Money Morning Cheese Parings

Tried and true advice, but maybe new for you. I don't know where he/she goes for dinner for $20 -$30. Fast food emporiums? Yuckko cafeterias? No booze? We think we got off cheap if we spend $60.

http://www.delayedquote.com/money-saving-tips-for-the-rest-of-us/

The best way to save is not to spend. Duh!

Got a new rug rat?

Here are some good money-saving tips if you have a new (and aren't they all) baby.

http://financialgal.com/2008/03/30/baby-money-saving-tips/

A humorous look at cheeseparing

Maureen Lang has an internal debate about how to save money for a vacation.
http://www.southtownstar.com/news/lang/866286,033008lang.article

Saving money is sort of like losing weight. If you already eat healthy meals and don't "do" junk food, you have far fewer options than if you're a burger and fries person. Likewise, with personal finance, if you are already frugal and clip those coupons and shop those sales, how to make further cuts is more difficult.

Maybe my readers have some ideas?

The Cheeseparer

Gina is a Coupon Guru

Some interesting ideas about saving money at the supermarket.

http://sixinthecountry.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-policy-and-promise.html

Cheap Mama from Philly: A Woman After My Own Heart

The hairdresser is one place where the dollars can add up fast. I just go longer and longer between appointments (very little gray, just mouse brown) until a big event comes up, then I spend the money.

Back in the day (wayyyy back in the day) when I was a young mom, my friend and I would always go to the beauty school, and we were generally satisfied with the results. And the price was right.

Cutting or coloring my own hair is something I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Don't have talents in that direction. One thing about being mature (well, that's a word for it) is that you realize you own talents and limitations. Do I take an HTML class and put together a website? You bet. Do I buy color at the drugstore and have trainwreck hair? No way.

I liked Mama from Philly's blog: http://cheapmama-chris.blogspot.com/

What is cooler than the blogosphere? It's like having a million neat friends that share with you. Love it. Love it.

The Cheeseparer's Wife

Cheeseparing Tips From All Over

Today’s cheeseparing tips from all over:

Tried and True Tips for Grocery Savings:
http://www.courant.com/business/custom/consumer/hc-savemoney.artmar27,0,3570490.story

And MORE: http://www.mlive.com/food/index.ssf/2008/03/savvy_shoppers_share_tips_to_f.html

I liked the idea of planning your menus around the meat and produce specials. In the Boston area there are occasionally BOGOS (buy one get one) on meat, and you can pop one into the freezer for a “free meal” later in the month.

Paring Lots of Cheese Today

You may not save enough for a cruise, but save you will. I thought the fish recipe sounded pretty good.
http://yp2m.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/there-is-life-after-budgeting/


You can also use various “rubs” on fish, beef, pork, chicken, or anything. If you have a well-stocked spice cabinet, it’s cheaper to make your own, but if you don’t, try the rubs at Penzey’s spices. www.penzeys.com. Penzey's are great because you can buy the quantity you need, large or small. That way the spices and herbs stay fresh and you don't have to pitch them or use old tasteless spices. Do grow your own herbs in the summer. The rewards are many.

I haven’t yet tried a Penzeys rub that I didn’t like.

Below are tips to save money in Lawrence, KS, but I believe they will work as well in Lawrence, MA. The library here in town has DVD, Tapes, Music, and all kinds of good stuff as well as books. Free books. You just return when read. We should all support our local libraries, because some of them have fallen on hard times here in Massachusetts. For some, the local library is their only access to the Internet.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/mar/25/ideas_saving_money/

The Dough Roller provides 20 ways to save on utilities, which take such a big bite out of our budgets. Listen up!
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/mar/25/ideas_saving_money/


Due to the Net, we can get tips from all over, all the local papers, large and small. Isn’t that cool?

Tips for Smart Shopping
http://www.mygtv.net/?p=2412

Northern Nevada Rocks

The ever-reliable Reno Gazette has good tips for European travelers. You don’t have to live in Northern Nevada to take advantage of these.

Northern Nevada is one of the least populated areas in the U.S., a land of strange contrasts and vast deserts, also a land of extreme beauty. A camping trip to Soldier Meadow would be a cheap vacation. Southwest has flights to Reno.
http://www.soldiermeadows.com/

Or hie thee to the Olde Country
http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080323/NEWS/803230350/1321

Of course you could go to Burning Man and have the experience of a lifetime. Depending upon your camping accommodations this could also be a frugal experience. Or not.

http://www.burningman.com/

No tickets at the event this year. It’s a life-changing experience.

The Cheeseparer

47 Ways to Save!

TechnoCrunch has a handle on saving 47 different ways.
http://www.techocrunch.com/47-tips-on-how-to-save-money-every-day-without-much-effort/

Understanding and Managing Your Money

There was an article in this morning's paper about how many women still resist managing money and especially investments. Ladies, it's not rocket science. Don't stress out. Dig in and learn something. Good, diversified mutual funds are one answer. Living within your income is the big answer. Getting out of debt is hard, but do-able. Who needs $3000 handbags and $1000 shoes? Not me. I shop for shoes and DSW and find great bargains. Even if you're hard to fit (like me), you can always find something. Never spend big bucks for a white handbag. They look like hell at the end of the summer. Straw is better and cheap, too. Don't forget resale shops and ebay. Or just be happy with last year's. Who the hell really cares?


Money Math You Need to Know: Basic financial and economic information
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/Advice/MoneyMathYouNeedToKnow.aspx

May The Eastern Bunny Bring Coupons Galore

Here's the Friday stuff:

From the Contra-Costa Times.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/columns/ci_8622799?nclick_check=1

The tip about using the Sunday funnies for wrapping kids birthday presents is great. I used to do that a million years ago. The presents always looked cool.

Cook and home and save money. Save even more money with these tips:
http://sixoclockscramble.blogspot.com/

Wallet Pop:
http://www.walletpop.com/2008/03/21/get-a-great-start-on-a-healthy-frugal-and-green-life/

Eat Ethnic!

One of the best ways to cut your grocery bill is to cook "ethnic" meals. Goulash soup, Puerto Rican rice and beans, stuffed cabbage, pasta with tomato sauce--the list of yummy, nourishing recipes imported from countries near and far is amazing. One of my favorites is to take the scraps from a chicken or a pork roast and make fried rice.

In the coming weeks, I'll feature some of my favorite cheap ethnic treats. In the meantime, here's more cheap living (grocery) tips from our friends in California:

Stretch your food budget! http://www.insidebayarea.com/food/ci_8622808

Great Ideas from All Over

The Money Case will help you save:
http://blog.themoneycase.com/

Read the comments for good money saving tips:
http://someonebeingme.blogspot.com/2008/03/where-is-money-going.html

Buying coffee all the time can be a real wallet drainer. Use a commuter cup from home. We buy good, cheap coffee at the Ocean State Job Lot.

Look for the free day at local museums. Search out free or cheap concerts in the local paper.

Save on groceries! Great blog:
http://becentsable.blogspot.com/2008/03/works-for-me-wednesday-centsable.html

Another excellent blog: Clean you house with baking soda, well, almost:
http://frugal-life.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!74E2ED49D47DDB89!993.entry

And Thrifty Mommy know a thing or two about clipping coupons. ://www.thriftymommy.com/

I’ve been doing that for years and years. I have a pretty good organizational system that I’ll share on a day when there aren’t so many GOOD BLOGS to recommend.

The Cheeseparer

Monday Morning Tips for Your Edification

Thisbe on the desk top. Cats are easy to entertain and do not require expensive cat toys.

The cursor on your computer screen, pipe cleaners, Q-tips, Twist Ties: all make great cat toys. Of course nothing beats the little furry grey and white mice that come in a package.

More information for your cheeseparing needs:

Saving Money on Groceries with Cool Photos Galore
http://southernhospitality-rhoda.blogspot.com/

Serious stuff for the serious budgeter:
http://jimbehrle.com/archives/2008/03/17/getting-past-the-idea-of-budgeting-saving-money/

Tips from Vacaville

California comes in with some handy-dandy money saving tips for you.

http://www.thereporter.com/horizons/ci_8593872

On the Road, But Not With Jack

Road Trip Tips: What a tongue twister! Say it twenty times. Quickly.

http://www.koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8012796

Family Travel from the Tehran Times! That’s right. Gee, they sound just like us. But you knew that.

http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=165156

Bon Voyage

Think Ahead to Summer

Here is a link to some worthwhile advice about your driving vacation this summer.

http://news.carjunky.com/gas_mileage/gas-saving-tips-for-summer-vacationers-cdh010.shtml

Pack a cooler with food. We usually try to eat the cheap motel breakfast. Otherwise, a smoothy and a granola bar make a great breakfast. We always eat lunch on the road and try to find a park or a river, someplace pleasant with a picnic table. We eat better than at a fast food place at a fraction of the cost. Take fresh fruit, meats, breads, cheese, crackers, olives, and your favorite snacks. Hummus with crackers, cherry tomatoes, olives and maybe a container of tabbouleh can be a special treat.

We have found some excellent places that are reasonable in the AAA Guide. Bon Voyage.

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Testing font sizes. It is not too soon to think about your garden, and how cool it will be to pick tomatoes, lettuce, peas, spinach and all those wonderful herbs that are so easy to grow. If you grow from seed, now is the time to start the seedlings, depending on where you live. The web is a good source of information as it your local library.

Not only will your garden save you money, it's fun, relaxing, good exercise and a wonderful experience for children. Do plant something that butterflies and hummingbirds like. Sharing is a part of gardening.

New Baby Frugality

Another cool website, with some great advice.

For years I shopped for kids clothes at the Wellesley, MA used clothing sale, a sale which had been running annually since World War II. Alas, due to various economic conditions, and Wellesley's becoming ultra-upscale, the sale closed down.

Maybe with the current financial crunch, someone will revive it again.

http://www.thingamababy.com/baby/

Money Saving Tips Galore

Here's a big blast of bloggers who will help you save money.

Rent a car cheap(er):

http://yp2m.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/how-to-save-money-on-car-rentals/

Working Girl has some useful tips. You can buy cool used clothing on EBAY, too. Recent and vintage fashions for good savings. This is a fun blog.

http://www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com/?p=290

http://www.karenburnsworkinggirl.com/?p=227

Debt free living:

http://www.debthacker.com/how-to-be-debt-free/

Clip them coupons:
http://mindyvasil.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/works-for-me-wednesdays-couponing/

Do you shop online? Here are some tips.
http://zymetricalblog.com/blog/2008/03/12/5-money-saving-tips-for-online-shoppers/

Now, the Cheeseparer's cheapo recipe of the week, an old family favorite, known by the German side of the family as "Hoppel-Poppel." We just call it fried potatoes with stuff.

Boil a medium large potato per person. Do not peel.

When cooked, let cool. Add some chopped bacon to a large skillet. Any kind of bacon will do.
While the bacon is frying, chop some onion, again, proportional to the number of servings.
Add the onion. While the onion is cooking, peel and chop the potatoes into about 1/2 inch cubes, roughly. You may want to add a bit more fat, either canola oil, bacon grease or even butter, your choice.
Add the potatoes. Chop some tomato, a few cherry tomatoes will do. Add them to the skillet and salt and pepper everything. When the potatoes are nice and brown, add one slightly beaten egg per person to the skillet and stir around. Top the skillet with some chopped parsley and chives if you are feeling virtuous, and we hope that you are.

Sprinkle a little grated cheddar over all. A sprinkling of paprika if you like.

Serve with whole grain bread and a salad, again if you are feeling virtuous. This is good cheap rib-sticking food. And it tastes good. Bon appetit!

The Cheeseparer's Wife

Just so you know.


Cheeseparer
(A). A skinflint: a man of small savings; economy carried to excess like one who pares or shaves off very thinly the rind of his cheese instead of cutting it off. The tale is well known of the man who chose his wife out of three sisters by the way they ate their cheese. One pared it- she (he said) was mean; one cut it off extravagantly thick- she was wasteful; the third sliced it off in a medium way, and there his choice fell.

An Appreciation of Cheese

What would the world be like without cheese?

Welcome to the Cheeseparer

With the recession underway, I thought the blogosphere could use some money saving tips.

Ben Franklin would be proud. By the way, did you know that a penny is worth more in copper than in monetary value? A penny saved is more than a penny earned.

Did you know that gold is very high right now? This is a good time to sell your coins, old jewelry, yea, verily, the family jewels. The Wall Street Journal had a great article about his last week. Use the cash to pay off credit cards, if you have debt, or to save if you don't. That rainy day is just around the corner.

The Cheeseparer's Wife