Savings 101

I know that everyone always goes on and on about needing a savings. If you live on a fixed budget or check to check than you are like me and don't think you can have a savings.

There are a few tips I have learned to create a savings.

One of the things is to find your biggest frivolous buying problem and when you go to spend that money put it instead into a jar, coffee can, or move it over into your savings account. Don't buy those cookies this week. Resist the urge to go through the drive thru fast food.

If you get a tax return back, a bonus check, or come across some gift money make it a habit to save 10% on the side. I know it won't seem like much now, but it does add up.

Set 20 to 50 dollars a paycheck into savings. I know this is difficult when every penny counts. I am doing 10$ per child on this one. My father just puts 50$ to the side every two weeks. This does add up. If you're paid biweekly than it is 520$ saved just setting aside 20$ on your paychecks. Get paid every week and you saved 1,040$.

The hard part with savings is not spending it and also getting into the habit of putting the money into it. It is easy to say don't drive thru the fast food joint on paper but when the kids are crying they are hungry, your back and feet hurt from working a long shift, and I you just don't feel like cooking... Well, this is where will power comes in. Whether you are Pagan, Christian, or something else, we all know what will power is and how we easily can lose a battle against fatigue when we don't utilize our will. Right now think of things in your house that is easily made or can be easily prepped to be made.

The thing about a savings is the mentality that struggles now will pay off later. You can first save up four months of bills, then save up for that vacation to Mt. Rushmore you wanted to bring the kids on! Don't forget, once you start the savings to always keep enough in there for if you lose your job or an emergency arrives (like my sudden 2,000$ van fix-it bill that came about last month during a weather emergency).

Get creative with your savings, too. If shutting off the extra channels on the cable, lowering your internet speed or changing your phone plan is feaseable, then put the extra you would have spent into your savings.

Now sit down and recalculate what you have spent your money on in the last few days to the month. Could you have skipped buying the dollar stick on nails last week? Maybe you don't need to drink two sodas a day? Did Mikey really need the big bag of chicken nuggets? Once you figure out what you can save you might be  surprised.

Good luck!

-Cyra

Pizza Sundays

Sundays in my house can be hectic for me. I use them to stay on track with the coming week.

It is my meal planning day, my shopping day and my appointment planning day. I also mass cook on this day on the weekends the kids are not here.

Today I planned taco casserole dip, spaghetti, turkey dogs and tomato soup, bacon cream of potato soup, and chicken Alfredo for this weeks meals. Saturday I am spending out with my sister on our annual "sister day". But no matter what happens the kids know that Sunday is pizza day.

This week looks a bit busier than I originally thought it was going to be. I work this week and my pressure canner arrives in the mail tomorrow. My oldest has his taekwondo tomorrow as well and my sister can't watch the babies for me (meaning I have to entertain a four years old, a two years old and one year old in the mall that doesn't have heat). My four year old is learning about other countries this week and so I am dropping a few things at the school for the kids to see from the countries I have been to. My six year old has his 100th day of school celebration. My cat is getting fixed on Thursday. My kids go to their dad's on Friday and Saturday is "sister day".

So, meals done and schedule made and set. Lunches have been made for tomorrow and clothes are set out for an easier morning.

Pizza Sunday is done.

-Cyra

Frozen Chicken Noodle Soup Homemade

Today I decided I was going to create this blog and document all of the thrifty things my family does, our celebrations and just family life in general.
One of the things we do is cook and freeze meals. I had chicken thighs from a sale that needed cooking up. Due to the cold season hitting where I live and because it is one of my kids' favorite meals I did chicken noodle soup today (without the noodles).

Six and a half pounds of chicken thighs on sale for 4.50$. Five pounds of carrots and a stalk of celery also on sale. I also grabbed an onion (which I hate cutting onions because of the watery eyes).
I did not go to work today so I had all day to gently boil the chicken in a pot of water. I started it at 8:30 this morning.

The wooden spoon is to keep it from over boiling onto the stove.

I let it come to a boil and then simmer until about 1:30 when I had to get my oldest from the bus stop. I turned it off and covered it to cool on the stove. I covered it to keep my cat from getting into it while I was gone.

Coming home and setting the kids up for the time being into doing some chores I went and separated the chicken meat from the bone. I chopped it into small pieces to eat and then chopped the carrots and celery. I left the onion for last because I really don't like cutting them. There are tricks to cut them with less pain - I put mine into the fridge in an area that gets almost freezing cold.

I then reboil the stock water (the water I boiled the chicken in). To add to the medicinal properties of the soup I add spices: rosemary leaves, bay leaves and thyme. A dash of sea salt and black pepper.

I fill the bottom half of the jar with the ingredients: chicken chunks, celery, carrots and onions. Then I carefully fill to the freeze line with the boiling water. I screw on new lids to the top and let them cool again on the counter before stacking them in my freezer. I will let them thaw for almost 24 hours in the fridge before cooking it for supper. I bring it to a boil, maybe add a jar of water and a chicken bouillon cube if I need more broth than chunks, and add the noodles

The total amount of money I spent on each jar is: 0.95$. That is cheaper than a family size can bought at my local store and healthier since I know what everything is inside. I left one jar out to have with sandwiches tonight for supper.

-Cyra