Square Pennies

20 Things You Might Not Know about Me

2012-02-12T14:07:00.000-05:00

1. I don't cook gourmet meals all the time, but I love good food. I'm always on a quest for really good recipes that are quick and easy.

2. There are times when I don't feel like cooking. I have been known to eat an Angus burger at McDonald's.

3. I like to decorate my home, but I don't like to clean it. Moving things around motivates me to clean.

4. I have had one manicure and one pedicure (a gift) in my life--not on the same day.

5. I am a cancer survivor, and, yes, it gives you a new appreciation of life. Life is an adventure!

6. I was an elementary school teacher for 7 years before I got married. I still dream of teaching--in a good way.

7. I was a mostly stay-at-home mom of 4 children. We have a daughter who learned a lot about boys growing up with 3 brothers. She learned to stand up for herself, a skill that has been helpful to her in life.

8. I was a substitute teacher for 7 years when our youngest child started first grade. I subbed about 2-3 days a week, and it was a tough job.

9. I was a 10-year member of a committee of parents who brought enrichment classes to a local school district, serving as chairman one of those years.

10. My dad was a Master Gardener for roses, and grew all the vegetables we ate in the summer and fall. We ate well, though cheaply.

11. My mom made almost all of my clothes while I was growing up. She has made over 500 quilt tops for her local church.

12. My husband is a retired engineer and our 4 kids are all engineers.

13. I am a boomer, but I was never a druggie. I love classic rock and blues. I like new singers and musicians too--see my profile to see who.

14, I like beer, especially Blue Moon and Heineken.

15. I love movies. See my profile for a list of some of my favorites.

16. My mom is 91 and my mother-in-law is 97. Our daughter may live to 105!

17. We have 2 of the most wonderful grandsons in the world. Always something new with them.

18. We've hiked many of the US national parks. It's an unforgettable experience. We have slept in a tent, but also in our van.

19. I love my family and they are the joy of my life. We built our lives around them and the pay-off has been tremendous.

20. We have a Sprinter van and a VW Golf for travel around the US, visiting our kids and more. If you see a white Sprinter with no business logo on it and windows all around, it could be us. Give us a wave!

Let me know if you'd like me to write more about any of these & I'll try to put it in a post. Thanks!

Free Printable Valentines

2012-02-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

The very best valentine is a hand-written love letter or a handmade card, in my humble opinion. If you feel you need a little help with that take a look at these printable valentines. Some are very simple and understated. Others are cute and fun. Some are great for kids.

The kids' valentines here come as many as 8 to a sheet, so with the cost of printer ink you'll have to decide if that's cheaper than buying a pack of kids' valentines. You'll also have to consider the cost of cardstock if you use that rather than printer paper.

Many teachers want the kids in the lower grades to manually print the name of the child the valentine is to as well as the name of the sender. You'll need room enough for that and you will know how much room your child needs for that. It's up to you if you use envelopes or not. Obviously no envelopes come with these print-outs. I'd think you could skip envelopes if the teacher allows it. With the trend of attaching some candy to a kid's valentine you'll have to think about how you'd attach the candy. You need room for that candy taped on either on the front or the back.

The Bottom Line
You have to know if your loved one would love one of these valentines or would be insulted. The most important part seems to be the amount of effort and thought involved. Kids may or may not care, especially if there is candy attached. They also come in handy for those times when you need an extra valentine or two at the last minutes.
The cheapest valentines are the ones you buy after Valentine's Day. So make a trip to the store then to scoop up some great deals for next year.

Click here to see the valentines at The Stylist.

Valentine's Day Gift Idea: Create a French Memento Board or Picture Frame

2012-02-08T20:47:00.000-05:00

I love fabric mememto boards. They add a pop of color to a room. Depending on what fabric and colors you choose you can create a look that goes with your decor style. They are great for displaying photos and keepsakes & make great gifts. (Great to take to college.) Now I see you can use the same treatment on a picture frame. You can redo any frame, using one you already have or a frame from a thrift shop for a couple of dollars. For either project you'll need some cotton batting from a craft or fabric store, some fabric, and coordinating ribbon. The memo board uses decorative thumbtacks, but you don't need any for the frame. You can easily use fabric you already have if you like. The memo board can be made in any size rectangle or square that fits your space. Make them in team colors if you like.

Click here for directions at AsTheBunnyHops.

This could be a sentimental gift for Valentine's Day or an anniversary. Just include photos of wonderful moments from over the years.

Nicer Parents Have Smarter Kids

2012-02-07T13:56:00.000-05:00

Want smarter kids? Just be nicer to them. I know, that sounds strange and simplistic, but research shows that early nurturing aids in brain development. Children's brains develop better if their parents are more nurturing and positive in their interactions. In other words, the parents are just nicer to their kids! The study was concerned with just mothers, but I'm including fathers because their interactions with their kids are so important too.

It's not easy being nice if you are overly stressed. With the current economy and job insecurity, it's difficult to eliminate stress. Finding ways to put job frustrations behind you when you get home is an important goal. Learn ways to manage stress--it's important for your own health as well as your children's well-being. Getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night will help you deal with stresses, including parenting stresses. Making that a priority is a huge step towards managing stress. Establishing routines with your kids keeps everyday stress under control. Have a bedtime routine and a morning routine to help things run smoothly.

Look for ways and times to interact positively with your kids. Use your time driving with them in the car as a time for conversations. Make a habit of reading to them at bedtime. Say "I love you" often. Try to not overreact (yell) when they do something you don't like. If you keep overreacting, it means you need to work on your stress management. Praise all behaviors you want to encourage. Play with them. Give hugs every day. When you child says, "Hold me," it's because they haven't had enough one-on-one time with you. Physical contact is important for them to feel secure and loved. It will help you get rid of stress too.

We all have busy lives, but this is something hugely important to get right. Don't short-change your kids when this positive interaction can help them feel more able to handle the stresses that will come in their lives. The love you give now will sustain them the rest of their lives. That's quite a return on investment.

Perhaps you were parented in a negative style. That example is probably what you follow whether you realize it or not. That's not your fault. But you can break that cycle by making a determined effort to change the pattern. Your efforts could go on in a positive pattern for many generations to come!

Click on the label "manage stress" below this post for more ideas. Click on any of the other labels for more tips and ideas.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom "Burger" with Feta Cheese

2012-02-06T00:10:00.000-05:00

You won't miss the meat in these burgers! It calls for feta cheese, but you could use another kind. To clean the mushrooms he recommends using a special brush or a paper towel. I find that I can use just my thumb to do this. I briefly put the mushroom in water & then use my thumb to brush the top layer off the mushroom cap. I use a peeling motion, like I'm using a vegetable peeler, & start at the edge of the cap working toward the top center. Works for me.

Top with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, cole slaw, whatever you like. I love a generous helping of guacamole!

Serve with baked beans, corn on the cob, green salad, potato salad, sweet potato fries, etc. Great for casual meals with family and friends.

Click here to link to the recipe at Instructstructables.

What Makes You Happy?

2012-02-02T04:01:00.000-05:00

We all want to be happy and healthy. Most of our goals in life are bridges to happiness and health. But how can we be happy and healthy during the journey? Often what makes us healthy also makes us happy and it goes in the other direction too. Lucky for us! When we have lots of energy we are usually happy.

Many books have been written about this, and much research has been done on the topic. While each of us is different, we have a lot in common when it comes to what makes us happy and healthy.

Recently I wrote a post for Money Crashers on this topic with 20 simple things we can do to help ourselves be happier and healthier. All of these tips are based on research, and you might recognize some of the ideas from various posts on Square Pennies. I thought it could be nice to have them pulled together in one place. If you are interested, take a look at the article. I hope you find it helpful, and I wish you much health and happiness!

Click here to see full article at MoneyCrashers.

Easy Jalapeno Popper Dip Appetizer

2012-02-01T20:59:00.000-05:00

The Super Bowl is almost here! What better dip than a clone of jalapeno popper flavors? This dip is hugely popular and is much easier to make than jalapeno poppers. Double the jalepenos if you want it really hot. Do not add bacon because it does not taste good in this. Use toasted slices of French bread as dippers for the best contrast. Be warned; this will disappear!

From the reviews:

"MIX 1/2 cup panko crumbs with your fresh grated parmesan and sprinkle the mixture atop. It comes out SO crispy and golden, and prevents the cheese melting into a hard crust you can't scoop through. . . you'll bake up a beautiful golden, crunchy coating -- that "deep-fried" taste!"

Click here for this great recipe at AllRecipes.

Soaring Beef Prices Force People to Find Alternatives

2012-01-31T19:59:00.000-05:00

If you feel like the price of beef has been going up and up, it's not your imagination. Between drought and increasing costs of feed, beef cattle are selling at higher and higher prices. Shoppers are looking at other meats and types of protein to help the food budget. Beef, it's what's NOT for dinner in more homes.

Chicken, turkey, and pork can be made in so many ways that it doesn't get boring. You can mix ground turkey with ground meat or just use ground turkey in dishes like chili, spaghetti, and tacos. Textured Vegetable Protein, TVP, is a soy product high in protein that can be mixed in with ground beef or used on its own in those kind of dishes too. Fish is a nice change, but my favorite is Tex-Mex. Most of the ingredients are inexpensive, but there is plenty of flavor. Yum! Meatless Mondays are becoming more popular, but having vegetarian dishes twice a week can save even more. We usually don't have meat for breakfast or lunch, so that saves quite a bit too.

Chicken prices have been fairly low during this winter (2011-2012), but they are expected to rise in 2012. If you see a good sale on chicken you might want to stock the freezer. I'll be making room in our freezer for this and other meats on sale as much as possible, since meat is one of the most expensive items in the food budget. Other things in the freezer will be showing up on our menus for a while to make room!

Click on any of the labels below this post for recipes and ideas to save on your food bill. Enjoy exploring these tasty, but lower cost options!

Are you eating less beef these days? What are your favorite alternatives?

Update: thanks to Squirrelers for reminding me that tofu is a great source of protein. It's made from soybeans, as is TVP, and tofu can be used in many ways. It's great it stir-fry!

Blog Round-Up for January

2012-01-31T02:25:00.001-05:00

As January comes to a close, I want to share some great posts from other personal finance bloggers.

Miss T. at Prairie Eco-Thrifter has a thought-provoking post: What Buddhism Teaches Us about Personal Finance. You don't have to be Buddhist to recognize that the endless pursuit of material goods does not bring happiness. Enjoying the moment with your family and friends does bring happiness. Simplifying your life and finding balance can be helpful to your finances as well.

Planting Dollars has 101 Ways to Make Extra Money. That's a great start for thinking creatively!

Green SAHM gives 4 Ways to Cut Back on Your Meat Consumption.

Money Ning says if you are Looking for Another Tax Deduction, Open an IRA or a HSA.

Amanda at Frugal Confessions tells us how to Get Money for Old Appliances.

If you want to invest in silver coins there's a tutorial on 101 Centavos on How to Buy Junk Silver Coins on eBay.

Well-Heeled Blog has 5 Ways to Satisfy Your Wanderlust when You're Short on Time and/or Money that are great for armchair travel this time of year.

Enjoy some great reading!

Quick Kielbasa Chili for Super Bowl Parties

2012-01-30T15:02:00.000-05:00

What a hearty dish for a Super Bowl Party! With the kielbasa (or Polish sausage), it tastes a little like a chili dog. It's also a great meal for those nights when you have little time to cook. Serve with corn chips or crusty bread. Add a salad for a Super Bowl party or other casual get-together.

Just slice and brown the kielbasa, then add corn, olives, canned tomatoes, and canned chili with beans. Quick and yummy! After it's heated through you can put it in the slow cooker to keep warm for a Super Bowl party so that people can help themselves whenever they get hungry.

Click here for the recipe at TasteOfHome. The recipe serves 7, so adjust it for your group. The recipe doesn't call for chopped onions or shredded cheese, but I'd love to top each serving with some to make it taste even more like a chili dog. Yum! Serve with beer!

Felt Fortune Cookies for Valentine's Day

2012-01-28T14:49:00.000-05:00

I love these felt fortune cookies for Valentine's Day. They are super easy to make with your own custom fortunes. Click here for directions at Instructables.

You can take real fortune cookies, dip them in chocolate and then nuts, coconut, or whatever. You can get fancy with white chocolate as shown in the photo. Yum.

JC Penney Moves to Walmart Model

2012-01-25T15:26:00.004-05:00

JC Penney has been searching for a new business model and it looks like they've been studying Walmart. Startimg Feb.1, 2012 they are reducing all prices by 40% to become the new "Every Day" low price. Hmm . . where have I heard that phrase before?

Penney's has tried lots of sales to bring in customers, but they are abandoning that strategy for the most part. Say good-bye to those "$10-off-any-purchase-of-$10-or-more" coupons. They say 10 years ago shoppers would buy during a sale of 38% off, but now it takes a discount of 60% off to get shoppers to buy. I must admit I've gotten used to looking for deep discounts on name brands I trust. I love to get 80-90% off, but those deals are getting harder to find. I now have to settle for getting just 60% off at the same stores/online stores.

From the USAToday article:
"On Feb. 1, the retailer is rolling out a three-tiered strategy that offers "Every Day" low pricing daily, 'Monthly Value' discounts on select merchandise each month and clearance deals called 'Best Price' during the first and the third Friday of each month when many shoppers get paid . . . Penney's goal isn't to undercut all competitors, but rather to take the guesswork out of shopping by offering more predictable pricing . . . The move is risky because shoppers who love to bargain hunt may be turned off by missing the thrill they might get from feeling like they're getting a deal."

As retailers struggle to get customers back in the stores more strategies will be tried, no doubt. Target seems to have a pretty good business model for the recession, sometimes beating Walmart in the same areas. Target's top marketing executive Michael Francis is Penney's new president, so we might see more changes in that direction.

January sales are the norm for most stores, so it will be interesting to see how these new "everyday low prices" work for Penney's. I don't care for the Penney's store-brand clothing, but I have bought name brands there.

Sears was bought by K-Mart some time ago and the quality of the Lands' End items from Sears has stayed about the same. I was surprised by that, so we'll see how this plays out with Penney's. Who will be the ultimate winner in the retail wars? Will you shop at Penney's because of the new pricing structure? Are you still finding good sales and deep discounts?

What Does Sustainability Mean in Personal Finance?

2012-01-24T11:36:00.001-05:00

We usually hear the term "sustainability" used in connection with environmental issues. But it is increasingly used as a term in personal finance, and it's an important idea to consider. Basically, it's about how your financial decisions are working for you long term.

Can you sustain your current spending and saving patterns and still reach your goals? Are you on track in saving for college for your kids? For your retirement? If not, it's time to adjust your spending. It's also important to look for ways to bring in more money that can be funneled into your savings.

To sustain yourself and your loved ones over time takes flexibility. Change is the one thing you can count on; be ready to adjust. No job is 100% secure any more, so think of what you would do if you lost your current job. Have a Plan B, a Plan C, and a Plan D. While you still have your present job, get extra income with side jobs, hobbies, and selling things on ebay. These streams of income can help in many situations, and the time to perfect the technique is now. Learn new skills and be on the lookout for opportunities for side businesses with low costs to you.

Do you have a savings plan that can stay on track in good times and bad? That's not so easy.
Do you have a spending plan (otherwise known as a budget) that is working for you? No? The easiest way to start one is to just write down what you are actually spending for a few months. Then you can take what you spent and put it into categories to see any patterns. You can then see where it's easier to cut spending. You might see that spending on restaurant meals, entertainment, or clothing could be cut back. One of the easiest ways to save more money is to have it automatically sent to your savings account from your paycheck. That way of "paying yourself first" has been proven to help many people meet their savings goals.

When your budget takes a hit from unexpected bills do you have a savings cushion to fall back on? Build your emergency savings account to cover the basics when an emergency hits. I say when, not if, because these things happen to everyone. To not have an emergency fund is to ask for financial problems. The car might need big repairs, medical bills not covered by insurance are common, a family member could need assistance. You could lose your job or have to take a lower-paying job. That's what an emergency fund is for, to tide you over until more budget adjustments can be made.

Speaking of budget adjustments, don't make cuts only when the budget is tight. Keep looking for ways to reduce your bills even in good times. If you are able to reduce your utility bills, insurance bills, housing costs, etc. that savings will help you in good times and bad. You could put some of those savings into the college fund or retirement fund.

If the company you work for offers a 401K, it's a good idea to put in your money up to the point where the company stops matching your contributions. Even if the funds within the 401K don't make great gains some years, at least you know you have the company match that doubled your contribution. That's going to come out as a fairly high "interest rate" return on your investment since you start out with 100% "interest." You might not have doubled your money by the time you are allowed to take it out, but it's going to be a lot higher than what you could make on any other investment, unless you are some kind of investing genius.

Job security has pretty much evaporated for many people. Here is an excerpt from an Investopedia article on sustainability about being smart and flexible with your job and job skills:

"If you are counting on a paycheck from your job to finance your expenses, you should put some thought into where your job ranks in terms of sustainability. Are your skills likely to be in demand five years from now? 10? 15? Is your present employer stable? If not, are your skills easily transferable to another employer? Could you earn an equal or greater paycheck if you changed jobs?
If not, are you taking action? Remember, today is the best time to start preparing for tomorrow."

The Bottom Line:

Make an action plan to protect you and your family over the long term. Just list the things you want to do or investigate further. Then check them off as you do them. If you keep at it you will have put in place a very good sustainability plan for your financial future!

By the way, I chose the above photo because it shows an action: planting a healthy bush for the future. I could have chosen a beautiful green landscape photo with everything in serene harmony. That's just not the way it usually works in financial planning. While you may have a beautiful plan, things keep changing and you need to keep taking action to make things happen for the future, like planting a tree that will grow and eventually bear fruit. Only it's better to plant many trees and bushes that can bear fruit at various times along the way!

Click on any of the labels below for more tips, especially the label "car insurance" because it's one area that's can reap big savings.

Are Weddings Going the Way of the Dinosaurs?

2012-01-23T13:31:00.002-05:00

I'm sure most of us are aware of the fact that more couples are choosing to skip marriage and just live together. I'm not passing moral judgment here, just wondering if marriage is a casualty of the bad economy. I've noticed there are many birth notices in the newspaper for single mothers with no father listed and about the same number with the father's name (different last name) listed. In Europe it's been the practice for years that couples don't get married until they have a child. It seems that's not motivation enough anymore. I wonder how many of these couples get married after having more than one child. Hopefully children will have two parents at home in as many cases as possible whether or not the parents are officially married.

The wedding industry must be hoping and praying this trend fades away. They are already upset enough by the DIY trend in weddings. Things change.

Are You Ready for Some Football? Great Game Day Recipes

2012-01-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

I'm looking forward to some great football this weekend. I hope you enjoy it too. There are some of my favorite game day recipes on the right side bar just below the "'Top Posts This Week," but there are many more game day recipes on Square Pennies. Have fun!

Click here to see all the game day recipes.

Dagoba Mug Brownie, Possibly The Best Thing I've Ever Eaten

2012-01-18T17:49:00.001-05:00

I am very sorry to report that I have found possibly the best thing I've ever eaten. It sounds so unassuming: The Mug Brownie. Yes, it's like making a chocolate cake in mug in the microwave like you've heard of before. But what a difference. If you want to satisfy a chocolate craving so well that you won't be craving chocolate again for at least a week, here it is. It doesn't look like much, but it is much better than a straight chocolate bar, even the really good ones.

I think part of the reason this little piece of heaven was so wonderful was the kind of cocoa I used. It's called Dagoba cocoa (no affiliation) and I can't help but think it sounds like a location in a Star Wars movie. I received some as a gift from my dear daughter-in-law (who knows me very well). We share a love for deep, deep chocolate flavor with not too much sweetness. If you love dark chocolate, I suggest you try Dagoba. The label says "unsweetened cacao powder with bits of unsweetened chocolate." Hmmm . . . I suspect it's those bits of chocolate that has made this dessert so amazing.

The brownie recipe makes about half a mug full, and could be shared by two people if you just want a little bit. Since Paula Deen just came out about her diabetes with plenty of protestations that she always said to eat her recipes "in moderation," I feel I must also make that disclaimer. If you only have this dessert once a week, it's not that bad.

My wise mother-in-law who has to watch her sugar intake, employs that trick. Once a week, Sunday for her, she has a nice sweet dessert. She enjoys it totally and doesn't feel so deprived. She looks forward to it during the week and feels it helps keep her on track during the week. That sounds sensible to me, and this brownie dessert is satisfying enough to work. So it could actually help your diet.

If you are entertaining you can add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to each mugful of brownie dessert. No one will complain. The brownie stays hot/warm for quite a while, so wait a little bit before adding ice cream unless you want it to immediately melt. By the way, eating this with a spoon works much better than a fork. I don't know why they show a fork with this. If you want to be more fancy you can serve these in ramekins. If you don't have enough coffee cups/mugs for a party, you can pick up as many as you need at a resale shop like GoodWill or the dollar store for about a dollar a piece.

The recipe for one mug brownie is simple enough. If you want to make up a bunch of these, measure out the dry ingredients into each mug ahead of time, assembly line style. Then you can easily add the oil and liquid at the last minute and microwave individually. I wouldn't put more than one in the microwave at a time because you could get uneven results.

Mug Brownie of Awesomeness (adapted from Instructables)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (I like Dagoba, but any brand will work)
a pinch of salt
1/4 cup of flour

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons milk, coffee or water (I used water, but plan on trying the others)

In a microwave-safe coffee cup stir the dry ingredients. Stir in the oil and milk until all the dry ingredients have been worked in.

Microwave on high for 30 seconds. Check it for doneness – it will be done when it’s springy on top but still a bit gooey. I had to microwave it another 20 seconds, but you might have to microwave it an additional 10 seconds if you microwave is not that powerful. My microwave is on the powerful side if that helps. It will stay hot for several minutes, you want to serve it when it's warm, not hot.

I will experiment with the various combinations of milk, coffee, and water in this recipe and report back. It's important work, and somebody has to do it.

Eating Less Meat? You're Not Alone

2012-01-16T21:01:00.001-05:00

Americans are eating less meat, despite all the bacon talk. Why? The New York Times says it's the economy. I'm sure that's part of it, but I think there's more.

Possibly people have tried some vegetarian dishes in their quest to save money on food. After all, meat is usually the most expensive part of the meal. And Meatless Monday is a meme that has become fairly well known. Once they've tried a few vegetarian goodies, I have a feeling they really liked them. For example, take a look at the vegan soft tacos in the photo here. Who wouldn't love those? Yum. And talk about easy; the photo is practically the recipe! No cooking meat--just cut the veggies and enjoy!

Click the label "vegetarian" for some great recipes to try! Mmmm, Artichoke Spinach Lasagna.

Frugal Inflation Ideas . . . "Just In Case"

2012-01-16T01:28:00.000-05:00

What would you do if you knew that hyper-inflation would be upon us by this summer? Stop and think about it a bit. Would you buy some basics now? Would you sharpen your skills at finding discounts? What if gas went to $8.00 a gallon by this summer? How would that affect you? Would you buy a super efficient car? Would you sell your second car and try to car pool? Would you still take a vacation? How would it affect the type of vacation you would take? Would you add insulation to your home? Would you try to get a second job to help pay higher costs? Would you finally put in a garden? These are a lot of "what if's" but I'm trying to think of them.
Just in case. I read a disturbing article tonight about the risk of war with Iran. The author thinks it's very likely to happen early in 2012.

You've heard about the saber-rattling in the Gulf of Hormuz. Some say the US has started the fight by imposing sanctions, causing the currency of Iran to deflate in a huge way. Some say Iran is building a nuclear weapon. Some say that the US is preparing to go to war with Iran. Some say if the Gulf of Hormuz is closed it would drive oil prices very high. Some say a war with Iran would drive oil prices to $200 a barrel. That translates to $8 a gallon for your gas tank. Who knows how long that price could stay high?

Whenever gas prices are higher, the cost to transport goods to stores is that much higher. Then there is the increased cost to industry for the power needed in manufacturing. Our economy and world economy would not handle such price increases well. And our infamous national debt would increase by trillions from this new war.

Consider if you could do a few things to help your family in case this happens. I think it's smart to try to find ways to cut your energy usage and increase your home insulation. That will help you no matter what happens or doesn't happen. Learning to cook more meals at home, planning a garden for Spring, buying basics on sale, are all wise things to do, in my opinion. They will help you come what may. I wouldn't get extreme about it or spend too much money; just use common sense.

Click here to read the article I read at ChrisMartenson.com for an assessment of the risk of war with Iran early in 2012. I hope all of this will evaporate and you can call me a worrywart, but I believe in keeping an eye on world affairs to be prepared. Click on labels below this post for ways to do that.

Some of the most helpful tips, in my humble opinion, is Shrink Your Energy Bills with Targeted Home Improvements.

Update: I changed the title of this post to reflect the nature of the ideas here. The actions suggested, lowering your energy costs, gardening, cooking more meals, etc. are really frugal. Being frugal is not a bad thing. It just means getting the most value for your money, time, and energy. To me that's just being smart. I hope you see it that way too.

Cookies and Cream Frozen Pie (Low Calorie)

2012-01-15T13:23:00.000-05:00

This pie is a twist on an old recipe. My mom has been making this low-calorie pie for years. It was not a favorite of mine because it just seemed like a loosey-goosey imitation of a good, rich chocolate pie. To me it was not worth eating. Someone got the idea to freeze it. Brilliant! It then is firm instead of watery. It seems rich and decadent. Who knew? The pie looks wonderful the way it's presented. Who could resist?

It still has little nutritional value, but who eats chocolate pie for that? It contains all sorts of artificial sweeteners and other chemicals. But it's low calorie, so make you peace with that if you can. It is much lower calorie and lower in fat than an ice cream pie, my favorite. I'd rather have an honest-to-goodness ice cream pie, which is easier and quicker to make. However most ice cream pies are loaded with sugar and fat. If you do make an ice cream pie, why not add some whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzled over it as shown in the photo above? Freeze it all and be prepared for oohs and ahhs.

Click here for the recipe at DashingDish.
Click the label "ice cream pie" below for some of my favorites. Click "diet recipe" for other diet recipes.

Lime Chicken Soft Tacos

2012-01-13T19:12:00.000-05:00

I haven't posted a recipe for a while and these tacos are my kind of comfort food!

These soft tacos are great for a make-your-own-taco night with the kids or for easy, inexpensive entertaining. Football playoffs anyone?

Set out toppings that can include: salsa, guacamole, black beans, shopped tomatoes, black olives, sour cream, rice, shredded cheese, red pepper flakes, sliced tomatoes, sliced avocados, or whatever you like. Vegetarians can just omit the chicken.

From the reviews: (Everyone says to leave out the oregano.)

"A refreshing change from regular tacos . . . 1 regular onion instead of 2 green, and used the juice of a whole lime instead of 1/2 . . . Used Sargento's 4 Cheese Mexican blend for the cheese . . . use fresh lime as opposed to the bottle stuff, if you really want the lime flavor to stand out. (And its not overpowering). . . . I love this recipe, it is definitely a unique and cheap dish to make for a large group!

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"EASY to make!!! I mixed all of the seasoning ingredients in a small bowl while the chicken was sauteing and just dumped it in the skillet and stirred the last 10 minutes of cooking. I used a teaspoon of oil while sauteing the chicken so it wouldn't stick to the skillet."
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"I usually throw it all in the crock pot and let it go. I then take out the chicken and shred it."

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"added cilantro, extra lime, and served with some sliced peppers and onions which I stir-fried in olive oil and cumin (didn't have lettuce). I think cumin or cilantro are definitely more appropriate seasonings rather than the oregano."

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"I love these as nachos on the tequila lime tortilla chips. I have even froze the cooked chicken mixture and it came out beautifully."

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"Some of the reviewers said their chicken didn't have much flavor, but if you double the sauce like I did and cook it for the full time stated in the recipe (so the chicken has a chance to brown to a nice caramel color), then it has plenty of flavor."
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"When I sauteed the chicken (strips not cubed), I dumped the marinade and added the last 1/3 of fresh marinade to the chicken as it was nearly done cooking through," This person also added some cayenne pepper to give some bite that she thought was needed.

I hope you try these for an easy, yummy supper. It's great party food, and the cooked chicken can be frozen ahead to make it even quicker. Just put out a taco bar of ingredients and let people make their own. Easy on the cook and popular with guests! Many reviewers said the recipe actually serves 4-5 people, not the 10 the recipe says. It makes 10 actual tacos if that helps you plan.

Click here to link to recipe at AllRecipes.

Suze Orman's Approved Card---DENIED by Personal Finance Writers

2012-01-13T02:10:00.003-05:00

By now you may have heard of Suze Orman's new debit card, "The Approved Card." It has been roundly criticized by personal finance bloggers (yours truly included in blog comments). Suze is playing defense by playing offense on a CNN segment.   She also sent out quite a few nasty tweets on Twitter calling some well-known financial bloggers "idiots."

I realize that Suze has helped a lot of people over the years when it comes to finance, but she seems to be taking advantage of those who might use her card. It will cost a user quite a bit in fees to use her card even when they are doing everything according to the rules. She'll need to do a lot of explaining to convince us that she's not taking advantage of people. I predict she will change the conditions of the card so that it will cost much less for users. Otherwise her reputation is toast.

This is being written about all over the personal finance blogosphere, but here are some of the best, in my opinion:

Money Cone has a great run-down of what the problems are with this card: Suze Orman's Approved Prepaid Card--Bad Wine in a New Bottle.   He shows how you could end up paying $108 a year for the privilege of using this card. Not so nice for people struggling with money and budgets. He points out that you can get a regular debit card at Ally Bank with no fees.

Here is Phil at PT Money with his critique of the debit card that seemed to get to Suze in the first place:   What We Need from Suze Orman Instead of Another Celebrity-Endorsed Useless Prepaid Debit Card.

Eric at DollarVersity has a good summary of Suze's reaction: Suze Orman Teaches You How Not to Handle Criticism

Briana at 20 and Engaged has chronicled Suze's tweet-war.
It's amazing reading: Suze Orman Approved Card--Denied

Glen at Free From Broke tells us How to Make Your Own Pre-Paid Debit Card.

The mainstream media has not covered this much yet, and Suze seems to be on tv more now trying to pump up enthusiasm for The Approved Card. Yes, she wants to make money, but, really, is this the best way Suze? You can do better, girlfriend.

Gary Shilling's 2012 Forecast for Smart Investing

2012-01-11T02:18:00.003-05:00

Gary Shilling is a well-known financial analyst whose opinion I respect. He has some forecasts out for 2012 that he sums up as "totally crappy."

That's a little bit on the negative side, but I found some nuggets of positivity in his forecasts. Shilling points out these 5 areas that are still good investments:

1. US Treasury bonds remain a good investment and serve as a hedge against the problems in the Eurozone. Since we can't predict exactly how bad it will be in Europe, this is a good defensive play.

2. High quality dividend-paying stocks are still a good investment.

3. Consumer staples, like toothpaste and pasta will still be in demand if you want to invest in the companies that make them. Discount stores should do well as consumers continue to seek lower priced items.

4. Rental property continues to be a good investment as more people rent than buy a place to live. If you live close enough to the property you can do minor repairs more easily.

5. Health care providers could be a good investment as long as the current system is in place.

Shilling is negative on just about everything else, including anything from a foreign country. He thinks a global contraction is in the cards for 2012, but he doesn't know how bad the contraction will be. He is negative on commodities for that reason. He thinks that the US dollar will appreciate against other currencies because of the contraction.

He predicts housing prices will fall another 20% this year. If you want to sell your house he says to either sell as soon as possible or hold your house off the market until later.

While there is plenty of bad news here, the 5 positive areas listed above should offer some positive investment ideas. Do your homework before making any investment decisions.

Click here to see the slideshow with plenty of charts to support his predictions at BusinessInsider.

Do Less Laundry: 4 Easy Tricks

2012-01-10T09:12:00.000-05:00

There aren't many tips that save money, time, stress, and your clothes! The less laundry you do, the less water you use, and the less power you use to run the washing machine and dryer. These tips come from MP (Mr. Pennies) in his bachelor days.

As a bachelor MP thought doing laundry was a huge waste of time and found several ways to spend as little time as possible washing clothes. Before I get to the money-saving part I have to share how I first became aware of his unusual methods.

Deciding he wanted to do laundry only once a month, MP bought enough underwear, socks, and other clothes to last a month before he had to do laundry. He had a 2 bedroom apartment and one bedroom was the designated dirty laundry room. Imagine my face when I first viewed the 4-foot tall white mountain of underwear and socks. There was a another mountain in the room made up of shirts and pants. Unbelievable. We had a lovely date at the laundromat that day.

MP took up an entire row of washing machines followed by an entire row of dryers. Since most of the machines finished close to the same time, there was very little waiting around time. Yes, it was very efficient. It was here that MP confided to me that his favorite perfume was White Shoulders because it smelled so much like bleach. Apparently he loved the smell of bleach. So all in all it was a very romantic evening and I learned he wanted me to smell like bleach. I was thinking of bringing a thermos of wine for the next laundry day we might spend together. I'm happy to report that I did not join him in this romantic laundry time again. We somehow managed to do our laundry separately until we were married.

We've been happily married for 35 years and have had a lot of laundry from our family of 6. I do the laundry because I actually enjoy doing laundry. However I don't wear White Shoulders; I just use bleach to clean the toilets and everyone is happy. (By the way, bleach is a lot cheaper for cleaning toilets than toilet bowl cleaners.)

Here are some laundry saving tips I learned from MP:

1. If you take your shower at night before bedtime you can wait twice as long to wash the sheets.

2. You don't need to wash bath towels after every use if you hang them up so they can dry without getting mildewed. MP uses a towel for 3-5 days before putting it in the laundry. He says it has only touched his clean body, so it's not really dirty. Make sure it doesn't brush up against the toilet when you are drying off. I use a towel twice before tossing it in the laundry. Give this a try--even if you use a towel just twice you have cut your towel laundry in half!

3. Change your job clothes right away when you get home. That way you can wear your older clothes around the house and you don't have to worry about spilling spaghetti sauce on your good shirt. If you hang up the job clothes right away you might be able to get another wearing from the outfit. or at least part of it. before you have to wash them. Kids can do this too, changing from their school clothes to play clothes when they get home. Be sure to keep the play clothes and home clothes hung on a chair or hook to be worn more than one night until they are actually dirty.

4. Keep your really old clothes and shoes for doing dirty work. Mowing the grass puts grass stains on MP's old tennis shoes. That's ok because they live in the garage and are the designated lawn-mowing shoes. Old pants, sweatshirts, and jackets that are frayed and stained are great for working in the yard or on the car. Wash them when they get too dirty & keep them for the next messy job. He hangs them in the basement when they are not dirty enough to wash yet, but too dirty to go in the regular clothes closet. Those old tennis shoes are great for when we decide to go wading in the creek or go canoeing too!

Lest you think that MP is a dirty, greasy mess, I should tell you that he values a clean basement and garage. He vacuums those areas several times a year to keep it all in good order. He takes a daily shower and I'd like to add that he cleans up nicely. ;-)

The bottom line:
Washing laundry less often saves you in many ways. Not only will you save on detergent, water, gas, and electricity, but your clothes will last longer too. Washing machines are hard on the fabrics. Your washing machine and dryer should last a little longer as well. Perhaps the best benefit is that you will gain a little more time in your week. And when everyone takes their shower the night before, getting the family off to school and work in the morning is less stressful. We could all use a little bit of that!

How about you? Do you have any tricks to do less laundry?

Click on labels below this post for more ideas to save on laundry. Be sure to click on the label "laundry basket" to see how I replaced the laundry basket to save money and make it more convenient.

8-Bit Mario Blanket to Crochet with Granny Squares

2012-01-09T23:13:00.001-05:00

Isn't this just the greatest blanket? It's made entirely of solid color crocheted granny squares to give the 8-bit look. If you know any Mario Brothers fans this is a fast way to make a cool looking blanket/throw for them. You can take granny squares with you to work on almost anywhere, while you wait in a doctor's office or at a soccer game, etc. You just connect the squares later, so there's no bulky project to tote around.

If you don't know how to make granny squares, you can learn to crochet the granny squares with the link in the article. Granny squares are some of the easiest things to learn to crochet and you can use them to make all sorts of projects. Since these are all done in solid colors for each square they are even easier--mistakes won't show as easily. Have fun!

Click here for the link at Instructables.

Rafflecopter Giveaway

2012-01-09T21:56:00.002-05:00

Rafflecopter has a great giveaway right now. You can win an iPad2 or a Kindle Fire by entering at their site. Rafflecopter is the company that will organize a giveaway for free on your site. It makes it much easier for people to enter the giveaway at your site as they lay it out in a simple format. Very cool.

To enter their launch party giveaway, just click here.

You don't have to have a website to enter and you might win one of the cool prizes. When you enter, be sure to say that Maggie@SquarePennies referred you. Good luck!