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Save Money on Food |
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provided by Kiplinger's Personal Finance
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries -- that's $709 per month! And many of us blow our budgets further on restaurant meals.
We've got ten ways to save money on food, whether you're eating in or out.
Learn to Cook
Eating out is a huge budget buster.
Even seemingly inexpensive fast food can add up quickly. Cooking your own meals could save you a small fortune on restaurants and groceries (you'll buy fewer pricey frozen and prepared meals).
Plus, you could make dating cheaper -- who wouldn't be impressed by a cozy dinner?
Scour the Web for simple recipes to get your feet wet, or check out beginner cook books at your local bookstore.
Take Fewer Trips to the Grocery Store
Making bigger shopping trips less often will cut down on your impulse buys. In fact, almost half of all shoppers go to the store three or four times per week. Shoppers making a "quick trip" to the store usually purchase 54% more than they planned, according to a study published by the Marketing Science Institute.
If you go to the store three times a week and spend $10 on impulse buys each trip, that adds up to $120 extra per month. But if you go only once a week, you'll spend $40 per month on impulse buys. That saves you $80 per month, or $960 per year.
Break your Restaurant Routine
This may seem obvious, but we are creatures of habit and convenience. Make an effort to cut back a little, such as dining out once a week instead of three nights a week. With $20 meals, this simple act will trim your expenses by $160 a month.
Or, try something different –- and cheaper. Pick up a restaurant guide or a tour book of your city for budget-friendly suggestions. If you eat out three times a week, cutting just $5 from each meal ticket will save you $60 a month.
Bring Your Lunch to Work
lunch1.jpg Spending just $2 a day on a home-made lunch versus $6 a day on the sandwich shop next to the office will save you about $80 a month and $960 each year.
Grocery Shop With Focus
Another way to cut down on impulse buys is to shop with a list. Sketch out the week's meals and jot down the ingredients you'll need. Remember to factor in treats, snacks and lunches. Then stick to the list.
You might find it helpful to leave the kids at home so you're not tempted to give into pressure from crying children for an extra treat or toy that isn't on your list.
Buy Generic
You can almost always save money by choosing a no-name brand instead of a brand name. And you usually won't sacrifice much in quality on many items, from cereal to canned goods and frozen vegetables. Also, the savings on generic baby formula and prescription drugs can be huge.
You could save a few cents to a couple of dollars per item. And that adds up quickly each month.
Make Your Own Latte
That daily $4 cup of coffee is costing you $120 per month -- or more than $1,400 per year. Invest in a good-quality machine and make your own brew for much less.
Or kick the caffeine habit altogether and enjoy the health benefits along with the financial.
Use Coupons
You know about coupons for groceries. But don't overlook bargains for dining out.
For instance, at Restaurant.com you can get a $25 gift certificate to local restaurants for only $10. Use the coupon once a week, and you'll save $60 per month.
Or, before you dine out, hit the Web. At http://www.retailmenot.com/coupons/food, you can quickly find printable coupons and codes for dozens of eateries.
Time Your Meal
No, eating quickly won't make the bill smaller. Rather, consider eating out for lunch instead of dinner. That way, you can get lunch-menu prices for dinner-quality entrees.
Mind the Unit Price
Many grocery store tags will tell you how much an item costs per ounce, per pound or by some other unit of measure. Comparison-shop by unit price and save.
For example, a pack of 40 diapers at our local drug store cost $13, or 33 cents per diaper. A box of 144 diapers cost $35, or 24 cents per diaper. A difference of 9 cents may not seem like much, but when you change a diaper six to eight times each day, that amounts to a savings of $16 to $22 per month.
Don't buy in bulk if you won't use it all -- otherwise, you wasted your money, no matter how good a deal it was.
For this story and much more visit - http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/104492/Save-Money-on-Food |
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Perform this brief Pet-Exam |
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How to Give Your Pet a Quick CheckupFrom Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D. and Susan Hubble Pitcairn Authors of Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide To Natural Health for Dogs & Cats Your animal might be in poor health without your realizing it. Perform this brief exam to get a much better idea of your pet's actual state. If any of the exam symptoms are apparent, then resolve any concerns that arise by consulting your vet. 1. Does the hair coat feel greasy? Is the skin color a normal gray-white or is it pink or red with inflammation? Do you see dandruff-like scales of dead skin among the hairs? 2. Use your fingers to brush the hair against the grain. Do you see numerous little black specks? These are the excreta of fleas. 3. Now smell your fingers. If the odor they picked up is rancid, rank, or fishy, it's a sign of poor health. 4. As you examine the eyes, check for matter in the corners. Pull down the lower eyelids so you can see the underside. Are the lids red inside or irritated on the edges? 5. Look into the ear holes. Do you see a lot of wax? Do the insides look oily? Sniff to check for an offensive odor. 6. Inspect the gums for a red line along the roots of the teeth. To check the back teeth for that red line, raise the upper lip and push back the corners of the lips at the same time (it is not necessary to open the mouth). 7. Now check the teeth themselves, including the back ones. Are they gleaming white or coated with a brown deposit? Does the breath smell okay or are you overcome by it? 8. Last, feel the backbone in the middle of the back and run your fingers back and forth (sideways) over it. Do you feel definite bones there? Is there a prominent ridge sticking up in the middle? If your answers to these questions are yes, your animal is much too thin. About the Authors Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M, Ph.D., opened the Animal Natural Health Center, a clinic offering only holistic animal care, in 1985. Recently retired from practice, he teaches post-graduate courses in homeopathic medicine to veterinarians. Susan Hubble Pitcairn was a major contributor to the first two editions of this book. As the third edition goes to press, she is splitting her time between artistic pursuits and the support of positive social change. For more information, please visit www.drpitcairn.com Reprinted from: Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M, Ph.D., and Susan Hubble Pitcairn (September 2005;$18.95US/$25.95CAN; 1-57954-973-X) Copyright © 2005 Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M., Ph.D., and Susan Hubble Pitcairn. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com. |
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The 12 Days of Cookies |
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The 12 Days of Cookies Baking cookies are a great way to celebrate the season's eatings and we've got 12 terrific recipes to share. Want your piping hot cookies before everyone else? Sign up now to have the free 12 Days of Cookies newsletter sent directly to your inbox every December. |
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Protect plants from cold weather |
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Winterizing Trees and ShrubsTrees and shrubs can sustain serious root and foliage damage in the winter months ahead. To make sure these trees stay healthy, they need to be protected now. Here's how to do it: Larger trees and bushes - Mulch with leaves that have been chopped up twice with a lawnmower. Add three to five inches to provide a good, insulating layer.
- Wait until the ground freezes before mulching. You're not trying to keep the plants warm; you're trying to keep the temperature of the soil more constant to prevent heaving.
- Stop watering once the ground is frozen; trees and shrubs no longer absorb water after that.
- Pruning is not recommended at this time, but do remove any broken branches.
The arborvitae's branches are pretty flimsy. Any excess weight from ice or snow will cause them to break. Protect these trees by tying the top of the tree snuggly with jute twine, but not so tight as to cut into the branches. This will hold the crown together and provide extra strength against the elements. Thin-barked, newly transplanted and young trees - Sun scald usually happens on the south or southwest side of the tree. In late afternoon, the sun heats the bark of dark woods and then the temperature rapidly drops when the sun is blocked. This kills the active tissues and causes expansion and cracking in the trunk of the tree. Water can then collect in the cracks and cause more damage when it freezes and expands.
- Wrap the trunk with a lighter-colored landscape fabric or burlap strips to insulate the tree against the drastic temperature changes.
- Older trees aren't as susceptible because their bark is thicker and can insulate the dormant tissue from the sun.
Shrubs that lose their leaves don't need any winter protection. However, frost might nip shrubs that do hold their leaves, like rhododendrons. To protect the roots, add a layer of leaf mulch. Do not use mulch that will hold in moisture, like peat — it can cause crown rot. To keep animals from getting a winter meal from plants like clematis, provide some movement in the garden that will frighten away potential diners. Pinwheels and other moving objects work well, but be sure to move them every two weeks. Animals get used to things after a while, so putting objects in different places alerts and deters animals. Cranberrybush viburnum produces red berries that last well into winter and that birds love to feast on. However, the berries' sugar concentrates during the winter and becomes unhealthy for birds. If you are attracting birds to your yard with feeders and houses, consider picking off the berries from these bushes. notes: When pruning a branch in late fall, be sure to cut it cleanly back to the collar. A jagged edge invites problems, such as collecting water that could rot the tree. Protect the foliage of rhododendrons with a burlap wrap. Fasten burlap to some stakes and then sink the stakes in the ground around the perimeter of the plant.
Seasoned Gardener : Episode SGN-311 Guests
Pam Duthie
Owner of The Gifted Gardener
Author, Continuous Bloom (Ball Publishing, 2000) Order this title from Amazon.com
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
URL: www.pamthegiftedgardener.com for this story and much more visit www.hgtv.com |
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Attention - With Love From Home |
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School Teachers, Scout Leaders, Club's, Sunday Schools Teachers, Nursing Homes, Churches, & Local Menifee Valley Businesses....Cards Needed! We appreciate all of the men and women in our military and we are very thankful for their service to our country. Our main goal is to reach those serving over seas that are in need of some support. It is important that they know they are cared about & appreciated for putting their lives on the line for us and the freedom we have in America. We are collecting items for care packages and also letters of support & encouragement to send over seas to our hero's that are defending our country. If all it does is put a smile on someone's face for a short time, knowing that someone is thinking about them, then we have reached our goal. We will continue this job until they are all home safely. We are always in need of cards for our appreciation packages to deployed service members. All year long we are in need of appreciation/ thank-you cards for the troops. We also collect "Thinking of you" cards for our wounded military men and women. Feel free to decorate the cards as you wish (the more creative the better) however we ask that cards be made on cardstock no larger than 4" x 5.5" when folded in half. Throughout the year, we also need various holiday related cards. Our packages must be shipped at least two to three weeks prior to the holiday, so please have your holiday cards to us early. If you would like to help us please contact, With Love From Home at the links below. We welcome any help in reaching these special men & women. Maps: Iraq Middle East Afghānestān Afghanistan Asia www.withlovefromhome.org
With Love From Home P.O. box 444, Mora, MN 55051
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Thank you so much to everyone who is participating in any way.
This is truly a team effort ~ everyone pitching in together to help our heroes "With Love from Home" this holiday season!
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
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How Green are You? |
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Who killed the electric car?by sony pictures
The film details the California Air Resources Board's reversal of the mandate after suits from automobile manufacturers, the oil industry, and the George W. Bush administration. It points out that Bush's chief influences, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, and Andrew Card, are all former executives and board members of oil and auto companies.
A large part of the film accounts for GM's efforts to demonstrate to California that there was no demand for their product, and then to take back every EV1 and dispose of them. A few were disabled and given to museums and universities, but almost all were found to have been crushed; GM never responded to the EV drivers' offer to pay the residual lease value ($1.9 million was offered for the remaining 78 cars in Burbank before they were crushed). Several activists are shown being arrested in the protest that attempted to block the GM car carriers taking the remaining EV1s off to be crushed.
The film explores some of the reasons that the auto and oil industries worked to kill off the electric car. Wally Rippel is shown explaining that the oil companies were afraid of losing out on trillions in potential profit from their transportation fuel monopoly over the coming decades, while the auto companies were afraid of losses over the next six months of EV production. Others explained the killing differently. GM spokesman Dave Barthmuss argued it was lack of consumer interest due to the maximum range of 80–100 miles per charge, and the relatively high price.
View Film Trailer
www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/
above referenced: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F
10 Ways to go green
#1- Re-route your commute
* Walk or bike to work and save money on gas and parking while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
* If your streets are not conducive to biking or walking, lobby your municipal government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in decreased traffic and pollution.
#2 - Buy used
* Whether you’ve just moved to a new area or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items, rather than buying them new. Check out garage sales and thrift stores for clothing and other everyday items.
* Use your creativity in gift giving, including making homemade gifts, donating to a good cause, or even regifting. (And gift green, in general)
* Your purchasing habits have a real impact, for better or worse. When making new purchases, make sure you know what’s “Good Stuff” and what isn’t.
#3 - Buy local
* Shop at your local farmers’ market. Though the offerings can be more expensive, you can generally count on a higher quality product—and the entire purchase price goes directly to the farmer. Buying any goods produced locally saves energy by reducing the fossil fuels needed to transport food and other items across the country and around the globe.
* Start a local currency program in your town. This can ensure that money stays in your local economy, valuing local services and supporting local merchants.
#4 - Compost your food scraps.
* Composting helps reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill, which can save you money if you live in a municipality with a “pay as you throw” system. In the process, you create free, healthy fertilizer for your garden (or your neighbor’s—or lobby for a community garden!)
* If you don’t have a yard or space for a compost pile, try indoor ‘vermiculture,’ or worm composting.
#5 - Change the thermostat setting and install energy saving devices.
* Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer can translate to substantial savings on your utility bills.
* Install low-flow showerheads and take shorter showers to save water and the energy used to heat it. Or, consider eventually installing a solar hot water heater on your property.
* Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible and use a drying rack or clothesline.
* When incandescent bulbs burn out, replace them with longer-lasting, low-energy bulbs.
* With the money you save from making these changes, consider buying wind energy from your local utility or purchasing renewable energy offsets. Renewables offer our best hope for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a host of other pollutants. In some cases, “green energy” options can be cheaper than electricity from conventional sources!
#6 - Skip the bottled water at the grocery or convenience store.
* Filter your tap water for drinking rather than using bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it produces large amounts of container waste.
* Check out this recent update and life cycle analysis for the latest on bottled water trends.
#7 - Make your own cleaning supplies.
* Using simple ingredients such as baking soda, soap, and vinegar, you can make cheap, easy, and non-toxic cleaning products that really work! Save money, time, and your indoor air quality.
#8 - Think twice about new electronics.
* E-waste from discarded cell phones and computers is a growing environmental problem. Mounds of electronic refuse are being shipped abroad illegally for ‘disassembly’ by workers with little protection against the mercury and other toxic substances they contain.
* Keep your electronics as long as possible and dispose of them responsibly when the time comes.
* Buy higher-quality items and don’t give in to ‘psychological obsolescence’ marketing campaigns.
* Recycle your cell phone and support good causes at the same time!
* Ask your local government to set up a responsible recycling and hazardous waste collection event.
#9 - Add one meatless meal per week.
* While strict vegetarianism isn’t for everyone, even the most devout carnivores can cut back on meat consumption without cramping their style—and save money in the process. Industrial meat production requires huge energy inputs and creates noxious waste problems. The proliferation of factory farms is damaging the environment, and the global nature of the industry creates conditions that promote the spread of diseases such as avian flu, potentially costing society billions.
#10 - Use your local library and other public amenities.
* Borrowing from libraries, instead of buying personal books and movies, saves money and printing resources. Consider donating the money saved to your local library.
* Be an active civic participant and ensure that the public spaces and facilities in your town are well maintained. This will promote a healthy, sustainable community.
Full story and more visit www.worldwatch.org/node/3915
Additional Green Linkstreehugger
www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php iGo Green - iVillage
www.ivillage.com/green?sky=ggl|igg|green1| Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful - Keep America Clean
www.krcb.com/ Organic Foods and Growing - Products and informationSeeds of Change
www.seedsofchange.com/ Buy Green Gifts
www.oxfamamericaunwrapped.com/?gclid=CIOr7Iz73o0CFRcQYQodEERBfQ Play Planet Green Game, click link below
www.planetgreengame.com/?gclid=CJr-gIbv3o0CFQt0YAod01sAdQ |
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A community comes together for clean-up |
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By: BRIAN ECKHOUSE - Staff Writer – The Californian
QUAIL VALLEY ---- Just nine months ago, Rita Peters fretted that the end of resource center Project LIFT was near: Funds were drying up, and the owners of the building she leased were looking to sell.
Since then, county officials have pledged to cobble together block grants and redevelopment funds to help buy the sloped 2.1-acre lot at Goetz and Juanita roads in Quail Valley. And instead of tearing down LIFT's headquarters to allow for new businesses or a handful of new homes, the building and surrounding grounds are being beautified.
The beautification efforts began in earnest early Saturday morning, as several employees of the Albertsons in Sun City and a few dozen athletes from area high schools arrived to remove the blight from the edges of the property: three years' worth of overgrown weeds and untrimmed trees.
Peters, LIFT's founder and executive director, stood atop the hill, observing the 40-plus volunteers, mouth agape.
Tears trickled down her face as she realized that LIFT isn't just staying ---- it seemingly is being institutionalized.
"This is the only connection children here have to education," Peters said of LIFT, which was founded more than a decade ago. "There's the language barrier for so many of them. So many of them are poor. This here is the key for them ---- the key to their future."
Quail Valley resident Marcos Gonzalez, 14, used to be tutored at LIFT. Now, he is a student-athlete at Paloma Valley High School, playing on the Menifee school's junior varsity football team.
"I like it out here," said Marcos, as he dug into hardened earth Saturday, trying to remove the deep weeds. "I come out here often - my little cousin recently had a party here."
By midday, flowers donated by Hines Nursery of Bonsall were being planted, said Peters, a Menifee Union School District trustee.
"Before (Saturday) ... you wouldn't have seen a thing from up here," she added. "You couldn't see the street because the tumbleweeds were so high."
Tons of tree branches and weeds filled the huge trash container on the site ---- and then some.
"We figure we'll overcut, so it'll keep you good for a long time," said Paul Rodriguez, 47, Albertson's store director.
Rodriguez's employees either volunteered to orchestrate the clean up or excitedly accepted his offer to help out, between their shifts at the Sun City grocery store.
"Christina started working with us a week ago," said Rodriguez of 24-year-old Christina MacDonald. "When I asked her, without hesitation she said, 'Yes.'"
MacDonald, who lives in Perris, has worked for the company for several years.
Albertsons' partnership with LIFT is one of many Rodriguez has fostered in Menifee Valley.
"This guy does more for the local sports than anyone," said resident Kevin Buckel of Rodriguez. "Blockbuster says 'no,' but this man says 'yes.' He'll give you hot dogs, $500 ---- whatever is necessary."
Lake Elsinore resident Frank Espinoza, Rodriguez's assistant manager, brought along his teenage son to help with the clean-up efforts Saturday. His son plays on an Elsinore High School football team.
"I think it's a good opportunity for kids to work together instead of opposition like on the football field," said Espinoza, 39. "Today, they're on the same team."
So for the volunteers, the day's objective and the process to reach it were equally important.
But for the kids who frequent LIFT after school, it means a more hospitable building and surrounding grounds.
"This was more than anticipated," Peters said of Saturday's beautification project.
"This was a big job."
Saturday's clean-up was the first of at least two phases Rodriguez has planned for LIFT. In a few weeks, Rodriguez and a small team of Albertsons employees will return to repair wood paneling near LIFT's headquarters.
Contact staff writer Brian Eckhouse at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2626 |
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Eating Fish Reduces Coronary Death Risk |
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By: Senior Journal
Researchers who reviewed all the previous studies on the health impact of eating fish have concluded that avoiding modest fish consumption due to confusion regarding risks and benefits could result in thousands of excess coronary heart disease deaths annually. They found it reduces risk of coronary death by a stunning 36 percent and the rate of death by 17 percent.
| The report is published today in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Fish has been considered a healthy food since the publication of studies demonstrating its various health benefits. Several studies have identified two long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as likely playing a role in the associated lower rates of coronary heart disease with fish consumption.
Conversely, concern has arisen over potential harm from mercury, dioxins, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) present in some fish species. The public is faced with conflicting reports on the risks and benefits of eating fish, resulting in controversy over the role of fish consumption in a healthy diet.
Dariush Mozaffarian, M.D., Dr.P.H., and Eric B. Rimm, Sc.D., of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, reviewed the scientific evidence for adverse and beneficial health effects of fish consumption (in this report defined as finfish or shellfish).
They searched MEDLINE, governmental reports, and meta-analyses to identify reports published through April 2006 evaluating
(1) intake of fish or fish oil and cardiovascular risk,
(2) effects of methylmercury and fish oil on early neurodevelopment,
(3) risks of methylmercury for cardiovascular and neurologic outcomes in adults, and
(4) health risks of dioxins and PCBs in fish. When possible, meta-analyses were performed to characterize benefits and risks most precisely.
The researchers found that modest consumption of fish (e.g., 1 to 2 servings per week), especially species higher in n-3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA), reduces risk of coronary death by 36 percent and the rate of death by 17 percent, and may favorably affect other clinical outcomes.
Intake of 250 mg/d of EPA and DHA appears sufficient for primary prevention. This corresponds to one 6-oz. serving/wk of wild salmon or similar oily fish, or more frequent intake of smaller or less n-3 PUFA–rich servings.
DHA appears beneficial for, and low-level methylmercury may adversely affect, early neurodevelopment.
Women who are or may become pregnant and nursing mothers should avoid selected species (shark, swordfish, golden bass, and king mackerel; locally caught fish per local advisories) and limit intake of albacore tuna (6 oz./wk) to minimize methylmercury exposure.
“However, emphasis must also be placed on adequate consumption—12 oz./wk—of other fish and shellfish to provide reasonable amounts of DHA and avoid further decreases in already low seafood intake among women (74 percent of women of childbearing age and 85 percent of pregnant women consume less than 6 oz./wk),” the researchers write.
Health effects of low-level methylmercury in adults are not clearly established; methylmercury may modestly decrease the cardiovascular benefits of fish intake.
“A variety of seafood should be consumed; individuals with very high consumption (5 servings or more per week) should limit intake of species highest in mercury levels. Levels of dioxins and PCBs in fish are low, and potential carcinogenic and other effects are outweighed by potential benefits of fish intake and should have little impact on choices or consumption of seafood.”
“Avoidance of modest fish consumption due to confusion regarding risks and benefits could result in thousands of excess coronary heart disease deaths annually and suboptimal neurodevelopment in children,” the authors conclude.
Editor's Note: This study was supported by a grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.
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