Money-$aving Monday

If you’ve been wondering whatever happened to Coach Linda, I’ve been exercising my right to go insane lately as I plan for my wedding, which is only a scant 12 days away!  It’s been a flurry of activities, juggled between career, ministry, college and life… whew!  I apologize for my irregular posts as of late!  June may be a spotty month for posts, but stick with me!  I will try to post as often as possible, and hope to be back on a regular routine by July, once the wedding dust settles.  In the meantime I covet your prayers as my darling fiancée and I prepare to join our hearts and lives on June 21^st.

Okay, all that being said… here’s today’s post!

More than ever, I am on a mission to simplify my life as much as possible, including becoming a fabulous frugalista.  One of my favorite websites/blogs is www.moneysavingmom.com, written by author and speaker Crystal Paine.  She is also a voracious reader, and has inspired me to find new ways to find time and finances to read.  In my pursuits, I have come across the following websites where you can either trade books, or get them for free.

www.ereadergirl.com – find free and discounted Kindle books

www.paperbackswap.com – here you swap out your books and get “new” used ones

Your local library – the old tried and true!  However, I confess over the years I have wound up spending money with overdue fees, so I tend not to borrow.  However, my beloved is an avid library visitor, so I may revisit this option.  Additionally, many libraries offer inter-library loans, some free e-books, DVDs, CDs… so it is s definitely a terrific choice!

www.freebooks.com – offers you e-books online

www.gutenberg.org – has over 45,000 free e-books.

www.amazon.com – Trade-In Program, where you can trade in your gently used books, textbooks, music, etc., for an Amazon Gift Card.

And, oh yes, Crystal has a guest blog posting where she has 15 tips for finding more time to read at http://moneysavingmom.com/2013/02/15-ways-to-fit-more-reading-into-your-day.html

This should get us started reading frugally, yes?  And don’t forget to read Crystal’s website to read about living frugally, along with subscribing to my daily posts.  Go exercise your eyes but not your pocket and have a good read… for free!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Fun Frugal Friday

Ahhhh… it’s almost the weekend, and you and your family/friends have been working hard all week.  Time to relax, kick back and enjoy your life a bit.  So on this first weekend of Spring (after an excruciatingly looonggg winter), what can you do that doesn’t involve a screen or a lot of money? 

How about planning a weekend picnic?  Gather family or just meet up with friends and do a pot-luck picnic in the park.  Nothing elaborate, just some sandwiches and salad – toss around a football or baseball or Frisbee, go for a walk/hike, bring the dog.  If you are blessed to own a grill and have a deck or patio or yard, grill up a yummy meal to start off the season – oh won’t it smell just grand?!?!? 

Start to look around your favorite home store like Lowes for spring flowers, bulbs, herbs.  You don’t have to buy anything – just think about what you’d like to put in a garden or flower bed and begin planning it out.  Maybe get one small little pot of daffodils or herbs to brighten up your kitchen.

Check out local activities in the newspaper or online.  Libraries, museums, zoos, nearby places of interest.  Any Spring festivals going on? 

Have an impromptu night with the girls.  Choose someone’s home, pot-luck the food, maybe do a vision board together (check out my posting on vision boards – click HERE).  You could even do it as a family, or with the hubs.  It could be a lot of fun.

If you are blessed to have a fireplace, snuggle up and make s’mores and put on some background music and just… gasp… talk!  Imagine that!

Do an old-fashioned game night with family, friends, neighbors - cards, board games, etc.  When was the last time you played Monopoly or Scrabble or gin rummy?

Make plans for lunch with friends after worship service – or invite a single person/student over to your place.  Reach out and get to know someone new and find ways to bless them this weekend.

Take your journal, a devotional book/Bible/inspirational reading, and go spend time outdoors in the local park and just “BE”!  Write down all your blessings, your hopes, dreams, prayers, goals.  Write down what you see around you – birds chirping, the flowers peeking out from their winter slumbers, new buds on the trees… be mindful and intentional of the sights, sounds, scents around you. 

Take a drive “down the shore” as we say here in New Jersey.  Walk along the boardwalk and enjoy the ocean.  I love walking along the ocean when it’s still cold, with a big cup of tea in my hand.  Ahhhh…. Let those negative ions sooth away your tension.

Whatever you choose, make it a point to be outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation this weekend, and spend time with those you love.  Spring is a time of rebirth, renewal and restoration.  Celebrate this season of new beginnings this weekend by loving on yourself and those around you.

Be blessed and be healthy,

Coach Linda Bush

Manage Da Money Monday

Your bucks for coffee with prices as high as the stars!

Welcome to another wonderful week, wild women. 

Begin by listing three things daily for which you are grateful!  In fact, I challenge you to join me in taking Ann Voskamp's "Joy Dare" this year!!!  To check it out click on this link: 

http://www.aholyexperience.com/joy-dares/

So today is a bit of fun for all you Starbucks addicts out there!  While I will be the FIRST to tell you that I only buy a Green Tea Latte' on a major league splurge (we're talking birthdays and maybe once or twice outside that day), I do think they make good coffee. 

That being said, I frankly thing their prices are beyond re-DUNK-ulous and any fabulously frugal diva will agree.  In fact, several years ago I was doing a bit of financial coaching with a young lady who went to Starbucks every day, 24/7/365.  She never made coffee at home.  We figured out she was spending over $1,200 a year on coffee!  That's an expensive caffeine habit, yes?  That's one thousand two hundred dollars - and no sense whatsoever!!!!

But... be that as it may... here's a frugal way to indulge just for you.  This Friday, you can buy one of their "handcrafted" liquid gold beverages (handcrafted?  what are we, an artisan flea market?  pluuueezzee) and get another one for free.  Great... two coffees for the price of one (which still means you could get about 3-4 anywhere else, or a whole pound of beans at the store). 

And be careful - the price ain't the only costly thing -- remember you can gulp down a half-day's calories with one grando biggo extra fat super foam gi-gundo mocca caramel whoop-de-doozie.

Just sayin'...

Here's your financial challenge for February -- if you are a Starbucks addict, I challenge you to add up how much of your HARD-EARNED money you are lining their pockets with for the rest of this month.  And I also challenge you to use ONLY CASH to pay for that... yes, let Mr. Lincoln slip out of your fist each morning (or afternoon or evening... whenever you are getting your "fix").  Let's make this a little more real, shall we?

Here's the link for more info - enjoy! 

http://lp.starbucks.com/loveyourlatte

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild Women Need Breakfast!

Most wild women I know have precious few extra minutes at the start of their day.  The old 1950’s family breakfast where everyone has a full-blown meal sitting at the table and chatting about their upcoming day, is at best rare or just a memory!  On a good day if you’re taking the kids to school you toss them a granola bar and juice box in the car and have minimal conversation there.  I love and applaud anyone who is able to find time to gather the family together for a peaceful morning meal.  Heck, I applaud any person who can sit down for ten minutes and enjoy a leisurely breakfast before going off to work!!! 

So what is a hungry wild woman to do?

Glad you asked!  Thanks to a wonderful website from which I gleaned/adapted these two recipes (www.moneysavingmom.com) you can tote your breakfast with you AND save money.  Gotta love that combo, yes?  I think making your own oatmeal packets is a great idea – simply, fast, economical and you can control your ingredients.  Have you read the side of your nutrition label on some of the instant oatmeal packets lately?  Artificial flavorings, coloring, LOADS of sugar, and the dreaded sucralose (aka Splenda, which should in my humble opinion be banned and NEVER NEVER NEVER used).  Yep, yep, yep… so much for oatmeal being healthy.  

Here is the recipe.  Just make up a big batch on the weekend.  Take a bunch of bags and take them to the office, toss a few in the car – they will last for three months.  Add an apple or orange and you’ve got your healthy breakfast EZ-breezy.  Because it is truly important to fuel your body first thing in the morning.  You wouldn’t drive off with an empty gas tank, would you (well intentionally, anyway)?  

After you’re done making your instant oatmeal packets, take another few minutes to whip up several batches of these deeeelish homemade energy bites.  Again, EZ-breezy, no cooking involved, portable and pop-able into your mouth, perfect.  Just like the importance of having a good breakfast, I think you need to have a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack to keep your blood sugar level even and energy high.  As I always state, I’M NOT A DOCTOR, it’s simply my opinion from experience as a person, certified trainer and student/lover of nutrition.  These little bad bites do the trick.  

So there you have it, wild woman, two ways to power up your day and fuel fabulous you in a simple, easily transportable/manageable and inexpensive way.  

Enjoy!

Blessings,

Coach Linda Bush

*****************************

Homemade Instant Oatmeal Packets

Add to each bag:

•1/2 cup oats

•1 Tablespoon raw sugar

•cinnamon, raisins, dried fruit, or other mix-ins

Store in an airtight container or freeze for up to three months.

To serve: Pour instant oatmeal packet into a bowl and add 3/4 cup water. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes, until cooked. Stir and serve. You can also cook in a saucepan on the stove, if you prefer.

Homemade Energy Bites

2 cups oatmeal

1 cup organic peanut butter or other nut butter

2/3 cup honey (you could cut down on this – make sure there is enough to sweeten and hold the bites together)

2 cup coconut flakes, oatmeal, sesame seeds, or a mixture of all three (can also substitute protein powder, if you prefer)

1 cup ground flaxseed

1 cup carob chips or raisins or chopped up dates

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix all ingredients together. Roll into balls.

To freeze: Place balls on a cookie sheet and freeze for one to two hours. Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight zip top freezer bag (or other airtight container).

To serve: Remove desired number of balls and thaw at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes. Can also warm for 30 seconds or so in the microwave. Makes around 3 dozen energy bites.

Photos courtesy of www.moneysavingmom.com

Thrifty Tricks for Tired Tootsies Thursday

Ahhhhh......

Boy, that’s a mouthful title today, isn’t it???  

Everyone knows we wild women spend a LOT of time on our feet running here and there and everywhere (all in heels, no less)!  And while I love me my fancy-schmancy spa pedicure at my favorite salon (Radiance Spa/Salon located within the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness in Hamilton, NJ), I also try to regularly treat my feet at home.

In addition to soaking your feet for comfort and beauty, there are recipes which naturally aid in detoxing your body’s effort to cleanse.  While you can purchase pre-packaged detox ingredients at your local health food store or buy very expensive pads, I like to make my own – a BIG $aving$!!  Salt is a primary ingredient, because the ions in the salt work as magnets to draw toxins through the skin of your foot’s sole into the soaking water.

Detox Recipe

• 1 cup Epson salt
• 1 cup sea salt
• 2 cups baking soda

Mix, then add ¼ cup to a basin of hot water (hot, but careful not to scald yourself!), and soak for about 30 minutes.  As a finishing touch at the end of your soak, scrub the bottoms of your feet with a natural fiber foot brush, or mix a little of the sea salt with some olive or sweet almond oil and massage/scrub into your feet for a few minutes, rinse off, then pat dry.  Or, just get some essential peppermint oil, add it to several tablespoons of olive oil or sweet almond oil (best for sensitive skin) and rub on.  If you do this right before bed, use essential oil of lavender instead, slather all over your feet/ankles, and cover with a pair of white cotton socks.  Your feet will be so soft and feel great in the morning!  Or use 100% aloe vera since lotions with additives will leech impurities back into your system.

And here’s a bonus – you can easily make this up as a gift for a friend!  Find a pretty jar (or my favorite, mason jars).  Add your Detox Foot Bath to a jar, type up a tag with the instructions, add some decorations (go to www.pinterest.com or Google “gifts in a jar” for decorating ideas, and you have a lovely gift for a friend… just in time for the holidays.  I do NOT recommend adding any coloring to the salts as they are for detoxing purposes and you don’t want add anything except the pure and natural ingredients.  However, you could make up a combo by adding a few drops of essential oil of lavender to one jar, and a few drops of peppermint (and/or lemon) to the other, as both a bedtime/morning relaxing/refreshing gift!

Exercise your “treat your feet” love your tootsies muscle today!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Helpful articles/recommended reading/sources:

• http://life.gaiam.com/article/how-detox-through-your-feet
• http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/05/homemade-foot-soak-and-detox.html
• http://anappleadaywisdom.com/2011/09/footdetox/
• http://www.diyncrafts.com/2211/health/revive-tired-feet-and-eliminate-toxins-with-this-diy-foot-detox-soak

Frugal Friday

The other night I was sitting with my Mom having a nice chat and talking about the yard, gardening, landscape and general backyard and curb appeal.  We were also lamenting over the cost involved in getting all those beautiful flats of flowers and veggies and the vast array of all things beautiful – not to even begin to think about the costs of water features like fountains and little fish ponds!  Seriously, you could just about spend your mortgage in outside features, and being one who loves being outdoors as much as possible, the temptation for discontent when I look out my back door grows faster and stronger than poison ivy and leaves my spirit itching for more.  Not a good thing.

In keeping with yesterday’s post on herb gardening, I thought I’d continue the theme this Frugal Friday and provide you with some economical resources as you begin this season’s landscaping and backyard agricultural endeavors!

First, be sure to get together with your friends and see what plants and seedlings you might be able to trade from what you already have in your gardens.  See what your local garden centers have, especially in their clearance areas – once the season is in full bloom (yes, pun intended) you may be able to get some REAL bargains.  Think of it as day-old bread, only day-old blossoms that might need a little TLC (and a lot of MiracleGrow).  

My number one penny-polishing tip is to buy perennials whenever possible.  While it’s nice to splash some color around with annuals during the summer months, using plants that come up year-after-year makes a LOT more $ent$!  Spring flower bulbs can often be purchased in the summer at a discounted rate, and they will multiply and spread.  You can also hunt around in your local dollar store of choice for seed packs. 

Here are a few sites I found, but scout around in Google as well:

Penniless Parenting – Frugal Gardening

http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2010/06/frugal-gardening.html

8 Tips for Frugal Gardening From an Old Pro (very sweet)

http://www.oureverydayearth.com/8-tips-for-frugal-gardening-from-an-old-pro/

The Shoestring Gardener (ebook review)

http://titus2homemaker.com/2012/03/the-shoestring-gardener/

A Frugal Gardening Forum

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/frugal/

The Micro Gardener

http://themicrogardener.com/frugal-gardening-%E2%80%93-5-thrifty-recycling-ideas/

Frugal Gardening 101

http://www.gettingfreedom.net/frugal-gardening-101-2/

And if you type in “frugal gardening “ on Pinterest there’s tons of ideas – try this link, if it doesn’t work just type it in:  

http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=frugal%20gardening  

I particularly liked using the Christmas rope lights to make a heat mat for starting seeds!!  I have some old rope lights somewhere in the basement and now there’s a reason to root them out and use them.

Please be sure to email me or comment here are your own ideas for saving money in the garden and yard!  Share your frugal wealth with the group!!!

In the meantime as I build my dream yard one plant at a time, I think I’ll try to be happy with admiring all the Pinterest images and water my creativity with MiracleGrow in the hopes that I can magically figure out how to design and build all those ideas for outdoor change with nothing more than spare change!!!

Have a blessed weekend!

Coach Linda

Wild Woman Wednesday

Wild Women like to pamper themselves when they can, and we don’t like to spend a small fortune doing it!  I love me some spa girly stuff whenever I’m able – mani pedis, massage, hair, nails, facials, wax, whatever… I love it all.  I hate the price tag that goes with it, however. 

So… I do a lot of things for myself at home, and that’s why I designed and teach a seminar called “The Secret Spa in Your Kitchen” that shows lots of secrets to making bath, body, and pampered girly stuff right in your very own kitchen at a fraction (and I do mean cents on the dollar) of the price you pay in department stores.  From time to time on Wild Woman Wednesdays, especially now that it’s getting warmer and we will be showing toes and skin more, I will be sharing some of my magical recipes.

Today, however, as I was feeding my pinterest addiction (follow me at kre8tv4Him), I came across a wonderful little blog posting called “27 Nail Hacks for the Perfect DIY Manicure.”  It truly is a ton of terrific tips to ensure a salon-quality manicure.  It comes from BuzzFeed DIY and here’s the link:  

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/27-nail-hacks-for-the-perfect-diy-manicure

Before you run off to that salon to pay $15-20 for a polish change (seriously????), check out this website and you will find everything you need to do a bang-up job on your nails at home.  You’ll save enough to buy yourself some new summer polish colors and toss a bit in your mad money savings jar.  Yes, stay financially fit at the same time and put those pennies away.  Remember, Wild Women are also amazingly frugal.

I’m off to give myself a mani pedi – I have been in a kind of a funk today, and just like they recommended in the funny movie Legally Blonde, the best thing for a funk is a mani pedi!  Exercise your mani pedi beautiful fingers and toes today!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

Festive Frugal Friday

Happy Early St. Patrick's Day!  Since it's frugal Friday, I thought I would blend the two occasions and bring you a recipe for the traditional serving of the Corned Beef and Cabbage... a very inexpensive meal at only $2.23 per serving!  Aye, Lassie, a hearty and frugal feast that will leave some lucky pennies in your purse and a smile on the lips of all who taste it.  You can hit your local Dollar Tree or whatever dollar store you may have locally, pick up some inexpensive decorations and have fun with the day.  Toss everything in the good ol' crock pot Sunday morning, enjoy your day, and then have a relaxing and fun Sunday dinner with family and friends.  What a great Sunday!

If you'd like more information on St. Patrick, click HERE!


Life is too short not to celebrate whenever possible, so seize the day, put on some Irish music, clog around the house and exercise your right to be Irish for the day!

Blessings,

Coach Linda

CLASSIC CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE

Dark beer is the twist in this old favorite. Serve with grainy mustard or horseradish and rye bread; $2.23 per serving.

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

1 1/4 lb sm red-skinned potatoes, halved
3 med carrots, peeled and cut into 2" pieces
2 cloves garlic
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 bay leaf
2 1/2-3 lb corned beef brisket
3 c water
1 bottle (12 oz) dark beer
1 sm green cabbage, cut into 8 wedges

Directions:

1. Combine potatoes, carrots, garlic, sugar, and bay leaf in large slow cooker. Put brisket on top of vegetables and add water and beer. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Add cabbage for last 1 1/2 hours.

2. Remove beef from slow cooker. Let rest, loosely covered, 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. Remove and discard bay leaf. Remove vegetables with slotted spoon and serve with corned beef.

Nutrition (per serving): 322 cal, 18 g pro, 23 g carb, 4 g fiber, 16.5 g fat, 5.5 g sat fat, 999 mg sodium

http://www.prevention.com/food/cook/slow-cooker-recipes-fall-comfort-foods/classic-corned-beef-and-cabbage?cm_mmc=ETNTNL-_-1230300-_-03152013-_-CornBeefCabbage-body