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Sunday, January 31, 2010

Saving Your Family Money On Gas

The Average American drives approximately 12,500 miles per year, the average vehicle on the road even today gets only approximately 17 miles per gallon. The Average price per gallon is approximately as of today $2.74 per gallon.

So just do the math. The average person spends approximately $2,014.69 on fuel costs per year. WOW!!!

So what if the average American driver cut just 12 % out by car pooling, scheduling trips, walking, biking, taking the bus. That is only 1500 miles per year or only 125 miles per month or 4.16 miles per day. It would save the average American approximately $ 241.77 in fuel costs alone. Not to mention another oil change, more tire wear, more engine wear, insurance.

What if the average American cut out 20% of their miles driven. That would mean 2500 miles per year saved, 208.33 miles per month and 6.9 miles per day. Which would mean a savings of $403.88 per year in fuel costs alone. Not to mention tire, oil change, insurance and maintenance on your vehicle.

And the granddaddy of all savings besides your hard earned green stuff. THE ENVIRONMENT.

Look for my book Save Your Money Save Your Family in book stores Spring 2010
www.saveyourmoneysaveyourfamily.com












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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Saving Your Family Money During the winter Months

There are several ways to Save Your Family Money.

During the winter months we want to crank up the heat. But when we do the dollars and I mean dollars fly out the door.

First spend some time and very little of the green stuff on winterizing your home.
Fix that drippy faucet.

Stop the air leaks around windows and doors.

Drop the temp. from 150 degrees to 120 degrees on your hot water heater could save your family as much as 12 % per year in heating costs.

Teach jr. to turn off lights and electronics when a room or electronic gadget is not being used.

Insulate your attic and walls.

Turn off your sprinkler system. It amazes me how many people forget to turn off their automatic sprinkler system during the winter. In many places in the country it will freeze. Then is must thaw out. And what an expensive wet mess to clean up and repair.

Disconnect your water hoses from the outside faucets. Drain the water out of the hose, coil up the hose and stow it inside the garage or someplace out of the weather.

Wrap the outside faucets with some type of insulation to keep it from freezing.

I personally us plastic bags, newspaper, dry old towels and duct tape, wrap it tight so no air can get in.

Take the time to do it now. Or you can deal with the mess later.













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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Soup for the Cold Winter Days yum! yum!

Hearty Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

serves 10: cooking time 60 -90 minutes

1 pound cut up or shredded roast beef left overs
1 minced garlic clove
1 12-ounce can undrained whole tomatoes unsalted cut into pieces
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup chopped white onions
7 cups water
1/2 cup medium barley uncooked
1 10 1/2-ounce can beef broth
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried basil
1 9-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
Vegetable oil


In a 4 quart saucepan or Dutch oven use enough oil to sauté onion add garlic and meat sauté until onion is tender. Stir in Remaining ingredients except frozen vegetables. Cover bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 60 - 90 minutes , stirring occasionally. Add frozen vegetables; cook about 10 - 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Additional water may be added if soup becomes too thick upon standing.
Serves approximately 10.
You can also use this recipe in slow cooker. Medium heat 4-6 hours.








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Sunday, January 10, 2010

I was recently asked by a college student how she could spend $20.00 per week on groceries

I was recently asked by a college student how she could eat 3 meals a day 7 days a week on $20.00 and eat semi healthy. Well now let me tell ya that was a challenge. And I actually did not do it, she had to purchase some items in bulk that should last her 2 weeks. 21.75 is what I came up with per week. A large jar of off brand peanut butter $4.50 from Wal Mart or the dollar store, 3 lb bag of apples, $2.50, These 2 items had to last 2 weeks.

peanut butter 4.50/2 weeks
3 lb bag apples 2.50 /2 weeks
dozen eggs 1.65
jelly dollar store large jar 1.85 and it is as good as Welch's
pan cake mix dollar store 1.65
top romain 3/1.00
roast or chicken to bake one or the other $5.00 on sale
bag of frozen vet. mixed California style 2.50 Wal Mart
Syrup large bottle off brand 1.85
2 loaves of bread 2.25
1 small onion .50 only if you have the roast.
or 1 lemon .50 to slice and put in her water.

I told her about how to use top roman noodles, to use the noodles as your starch and put other stuff on top. And she could use the season packets to flavor her other meals, like soups, or chicken or roast.

I also suggested to her to buy a package of mint seeds, plant them and grow her mint to put into her water.


Then we sat down with the Phoenix Sunday paper found all the specials, clipped out the coupons she could use for the next couple of weeks and we went shopping.

We went to Safeway, Fry's, Wal Mart and the Dollar General Store. I had her fill out the application for Safeway and Fry's dollar value card.

With her coupons and the dollar value cards, Wal Mart and Dollar General Store and I even found her a Holsum Day Old Bread Store. When our shopping was done we spent $33.17 including tax I might add. The only thing she needs for the following week would be nothing. Except maybe some fresh fruit or something to drink besides water. We bought a roast and a roasting chicken. From the bread store wheat bread and cinnamon rolls. They fit perfectly in the freezer in her apartment.

I was even surprised at myself. I thought I would share it with you.







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Thursday, January 7, 2010

Do You Know What the average American Family Spends on Eating Out

Food is one big area where many families could be more thrifty. Families spend an average of $2,434 on food away from home, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you (and your spouse and your children) eat lunch out every day of the week then try brown bagging at least one of those days. If just one of you does it you may save up to $400 a year and if you can double or triple that savings you could finance a family vacation with it.

Simple, inexpensive and healthy lunches.

Lunch should be only about 400 calories. Buy large bags of pretzels, rice cereal, a large jar of peanuts, celery sticks, carrots, large bag of apples, a large jar of peanut butter, couple of favorite jellies or jams, a large block of cheese, a large box of crackers.

Pack my Cranberry Date Breakfast Bars or Peanut Butter Granola Bars.

A lunch maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a small bag of pretzels, and some apple wedges, sprinkle with a lemon juice, cinnamon sugar to keep them from turning brown. A healthier yummy lunch. Or pack a mixture of rice cereal, pretzels, peanuts mix with Worcestershire sauce, add some garlic salt if desired warm in oven 350 degrees for 10 min. cool and divided into bags for a great lunch snack. Pack a Peanut Butter Granola Bar and slice the block cheese into thin sliced cubes and crackers.

Lunch can be a great way to include younger children in letting them help prepare their lunch the night before.

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