline and organization

A budget helps you know at a glance where you are at, and it holds you accountable to the commitments you have made.

4.  It can be a stress reliever

Often, STARTING a budget is stressful.  BUT once you get through the feel bad stage lol it helps you relax.  It shows you where you can cut back to create an emergency fund, and it helps to reassure you that you ARE in control, and you ARE making good choices.  It allows you to improve your habits and lessen your debt. 

The steps to starting a budget are simple. 

1.  Make a list of goals and values. 

     What is important to you in your financial well being? What goals are you working towards?  For me, some of these things were Disney! but also, reigning in unnecessary spending. Eating healthier, and more whole at home.  Knowing exactly where our money went. Bulking up savings.  Once you have established some values, you can make goals - I suggest short term to long term - 30 days, 3 months, one year, 5 years, and so on.  Long term goals are great, but starting with short term goals help boost confidence as you meet them shortly, and help keep you on track to MEET those long term goals because you have a current idea of where you are at. 

2.  Figure out your expenses and determine your income.

     Go through whatever method you currently have of tracking your money.  Determine what is coming in and what is going out. The check book register (yes, some people really do still have these lol), your spreadsheet, your online banking statements. See where you are spending your money.  Separate everything into two columns - fixed expense and flexible expense.  Here are some of mine: 

Fixed

-          Mortgage

-          Student Loan Payments

-          Daycare/school tuition 

Flexible

-          Gas

-          Clothing

-          Gifts

3.  Create the budget.

     There are a TON of resources online you can use for this.  Next week's post will be a detailed post on budgeting worksheets and creation, so stay tuned!

Enjoy!

~Danielle 

Enjoy this series, as it appears to come at a very appropriate time in history, as our nation shuts down its government over budget and healthcare conflict.