Save Money!!

15 Ways to Reduce Expenses
Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. — Author unknown.
Here’s a list of ideas for reducing expenses. Notice the word reduce. It doesn't say eliminate, although if you have unnecessary expenses, you certainly could eliminate them. Keep in mind that any expense you can reduce will free up money for other things. Think of opportunity cost as you consider these ideas.
1. Make it automatic. Before I see my paycheck, a good portion of it is diverted to my 401(k) and savings. Pay tithing first and save a little. Five to ten percent of what you make each month can add up quick.
2. Use less. This money saving tip is a lesson we all need to learn. We live in a consumer society where waste is a huge problem. If we could all use and consume less there would be less waste, less power consumption, and the benefits for you are SAVING MONEY. Consider using less shampoo when you wash your hair, this may not mean washing your hair less effectively it means not flushing the excess shampoo and your money down the drain. What about saving on heating? Turn the thermostat down or put on extra clothes when you are cold. Turn off lights, the TV and the computer when they are not in use. Each little saving you make will build up and enable you to save money.
3. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify. Think about if something is a want or a need. "Wants" can wait. "Needs" are the priority. It's O.K. to do without. You don't have to "keep up with the Jones." If the T.V., cell phone, computer, or whatever still works, you don't HAVE to upgrade right now.
4. Spend Less. This is not over simplifying the best way to save money! It is essential if you are serious about being a long term money saver and being able to save money every day. Review what you spend and look at ways you can save money. Consider making telephone calls for instance only at off-peak times. Do you really need to have newspapers and magazines delivered? What about using the public lending library instead of buying books or music CDs? Once you start looking for little ways to save money and spend less you will quickly become an expert and really save money.
5. Go through your cell phone bill, look for services you don’t use, and ditch them. Sit down and go through each item on your bill and see if there’s anything there that you don’t use, like a surfeit of text messages or web access or something to that effect. Then call your cell phone company and ask to have those services eliminated. Boom, you’re saving money.
6. Get organized and avoid missed payments. I’ve missed a payment or two because the bill got buried beneath a stack of papers. Get organized and avoid those late payment penalties. If you do miss a payment, call your creditor and ask to have the penalty removed. They’ll usually accommodate the request, at least the first time.
7. Avoid debt. Pay as you go.
8. Create a visual reminder of your debt. Basically, just make a giant progress bar that starts with the amount of debt you have and ends with zero. Each time you pay down a little bit, fill in a little more of that progress bar. Keep this reminder in a place where you’ll see it often, and keep filling it in regularly. It keeps your eyes on the prize and leads you straight to debt freedom.
9. Design your “debt snowball.” Everyone needs a plan to help them get out of debt, so sit down and plot out what debts you’re going to pay off and in what order. Simply having a plan goes a long way towards bringing that plan into action, and paying off debts early is one of the surest ways to put money in your pocket over the long run.
10. Save all the change (coin) in a jar and count it up once a year. Make a donation to your favorite charity with it!!
11. Don’t pay banking fees! I use my bank for free bill pay, automatic deposits, free checks, and free reimbursements for all ATM fees. I won’t pay for any of those services. Consider moving to a credit union. Greater Nevada Credit Union has the best interest rate on their checking accounts…we’ve simplified everything and have put everything in there.
12. Utilize online bill pay with your bank. This serves two purposes. First, it keeps you in much closer contact with your money, as you can keep a very close eye on your balance and be in much less danger of over drafting. Second, it saves you money on stamps and paper checks by allowing you to just fill in an online form, click submit, and have your bill paid. Try it out – and take advantage of it if you’re not already. My bank is a credit union - I just go to their website - log in to my account, go to Bill Pay and tell them to send you a check - that is how I do EVERYTHING! I even have it set up to send the piano teacher her monthly check and I don't even have to think about it!
13. Always ask for fees to be waived. Any time you sign up for a service of any kind and there are sign-up fees, ask for them to be waived. Sometimes (but not always), they will be – and you save money just by being forthright about not wanting to pay excessive fees. I did this with my last cell phone sign-up and got part of my fees waived, cutting down significantly on the bill.
14. Hide your credit cards. Take your credit cards and put them in a safe place in your home, not in your wallet where it’s easy to spend them. If you argue that you need it for “emergencies,” just be sure to keep a small amount of cash hidden in your wallet for these emergencies. Don’t keep plastic on you until you have the willpower to not use it even when you’re sorely tempted.
15. Don’t pay interest on credit cards…and consider giving them up all together. This is obvious, but I soon as you fail to pay off the credit card in full, the high interest payments start to eat away at your monthly budget. If the temptation to spend more than you can pay on a credit card is to great, get rid of the credit card!

Oh What Do You Do In The Winter-Time?

We went to the Home Depot last Saturday for their Kids Workshop and it turned out to be a success! Totally Free and Totally Fun!

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051


The Home Depot's Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

New Recipes for Laundry Soap and Fabric Softener

I have an obsession with homemade laundry soap and here's a new version from my friend Tiffany...with a fabric softener to try...
Thanks, Tiffany!!
Here's what she had to say about it all: "So lately I've been making my own laundry soap and I've decided that I really, really like it. I wanted to share the recipe with ya'll in case anyone is interested. The last batch I made lasted a little over a month and cost me under $2.00. There are alot of different recipe versions out there and I'm guessing they all work about the same."
Here is her recipe:
Laundry Soap
Makes 2 Gallons
1/3 bar Fels Naptha, grated
1/2 cup Borax
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer not baking soda)
Hot Water
1. Mix 6 cups of water in a large pot with grated soap. Heat and stir until melted. Turn off heat, add Borax and washing soda. Mix until dissolved. Pour all into big bucket or bowl. Add enough additional water to make 2 gallons (1 more gallon plus 10 more cups of water equals 2 gallons). You can also add essential oil to your detergent if you'd like more scent. Make sure it's pure though because heavy oils can stain clothes.
2. At this point you can put it in whatever container you'd like to store it. I used two empty, clean milk jugs for easy storage and pouring.
3. Before using each time shake the jug. Use 3/4 - 1 cup for every wash.
4. BTW - all of the above ingredients can be purchased at most grocery stores and Walmart on the laundry soap aisle.

Really Great Fabric Softener
3 C vinegar
2 C hair conditioner (any kind)
6 C water
Step 1
in a seal able container (if you have a couple old liquid fabric softener containers, those work well), combine 2 cups hair conditioner (I use a regular sized bottle- a little less than 2 cups), 3 cups vinegar, and 6 cups water.
Step 2
mix all ingredients together
Step 3
store in air tight container.
Step 4
use same amount you would use with regular liquid fabric softener

Stay-cation!!

I wish I'd found this sooner...looks like fun!!

http://www.visitsaltlake.com/visit/activities/connect_pass/


Buy one day, get the second day FREE! The Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass is the best way to gain access to Salt Lake's most famous and fascinating attractions. Get it now! This summer the Connect Pass is even better — when you buy your first day, you get your 2nd day FREE! These special Visit Salt Lake Connect Passes are good for the rest of the year, but you have to get them before summer* is over, so Book your Salt Lake Package online now.

*Packages and passes must be purchased from June 20, 2009 to August 31, 2009 and must be used by December 31, 2009.

Kid's Cooking Activities

I just found an awesome website that I wanted to share with you.
I'm putting together some summer activities for my children and want to have some cooking lessons for them.
This website has some great ideas: http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/

Creamy Banana Bread

I just got this recipe from a friend...it is so good, I had to share!

Creamy Banana Bread
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1¼ cups sugar
2 large eggs
1½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2¼ cups flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1¼ cups finely chopped pecans
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
Prep time: 20 minutes, Cook time: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Preheat oven to 325°F and spray two 8½x4½x2½-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cream butter and cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer. Gradually add sugar; continue beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in mashed bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda, stirring just until moistened. Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour half of batter into prepared pans; sprinkle with half of nut mixture. Repeat layers and bake for 45 minutes. Tent loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes more or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Makes 2 loaves.
Nutritional Information:Nutrition per serving (140 g, based on 12 slices): 460 calories, 7 g protein, 24 g total fat (10 g sat., 0 g trans), 55 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 31 g sugar, 80 mg cholesterol, 230 mg sodium, 10 points
Shopping List:1/2 cup butter or margarine, 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, 1¼ cups sugar, 2 large eggs, 1½ cups mashed ripe bananas , 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 2¼ cups flour, 1½ tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. baking soda, 1¼ cups finely chopped pecans, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 4 tsp. cinnamon

Prayer Pretzels

This was a neat family night for us:

Prayer Pretzels
You'll need:
1 package of dry yeast1-1/2 cups lukewarm water (not hot)2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 4 cups of flour 1 beaten eggsalt
Dissolve yeast in warm water and let rise a few minutes. Add sugar and salt and blend in 4 cups flour. Turn dough out on floured table or breadboard and knead until smooth. Refrigerate until you are ready to use at your table. Preheat oven to 325 . Lightly grease cookie sheet or toaster oven tray. Cut off 4" piece of dough roll into ropes about six to eight inches, or a length you can easily twist. Twist into shape with loop at top and two arms folded over. Arrange on lightly greased toaster oven tray or cookie sheet allowing space between pretzels for expansion. Brush with beaten egg -- those places you miss will not brown. Sprinkle with salt. Bake 12-15 minutes. Ovens may vary so check after 7-8 minutes.

Talk about prayer with your family:
There are many types of prayers. Ask the children if they can think of any:.
Prayers of Gratitude (food - family - home - health - earth)
Peace (giving talk or performing so nerves will be calm)
Safety (travel, etc.)
Someone's health - friend family member facing surgery or medical problem
Strength / Priesthood Blessings (to get through a tough situation)
Sacrament Prayers
Review prayer language
Tell the story of the Pretzel - In about 610 A.D. a very creative Alpine Monk decided to make use of the dough left over from baking bread. The Monk formed them into thin strips folded into a looped twist to represent the folded arms of children in prayer. This scrumptious treat was given to the children as they learned their prayers. They began calling the treat "Pretiola", which is Latin for "little reward". Soon it was known to the world as pretzel. The secret of making great pretzels is not only in the baking but also in the shaping. We, like pretzels, are made from the best ingredients, by the best hands available, the hands of our Father in Heaven. Have you ever seen a broken pretzel, or one that has lost it's shape? We too, can lose our shape when we don't pray always to keep our spirituality in place. The simple shape of the pretzel, arms folded in prayer, reminds us to pray each day. Our "Pretiola" or "little rewards" are the blessings we receive. During this twisting time, it may be possible to talk about what happens when we pray for others. Francis of Assisi said, "The gift of prayer is no small gift, to whomever it is given." It is a gift implying love, thoughtfulness, and often action on the part of the person who says the prayer.
While the children are making their pretzels, ask them to think of one person they can pray for and to challenge them to remember them throughout the day and in their prayers. (Before starting family prayers at night, review the names of those you want to remember so that you can pray for them as a family too.)