No question — everyone is looking to save a buck these days, whether it’s at the gas pump or the grocery store. Ok, so shopping around for the best prices and clipping coupons are part of the daily routine. Now what? If it feels like you’ve hit a wall and can’t squeeze any more out of the budget, it’s time to get creative. Here are three tips to get you started.

1. Think before you act. If you have a tendency to go on auto-pilot and shop at the same places every week, stop and look at where you drive to. Can you consolidate trips to save gas? Is it worth driving out of the way to save at a cheaper store, or do you undo the benefit by wasting gas (and time)?

2. Barter. If there is something you want to purchase, or a service you need (babysitting, painting, etc.) think of what you have to offer. You may be able to get a friend to help you out by offering up your skills. A friend of mind is swapping her website design skills for a few weeks of babysitting while she teaches a class (and earns money).

3. Make money. If you have cut all there is to cut and are being careful with your money and things are still too tight, it’s time to increase your income. Have you overlooked ways that you can earn a little extra cash? Do you have knowledge of a skill or service that others might pay you for? Can you consult or offer freelance services? Can you watch children after school? Tutor? Be an elder-companion for hire? There are many ways to earn a few extra dollars that can give you a little breathing room.

Alright so I’ll admit right off the bat that Chicken Lettuce Wraps aren’t exactly Southern, which is why I added a “y’all” on the end of this post title. That just made it look like it fit better on Southern Plate, didn’t it? ~grins~ I knew you’d agree.

I’ve developed a raving addiction to these things. You see, Ricky and I don’t get to go out much. We’ve actually been out twice without the kids in the past four or five years. What we do instead is pick a night each week and eat a very light supper, then after we send the kids to bed one of us (he usually draws the short straw here) goes to get takeout for our dinner. A Chinese restaurant is very near us and chicken lettuce wraps are one of their signature dishes. This is one of those things that didn’t sound too appealing to me at first but my mother kept insisting that I try them and once I did, I was about as hooked on that as I was the first time I tried poutine.

However, shelling out the money for them on a regular basis got old quick and last night I just up and decided that I could make these little suckers myself. Never stand in the way of a woman when she “up and decides” to do something. I looked up several recipes online and they all seemed far too complicated for what I felt should be a simple recipe so I just set out to wing it on my own.

We found the finished product to be every bit as good, a little more filling, and a WHOLE lot cheaper than the restaurant version. Even Bradybug, at ten years old, gave these a resounding thumbs up. They easily made enough for four people and the cool thing is that I had enough filling leftover to eat one now as I write this.

Continue reading the full recipe, check out Christy Jordan at Southern Plate!

Christy Jordan of Southern Plate specializes in classic southern dishes and quick and easy family favorites. Christy has a home ec degree and tries to make Southern Plate something of a home ec class online for folks who perhaps didn’t pay attention the first time around!

We have now looked at why we are in constant chaos. Hopefully you have found a pattern in your life and have searched as to why you do the things you do.   We have found reasons and hopefully you have also found your new mantra.   The reason you want to have order in your life.  Now lets define the problems that we are facing.  To do this you will need a small notebook. One that you can carry with you is ideal, but whatever you have will work. This notebook is going to be your “master list”.   There will be no more writing notes on little pieces of paper, backs of envelopes, or whatever else is handy.  You’ll use this notebook to keep tract of all your errands, things to do, to buy, and any other notes that need your attention or action.  Everything in one place.

Wait for a quiet time of the day or night when you won’t be interrupted or distracted.  Sit down with your notebook and a pen. Now list 6 areas or elements in your life that need to be put into order.  We are not going to straighten out your whole life in one list. Instead, focus on things like this:

“The kids never have clean clothes. What can I do to improve my laundry system?”

“The living room is always a mess because I don’t know what to do with all those magazines and newspapers that I haven’t read.”

If your having a difficult time figuring out your problem areas, close your eyes.  Imagine your entire day from the moment you wake up.  As soon as you hit a moment in your day that creates a problem, or you feel stressed just thinking about it, write it down.  It may be something your not even aware of.  Pay attention to your body and feel if it gets tense at one particular “scene” in your day.  While imaging your day, do you feel tense when you get to a particular moment?  Maybe when your gathering the clothes for laundry, your shoulders suddenly tense up, or your head hurts thinking about it.  It may not be that you have a pile of  laundry that is piled up, it may be something simple such as never having laundry detergent. Now your problem isn’t laundry, its maintaining inventory control in your home.

Remember only list 6 things.  More than that and the list will overwhelm you.  Now we need to Divide and Conquer!  You may have simple problems on your list like “Messy closets.”  That’s simple and straightforward.  Its not a complex problem that will need to be broken down and simplified.  But if you have listed a problem such as “getting the kids ready for school easier” than this needs to be broken down.  It may involve changing your habits, revising your time schedule, or organizing the childrens clothes better.  You’ll find that the more complex problems will fall into two categories.

1. Physical Areas: Rooms.  If an entire room needs reorganizing, you are going to have to identify specific problems with that room.

• Stand in the entry way of the room.
• choose any corner of the room, and block out an area of Five square feet.
• Search that area for problems.  Anything that gives you pause or makes you feel stress is a problem.  It may be a messy coffee table, or unorganized wall unit. Write down the problem under the general problem that they are a part of. So if number 4 on your master list was Messy living room you will now list the specific problem areas.
• Continue through the room, going to the next adjacent five square feet,
• Follow this procedure until you have completed the whole room and have a complete list of individual elements you can now work on.

You have now broken your general but complex  problem of a messy living room, into easy more manageable tasks.  You don’t have to do the whole room in one day. You can break this up into several days if that’s easier for you.

2.  Processes or systems.  To break down a system into manageable parts, use the same technique you did to come up with your list of 6.  So if laundry is a problem, close your eyes and imagine doing laundry from start to finish.  Some of the problems you might list could be, “no detergent”, “messy laundry room”, or something so simple like “not enough laundry baskets.”

After you have made your small group of projects its time to rank them.  We’ll use a system of how aggravating they are. If its a serious headache place a #1 next to the project.  If it can wait a year, place a #10 next to it.  Don’t try and place them in order of importance (1,2,3, 4, 5, 6). You’ll only lose sight of the what your trying to accomplish by trying to figure out if #5 or #6 on your list is more important. We are only going to rank each number.  If any of your major 6 can be subdivided rank those subdivisions in the same way!

Your well on your way now!  All that is left is to set a specific and regular time for organizing work.  Imagine that for the next several weeks you have a fixed appointment with yourself that will be written down on your calendar.  You will keep this appointment as if it were a Dr. visit.  Your appointments can be every day for an hour, or every day for fifteen minutes, or twice a day for 30 minutes.  Whatever is practical in terms of other responsibilities and your comfort level.  Do not schedule yourself for two hours because you think you have to, or that its the right thing to do, if you know that you will never be able to commit to that much time.  Give yourself an appointment you know that you can easily handle.  You must be firm with yourself, and these appointments must be kept, except in the case of an emergency.  Making this commitment to yourself will be one of the smartest things you have ever  done.  We will all be accountable for our appointments.  I’ll be starting a thread to see how everyone is doing and for everyone to “punch in, and then punch out”.

In the next segment I will begin to break down different target areas.  I’ll go over ideas for what to do with all the paperwork, how to organize certain rooms, etc.  Also if you need ideas for creating a new schedule be sure to search the boards and the Housekeeping page. Always feel free to ask for help or advice from me.  One article that is worth re reading is on time management. When you get the chance, give it a quick read.

• Meal Plan.
• Know Your Stores.
• Get Smart.
• Get Organized.
• Go Alone.
• Go On a Full Stomach.

Meal Plan. (Click here for a list of What’s on Sale this week at over 200 grocery stores.) Make your menus and then your grocery list by stores. Stick to your list and only buy what you need.

Know Your Stores. Chances are you frequent several store for different items. You may like the produce from one store, but the cereal and breads at another store. Make a list of all the stores you frequent and list the items that you purchase there (in the order of the aisles you shop). Take a good look at your lists. Have you been buying there out of habit — or are there better prices to be had at some of the other stores you go to? For example, I never bought paper goods at the grocery store, but one store in my area doubles coupons up to $1. When I did the math, it made more sense to buy certain items at my local grocery store. Also, some of my local grocery stores take the competitor’s coupons (even when the coupon reads, “Only Valid at Such and Such Store”). Getting back to your list — once you have finalized where you will shop and what you will purchase where, keep the lists in your pocket book, with an envelope for your coupons. This will avoid frequent trips, which wastes time and gas money.

Get Smart. Know how the grocery store works. Sale items are at the ends of the aisles, but sometimes the prices aren’t such a bargain. Stores also rely on confusing those who are math-challenged by putting 4 for $5. You may not do the math (especially with a screaming child in tow) and load up, not realizing that the item is regularly $.50 less at another store you frequent. Also, don’t be tricked into buying 4 of the item. They will give you the same per unit price. Check the lower shelves — they tend to house the cheaper items, as opposed to those at eye level.

Get Organized. Gather all coupons, and know where the sales are before you head out the door. Some have had great success with on-line coupons and the Grocery Game. Investigate these options and see if they are right for you.

Go Alone. When possible, do not shop with the kids. They will pester you into buying things, load your cart with things you didn’t want, and distract you. If you must bring them, bring a little finger food snack that will occupy them while you breeze through the store — remember, your menu planning and lists will make your trips much faster.

Go on a Full Stomach. Never, never, never shop hungry. You will buy way more than you need, and you’ll be tempted to buy junk food that you can rip into as soon as you get in the car!

I got this recipe from my health freak of a sister. We ate them every morning while I visited her and I’m addicted to them now. Best of all, they are healthy, and easy to make!

Mix together in a bowl:

• 1 Cup Wheat Flour
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1/2 Cup Applesauce
• 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 Tablespoon Brown sugar
• 1 egg

Mix well and spoon on a hot griddle until lightly browned. While they are cooking I also add chopped walnuts or almonds, bananas, or even tiny chocolate chip cookies for my nieces and hubby!

These pancakes are sooo good.

You can also substitute things like instead of applesauce, use canned pumpkin for holiday pancakes. Instead of wheat flour, use 1/2 C wheat flour and 1/2 C wheat bran. Also adding in a few Tablespoons of ground flaxseed is good too!

Are you worried about your husband’s job security, rising taxes, debt you already have? Uncertain times — they’re always just a heartbeat away. What can you do?  Are there things out of your control? Sure. But there are things you can control. Don’t miss this opportunity to take a good, hard look at your financial situation and improve it before you are in emergency mode.

Budget Wisely. A budget is only as good as the information you put in it. That is why you have to keep track of everything that you spend and everything that you make. Only by tracking every little expense can you see where the “fat” is. Saving/investing must be a line item in your budget. Make room for it by cutting unnecessary expenses. Any contributions to an employer sponsored retirement plan would count toward the 10%.

Increase Job Security. One of the greatest fears during a recession is lay-offs. In addition, there are jobs that are being exported overseas. We can worry about this, and complain about this, but the situation won’t change. Take this time to formulate a Plan B, and be wise to the writing on the wall. If your husband’s job is always dangling by a thread, it’s time to look at the skills he has acquired and the contacts he has made. Can he transition into something else? Do his skills translate in another industry? Are there freelance or consulting opportunities available for either of you? Would an investment in more education or training improve job prospects? Look at the job classifieds for ideas on what is in demand and what qualifications are required. Is there a side business that can be started with little or no capital that you can help out with? Brain storm together, writing down everything you can think of, no matter how far-fetched it may seem. You may end up with a clear idea of where you both should be personally and professionally.

Pay Down Credit Card Debt. Get healthy and shed as much of this debt as you can. You should aim to pay off more than just the minimum and look to consolidate the debt to one lower rate card. Talk to your card company and try to negotiate a better rate. If you still have high rate cards, be sure to pay them off first. Of course, stop using credit cards for any new purchases.

Improve Your Credit Score. Lenders are more particular about who they are lending to and your credit score is more important than ever.  Make sure to pay your bills on time, reduce debt as a percentage of your credit line, and pay more than the minimums.  When the economy does recover, you will be in a stronger position — but, either way, this is a sound way to treat your credit no matter what the economy is doing.

Delay. Again if you are nervous about job security, or debt is creeping up on you, put off purchasing anything you don’t really need. Don’t eat out, don’t go on a vacation, don’t buy a new car, don’t indulge in anything that you would consider something you want (a manicure) versus a need (an annual check-up).

Like any time there is crisis, there’s a chance to examine your life and to truly grow and benefit from the experience. Make the most of this time; work with your husband to get your lives on track. It just may recession-proof (and divorce-proof) your life.

On the news was a report that by next year half of Americans, HALF, will be obese. How can we be a successful country with half of our citizens OBESE? How can we defend ourselves if these people can’t get off their asses? How can we have a strong army when half our male poplulation cannot make it through boot camp? And let me ask you this, why should the skinny, thin, and responsible poplulation carry the obese?

It is not a medical dilemma. It is bad choices. I would love to eat potato chips and dip each day. I don’t. I would love to eat french fries. I don’t any more. I hate to work out. But I do it.

My children are thin because I cook them homemade, nutritious meals. I have fresh fruit and salads for them daily. I don’t buy soda or candy. Soda is a treat. Candy is a treat.

Fat parents make fat children. Babies are not born fat. It is their parents driving through McDonalds for happy meals and buying the Fritos. The other day I saw a baby, a baby, in a stroller sucking down coca cola.

Have you seen the shows on TLC. The Half Ton Teen and other shows about the obese? This teen is 700 pounds and his mother is frying burgers for him and giving him 2 liter sodas for lunch. What about a salad mom? When your son was 40 pounds overwieght why didn’t you start giving him salads, turkey, water, and fruit?

How do you let it get so far out of control? And why should I pay for your mistake?

I supported the soda tax. What happened to that? Please bring it back. And I would like to introduce a “Snack Tax.” If you want to eat chips, doodles, cookies, candy, cake, you should pay more for it.”

Give a break on fresh fruits, fish, turkey, and orange juice. What if you got a break on those items? Tax the junk, and reduce the good stuff.

But that won’t happen. If you stay fat, you get diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, and you keep the pharmaceuticals, and doctors, in business. We don’t make anything in America anymore. Our only industry now is illness.

I don’t feel sorry for you. Not one bit. Take control of yourself and your family. Start walking, stop eating crap, and get fit. You do not have a disability. You have the ability to change. You just have to have the will to do it.

Each Sunday night, I make my menu plan for the week. This helps take the guess work out of wondering what’s for dinner each night. There’s nothing worse than facing a hungry family at the end of the day, when you are all tired and maybe a bit cranky, and not having any idea what you are going to feed them! If I have a plan, there is no problem!

Making a menu plan, also, makes the dredded chore of grocery shopping faster and easier. If I know what I am cooking, I know what to buy. I have it on my grocery list. No more wondering around the store aimlessly wasting my time and patience.

How To Make a Grocery List

The items on my grocery list come from two sources: the list on my fridge and my menu plan. I have a magnetic list on my fridge where I write down any items in the pantry or fridge that I am running out of. That way, I can just copy that list onto the grocery list when it is time to go to the store. Next, I go through each dish in my menu plan and figure out which needed ingredients I don’t have on hand and those items go on the grocery list, too.

The Next Step

After I have all the items on my grocery list, I take it one step further to make my shopping even easier. I have an excel file that has grocery categories listed in the order they are found in my most visited grocery store. For instance, the heading “produce” is listed first, then “deli”, then “meat” and so on. I take my grocery list and plug all of the items into a category on the excel sheet. (Lately, I’ve been having my 8 year old daughter do this for me. It is a great sorting and teaching tool!) I print out this excel sheet and, now, this is my new grocery list. When I get to the store I know what I am looking for in each section. I don’t have to search and sort through my list in the middle of the grocery aisles. As I find each item, I cross it off my list. This helps avoid back tracking through the store because I forgot graham crackers.

This is just a little extra step that can save time, aggravation and money.

Do you have any grocery tips that make your life easier?

Marci Goodwin is a stay at home wife and mother of two – daughter 8 and son 4. She runs her blog Overcoming Busy on a quest to get the “busy” out of her life. She also writes to help others get the “busy” out of their lives, too. Life is just too short to waste on stuff that just doesn’t matter!

By Marci from Overcoming Busy

So, you’ve invested the time to de-clutter and organize your home.  You are basking in peaceful, serene glory.  Then, it hits you.  “How in the world am I going to keep this up?!?!”  You may have found a place for everything.  But does anyone else know that?  Does the system you created work for everyone in your house? You know what’s going to happen as soon as your family hits the door.  Shoes, coats, backpacks, papers and toys will fly!  What happens when the mail comes?  What happens when the kids want to get their toys out?  What about those art projects your kids want to do using every marker, toilet paper roll, paint brush and tube of glitter glue they can find?

The key is to stop the clutter before it starts.  Here are some tips for keeping the order in your newly organized home or for great ways to start the de-cluttering/organizing process.

Get the family involved

Did you ever stop to think that maybe your idea of a good spot for keeping backpacks is not the same spot that works for your kids?  Could your husband ever in a million years find your new hiding place for the toilet paper?  Your family will only keep up with what makes sense to them.  When organizing your kid’s room, keep in mind what toys they play with the most and keep them in an easy to reach location.  If they are having trouble putting toys away, ask them if they have a better idea of where the toys should go.  They might just be having trouble reaching or remembering where to put the toys.  It might be a good idea to give your family a grand tour of their newly organized home.  Show them where everything now resides and tell them it is the entire family’s responsibility to make sure it stays that way.

Put it away

This seems so simple.  How many times a day do we say this to our kids?  Do we follow the same rule?  I get so frustrated with my kids when they jump to a new game or activity without putting the first one away.  However, I find myself doing that many times throughout the day.  I’ll get the recipe books out and then leave them on the counter to check the laundry.  Then, I’ll leave the basket of clean, dry clothes in the laundry room to get the mail.  When I come in from getting the mail, I’ll lay it on the kitchen island to go do something else.  So, let’s recap.  Thirty minutes has gone by and I haven’t accomplished too much except to clutter up my counters and wrinkle an entire load of laundry.  If I had just put it all away, it would have taken just a few more minutes and my house would have remained the uncluttered haven I started with.  I can be just as bad as the kids!

File mail immediately

As I said in the section above, putting things away immediately can nip clutter in the bud.  I can’t think of anything that can cause clutter faster than mail.  I don’t know about your house, but junk mail can pile up on our counter for days.  Why?  Sort out the junk right away and file it in the trash.  There is no reason to keep it around.  Have a system to keep bills and important papers.  Either pay them right away or put a time on your planner to take a care of them.  Whatever you decide, just make sure you take care of the mail before it becomes clutter.

Keep tables and shelves to a minimum

When we were first married, finances dictated the lack of end tables or coffee tables.  At first, it upset me.  There was no place to set lamps or drinks or knick-knacks.  As time went on and it became possible to get end tables, I realized I liked the clean, uncluttered look in my living room.  We now have a coffee table in the middle of the room and a floor lamp by one of the chairs for reading.  That’s it as far as tables or shelves.  There is not much to collect dust and clutter.  I like it that way.

Pick up before bed

Before bedtime each night, the kids and I have designated areas to pick up.  I take a laundry basket to the living room and pick up everything that doesn’t belong there and take the stuff to the proper room.  The kids put all the toys in the toy room (and any that have drifted into the hall) in their proper place.  I love waking up to a uncluttered house in the morning!

It’s no easy task achieving a de-cluttered and organized home.  And maintaining it is truly a never ending battle.  I hope these tips are of help to you and give you some ideas of your own.

What helps you stay clutter-free?

Marci Goodwin is a stay at home wife and mother of two – daughter 8 and son 4. She runs her blog Overcoming Busy on a quest to get the “busy” out of her life. She also writes to help others get the “busy” out of their lives, too. Life is just too short to waste on stuff that just doesn’t matter!

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done.