Flu Shot Rebate

Get $5.00 from Lysol when you protect your family with the flu shot. Visit this link for details.

How to pay off your Debt?

If anyone thought it's impossible to pay off $70K of debt, take a look at this article. It talks about people cutting their everyday expenses to pay down their debt. If you have any debt, you have to get creative to find different ways to save - can you bring lunch to work? do you really need every cable channel? do your kids really need all the latest toys? can you make your own pizza rather than ordering one? Think of different ways how you can save and start SMALL. Start with the budget - budgets are important as you need to know what comes in and what comes out. And, don't forget to write down what you are spending every day. You may not notice it, but a cup of coffee every morning for a month does add up quickly. If you are in financial trouble, I would also highly recommend start watching Suze Orman show and "Til Debt Do Us Part" for general ideas on budgeting and reducing expenses. Suze Orman's books are also very helpful - you can borrow them for free from your local public library rather than buying.

Pumpkins

During our last trip to the farmer's market, we bought 2 small sugar pumpkins to roast and freeze. Not only it's very easy to make your own pumpkin puree, it's also healthier than the canned variety since these are locally grown pumpkins and there is no BPA to worry about. Do-it-yourself pumpkin puree would also make a great baby food if you have children. 

The cost of making your own vs. canned is essentially the same. We paid $5.00 for 2 small pumpkins which yielded 8 cups of roasted pumpkin. 1 can of pumpkin puree contains 1.5 cups. So, 2 small pumpkins equaled to approximately 5 cans - i.e. the cost is about the same. However, you can save a lot by making your own Pumpkin Butter - we saw a small jar of Pumpkin Butter going for $8.00 at the farmer's market when you can make your own only for a couple of bucks. 

How to make your own Pumpkin Puree:

• Use sugar pumpkin only (or any other cooking variety). DO NOT use the Jack-O-Lantern pumpkins as they are flavorless and watery - these should only be used for decorating.
• Wash the pumpkins
• Cut them in half and clean out the guts and fibers - save seeds for roasting
• Place face down in a baking pan with a little water
• Bake at 350° for 45 minutes
• Cool, take the skin off and cut into chunks
• Scoop into cheesecloth-lined colander and let drain for few hours
• Puree in food processor in batches
• Place in Ziploc bags in 1-2 cup portions and freeze.
• Use it in any recipe that calls for pureed pumpkin - pies, breads, muffins, waffles, pancakes, etc.

How to make Pumpkin Butter: 
1½ cups of pumpkin puree
honey to taste
¼ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground cloves
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground allspice
¼ cup water or apple juice/cider
In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low. Let mixture simmer for approximately 30 minutes to an hour or until it thickens. Stir frequently. Chill and refrigerate in a glass jar.

How to roast Pumpkin Seeds:
Rinse the seeds and pat dry. Add a little bit of olive oil and sea salt and bake at 400° for 10-20 minutes. Let them cool and enjoy!

If you never made your own pumpkin puree before, try it. Also, check out these pumpkin posts from Money Saving Mom, or The Simple Mom, or Healthy Food For Living, or Mommy's Kitchen. Now that you have all that pumpkin, visit 100 pumpkin recipes.

KALE FRITTATA

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups boiled Kale, chopped
4 eggs
freshly grated Parmesan

Wash and cut kale leaves. Boil for 3 minutes. Strain to get rid of excess water and cut into small pieces. Preheat broiler. In a cast iron (or ovenproof) skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic, cook about 1 minute being careful so it doesn’t burn. Add kale to the pan and mix with garlic. Meanwhile, whisk together eggs and cheese, and salt and pepper to taste. If the mixture is too thick, add a little milk. Pour eggs into the pan and stir lightly to make sure kale is evenly distributed. Let cook without stirring about 2 minutes. Transfer to the oven and broil another minute, until eggs are cooked on top. Cut into pizza-like wedges.

20% off Organic Eden Pasta from Eden Foods

Eden Foods is running a promotion of 20% OFF Eden Pasta. EDEN Pastas include 60% and 100% whole grain varieties, fun shapes and colors, organic vegetables and herbs. All are made with the finest organic ingredients for better nourishment, flavor, and value.

Simply enter the coupon code "GARDEN" when prompted during checkout to receive 20% OFF any Eden Organic Pasta Company pasta. Offer expires October 31, 2010.

Also, check out Eden Pasta for some delicious pasta recipes such as Spinach Ribbon Mushroom Stroganoff below:

SPINACH RIBBON MUSHROOM STROGANOFF:

1/2 cup Sliced Shiitake Mushrooms
1/2 cup Maitake Mushrooms
1 pound organic extra firm tofu, drained
2 1/2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 TBSP Brown Rice Vinegar
2 cups Edensoy® Unsweetened
1 tsp Sea Salt
1 package Eden Organic Spinach Ribbons
1 cup onion, diced
1 pound button mushrooms, sliced
2 TBSP green onions or parsley, chopped

Soak shiitake and maitake mushrooms ten minutes in 2 cups hot water. Remove mushrooms from soaking liquid, reserve liquid and slice. Bring soaking liquid to a boil, add mushroom slices, reduce flame to medium-low and cook 20 minutes until mushrooms are soft. Drain and set aside. Place tofu, olive oil, brown rice vinegar, salt and Edensoy in a blender. Blend until smooth. Cook pasta according to directions, rinse and drain. Wash button mushrooms, discard stems and slice tops. In a skillet sauté onions and all mushrooms until soft. Lower the heat, add tofu mixture and heat thoroughly. Serve sauce over pasta. Garnish with green onions or parsley.

How to get the best seats on the airplane

Check out SeatGuru.com and SeatExpert.com to virtually check out your plane and seats in advance. You can find tips on seats that don't recline, have blocked storage, blocked windows, and find out which seats are next to lavatories. Get the most for your money by becoming familiar with your aircraft's configuration and seat locations before requesting a certain seat from the airline.

Another tip is try to get to the airport early and ask for emergency seat. Those are always assigned in person and cannot be requested if you are selecting your seats online.

Basics: Salad Dressings

Simple Vinaigrette Dressing:
Mix 1/2 cup white wine vinegar, 1 clove garlic and 1 chopped shallot in a small bowl. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Mix in 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard. Whisk 1/2 cup vegetable oil and 1/2 cup olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes about 1.5 cups.

Back To School Sales

Every year, around this time, many stores start to have their Back To School Sales. Check out these wonderful deals and stock up:

JULY 4, 2010 WEEK:

Walgreens:
$.19 10 pack Penway Yellow Pencils (limit 3)
$.19 5 pack Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils or 10 pack pens (limit 3)

JULY 11, 2010 WEEK:

CVS:
FREE: Buy Paper Mate 1.2 pens 10 ct. for $.99 get $.99 back (limit 1, 7/11-7/13 only)
FREE: Buy Caliber 5" soft-handle scissors for $.99 get $.99 back (limit 1, 7/11-7/13)
$.10 2 pocket portfolio (limit 10)
Walgreens:
$.09 Novelty Pencil or Splash Mini Highlighter (limit 10, with WG coupon)
$.13 Penway 2 pocket folder with prongs (8 for $1.00, limit 16, with WG coupon)
$.29 Corner Office Legal Pad, 50 sheets, 5x8 or 8.5x11.75 (limit 4, with WG coupon)
$.39 Paper Mate Write Bros. Mechanical Pencils 10 pack (limit 6, with WG coupon)
Staples:
These deals are valid Monday through Wednesday only:
$.01 2 pocket folder with or without fasteners (limit 10, with $5.00 purchase)
$.01 #2 yellow pencils, 8/pack (limit 2, with $5.00 purchase)
$.01 Staples multipurpose paper, 500-sheet ream, 96 bright, 20 lb (after rebate)

Suze Orman and Money Minded Moms

Check out this new site Money Minded Moms. The site offers practical advice and suggestions on saving money:

"Suze Orman is on a mission to help moms manage their money with confidence—freeing them to focus on what really matters. From advice on smart saving and investing to valuable coupons that help you stretch every dollar, MoneyMindedMoms is an everyday resource for moms with financial questions and stories to share.

About Suze Orman:
Suze Orman is undeniably America’s most recognized expert on personal finance. She is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times mega bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today.

Orman is a contributing editor to “O” The Oprah Magazine, the Costco Connection Magazine and for the last eight years host of the award winning Suze Orman Show, which airs every Saturday night on CNBC. Not only is she the single most successful fundraiser in the history of Public Television, but she has also garnered an unprecedented six Gracie awards, more than anyone in the 34-year history of this prestigious award. The Gracies recognize the nation's best radio, television, and cable programming for, by, and about women.

In May 2009 and May 2008 Time Magazine named Orman as one of the TIME 100, The World’s Most Influential People. In July 2009 Forbes named Orman 18th on their list of The Most Influential Women In Media. In May 2009 Orman was presented with an honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Illinois. In May 2010 she received an honorary doctor of commercial science degree from Bentley University.

Orman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago earned a bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Illinois and at the age of 30 was a waitress making $400 a month."

Sign up for the newsletter and download her "5 Simple Ways to Save $500" newsletter.

Also, if you haven't see her show yet, check it out - it's on CNBC every Saturday and is awesome!

Discounted Gift Cards

Verizon Perks is a great way to save up to 20% on many retailer and restaurant gift cards.

Currently, the site offers free shipping and discounts on cards from Staples, Bath & Body Works, 1-800-Flowers, Men's Warehouse, SpaFinder, Land's End, Express, Red Lobster, Sears, Kmart, Regal Entertainment Group, CVS, Kohl's, Barnes & Noble and many others.

You must be Verizon customer to enjoy the savings.

"Green" Rebates and Incentives

For hybrid vehicles rebates, visit FuelEconomy.gov.

For Federal Energy Star Program, visit EnergyStar.gov.

For more rebates and incentives, visit Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), or National Grid.

If you qualify, check out New York Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program.

Free Wedding Templates and Monograms

There are so many websites where you can get invitation templates, monograms and other wedding goodies. And the best part is that all of them are FREE! Yes, I said it, FREE! Check out these sites for fabulous freebies:

Free Monograms, Custom Goodies and Templates from Wedding Chicks. Also, check out their free butterfly wedding invitation here.

Free Downloads from Wedding Style Guide.

More freebies and downloads from Inspired Bride, such as Traditional Monogram Borders, and many more...

Indoor Plants Clean Air

You can get a cleaner air in your home or office by simply getting a couple of houseplants. Some plants such as lady palm, areca palm, English ivy, golden pothos and rubber plant are very good at reducing indoor air pollutants. Aim for at least 2 plants per 100 square feet.

Natural Gourmet Institute for Health & Culinary Arts

Natural Gourmet Institute offers a variety of public classes on cooking with health-supportive foods such as whole grains, beans, sea vegetables, etc. Browse their selection of classes and take one to learn how to cook healthy meals, including vegetarian, gluten-free and macrobiotic.

Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health
48 West 21st Street, 2nd floor (between 5th and 6th Avenues)
New York, NY 10010

Class fees vary. For more information, visit the Natural Gourmet's website.

Organic Gardening

Did you know that you can add used coffee grounds to your acid-loving plants (such as tomatoes and blueberries) for added nutrition?

Or, check out this article on how to use left-over egg shells in your organic garden.

NYC Grows

Experience New York City's gardening event of the season - spend the day learning about innovations in gardening, urban farming, organic cooking and sustainable living at this outdoor, family-friendly festival celebrating all things green in the Big Apple. Events are gardening and tree-planting workshops, organic cooking demonstrations, greenmarket with locally grown produce, eco-friendly products, hands-on urban farming activities, interactive demonstrations, free giveaways and live musical performances... Visit the site for more information.

CancerCare

If you or someone you love has been touched by cancer and needs information, referrals or financial assistance, please visit CancerCare. The organization, among other services, provides financial help for those struggling with the high costs associated with cancer treatment, ranging from pain medication to child care to transportation. Please also consider making a donation, however small, to support the work they do.

Theater Parking in NYC

Check out Icon Parking which allows you to park your car for $10 in the Theater District. Unheard of for New York City!

Save $$$ with a slow cooker

1. Save on Staples:
Instead of buying canned stock, freeze the bones, trimmings and juices from roasts. When you have enough scraps, place them in the slow cooker, fill it with water about 3/4 of the way, cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Strain the liquid and discard solids. Use the broth immediately or freeze for up to 3 months. If you are a vegetarian, you can also make a vegetarian stock from different vegetable scraps.

2. Conserve energy:
Using a slow cooker helps cut electricity costs - it costs $.10 for 8 hours of use vs. $.19 for 2 hours of stove time and $.29 for 1 hour of oven time.

3. Enjoy poultry for less:
Buying the whole chicken is cheap (on sale, it could be $.79 per pound). Remove giblets and put it in the cooker. Add spices, salt, pepper. Add a little bit water, cover and cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

4. Cook once, eat twice:
Prepare a big roast in the slow cooker which yields several meals' worth of meat. Buy a chuck roast on sale and toss it in a slow cooker. Cooking cheaper cuts of meat in the slow cooker makes them tender and more flavorful. Add some water so that the meat won't toughen. When the roast is done, divide it into meal-sized portions in plastic storage containers and refrigerate or freeze for later use. The possibilities are endless - beef and noodles, roast beef sandwiches, etc.

4. Stretch your budget with beans:
Buy 1 pound of beans and soak in water overnight. Drain, put beans in the slow cooker and cover with fresh water. Add salt and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

5. Make homemade soup:
Keep a tupperware in the freezer and put leftover vegetables, starches and meat in it. You can use whatever you have left - for example, half a cup that is not enough to serve the next day. When the bowl is full, put everything in the slowcooker and make your soup.

6. Visit this site for more slowcooker recipes and inspiration.

Seeds for your garden

Save $5.00 on your $30 order from www.burpee.com.

Use coupon code FS53 at checkout. Expires May 31, 2010. Excludes shipping and handling.

Passport Photos

Check out alternative ways you can get your passport photos --

www.ePassportphoto.com

and

www.PortraitBooth.com

Green & Organic Laundry Tips

• Make bright colors pop by adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
• Add a single aspirin to your machine load of laundry to keep whites from getting dingy.
  

Wedding Cake

• Did you know that you can save money on a cake by having a "fake" cake. It is constructed to look like a real wedding cake with fondant and gumpaste, but it is just a display cake with a built-in compartment for a slice of cake for the couple to cut. See if your baker is willing to do it (not all do) or check out Cake Rental online.
• Dozens of handmade sugar flowers, an ornate monogram or meticulously sculpted icing all cost more. Instead of decorations that require handcrafting (which can add up), ask your baker to use fresh organic flowers or fruit.
  
• Try a noncustomized option from Asimplecake by NYC cake designer Gail Watson. She has 19 basic designs which you can personalize with edible adornments for one third to 60 percent less than a cake made to order.
  
• Choose buttercream frosting over fondant. This lowers the fee by a dollar per slice and most people actually like buttercream better.
• Decorate your simple cake with a ribbon. Just remember to back your ribbon with tape or wax paper to make sure the ribbon does not get greasy when it touches the cake's frosting. Cut the tape or wax paper to fit your ribbon, and apply it to the side of the ribbon that will touch the cake. Tape will adhere to the ribbon on its own, and wax paper can be ironed to the ribbon (place the paper wax side down against the ribbon, and pass your iron over the paper several times to melt the wax to the ribbon). Wrap the ribbon around the cake, being careful not to dent the frosting. It will be easier to wrap the ribbon if your cake is cold, so the frosting is stiff. Smooth the ribbon with your fingers so it lays flat against the cake, and secure the ends of the ribbon with a dollop of frosting (place the frosting on one end of the ribbon, and press the other end on top of the frosting). Check that the ribbon is straight, and that the ends overlap perfectly. Or, you can buy a water-resistant ribbon from Sugarcraft.com.
  

Wedding Jewelry

Did you know that you can rent your wedding jewelry for a fraction of what it would have cost you to buy it?

Check out these sites:

I'm over it

Bag, Borrow or Steal

Not-so-traditional wedding registries

Check out these non-traditional wedding registries where you can register for CASH - yes, not for gifts but money...

Rainfall of Envelopes

Wedding Green

Wedding Officiant

Did you know that your friend can officiate your wedding? In some states, you can have a friend obtain the one-time right to officiate (check with your county clerk). In other states, your friend can be ordained through a ministry such as Universal Life Church or Universal Ministries. You can check all the rules at this site and confirm with your county clerk.

The Crepe Escape...

If I was looking for someone to cater our wedding, I would've totally gone with this:

The Crepe Escape!

Check it out, it sounds absolutely delicious!

Wedding Arch

If you are looking for a wedding arch, check out Joann's store. It sells Darice White Lighted Decorative Arch for $29.99 but you can use a 50% coupon found on Joann's website to get a very good deal. You can decorate the arch with flowers (silk or real), tulle, organza, ivy, grape vine, etc.

Wedding Decorations: Pomanders

Ever since we started planning our wedding, I fell in love with these blue pom-poms (aka "pomanders") by Martha Stewart:

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Check out this tutorial on how to make your own. Styrofoam balls could be purchased at LA Crafts.

Green Cleaning

A couple of years ago, we made a decision to become a "green" household. We recycle, conserve, re-use and buy local & organic food as much as possible. We even attempted to grow our own organic vegetables on the balcony. And we also switched to eco-friendly green cleaning products as an alternative to the conventional toxic cleaning products. The best part is that you can find most of these ingredients in your cupboard...

Here are some basic earth-friendly ingredients to stock up on and make your own cleaners for less:
1. Baking soda
2. Borax
3. Distilled white vinegar
4. Hydrogen peroxide
5. Lemons
6. Olive oil
7. Vegetable-based castile soap
8. Washing soda

IN THE BATHROOM:

Lemon Oil:
Wipe down or spray a small amount on glass shower doors. The lemon oil penetrates deeper and loosens the dirt. If needed, follow up with any other eco-friendly cleaner. Rinse well to get rid of excess oil. Dry surface and wipe with a cloth treated with a very small amount of lemon oil to prevent future hard water stain build-up. ONLY use a very small amount of oil and avoid making the tub/floor slippery.

Hydrogen Peroxide:
Apply to dislodge mildew and mold - remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Let it soak for 5 minutes and scrub with a grout brush (I just use an old toothbrush) and rinse.

IN THE KITCHEN:

Lemon Oil:
Use lemon oiled cloth to wipe the microwave to clean grease and fingerprints.

General Household Cleaner:
Mix together 1 tsp liquid soap, 1 tsp borax, a squeeze of lemon, and 1 quart of warm water.

General Disinfectant:
Mix together 1/4 cup borax and 1/2 gallon hot water.

Windows Cleaner:
Mix together 2 tsp vinegar and 1 quart warm water. Or, 2 tablespoons borax and 3 cups water.

Air Freshener:
Mix together 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 cups hot water. Spritz from a spray bottle.

To find out what will work best for any cleaning job, Google "green cleaning recipes" and get scrubbing!

Free or cheap phone calls?

Check out the new service Ooma, an internet phone service, which sells a black box called Ooma Telo. All you have to do is to plug your router and existing phone into Telo, activate the service, and you have FREE domestic calls. Voice quality is great and it has extras such as call waiting and caller ID. Calls anywhere in the United States are free, and international calls are pennies per minute. There are no monthly fees but you will pay $249.99 to purchase Telo and a one-time charge of $39.99 if you wish to keep your own number.

Compare it with Vonage, which charges $24.99 per month, or MagicJack which connects to your computer via USB and allows you to make free calls within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The device with 1 year of service is $39.95 but you cannot keep your own number and if your computer is off, your calls will go to voice mail or can be forwarded.

Bus for a buck?

Did you know that you can take a bus for only a couple of dollars between Washington, NYC, Boston, Baltimore, Greenbelt, Cherry Hill and Philadelphia? Some fares as low as $1.00. Check out BoltBus website.