Using Time Wisely

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Attractions Books for $15 or $20 each

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Attractions Books for $15 or $20 each

Photograph Credit: Attractions Dining and Value Guide

In finishing our Scheduling 2014 series yesterday, we focused on feeding our families. One fabulous find for our family has been our Attractions Dining and Value Guide.

In October of 2013, I paid $20 and purchased the 2013 Attractions book and received the 2014 Attractions book for FREE.

Having never used these books, I wanted to try them out. Well, I’m impressed. The book contains high valued coupons for a combined savings over $6,000.

Last year, we used coupons for FREE pizza, FREE meals, FREE desserts, and FREE entertainment. Though we did not use half of the coupons in the 2013 book, I definitely saved more than $20 on the savings used.

Each book is designed for your local area in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina with all offers valid until December 31, 2014. The coupons include places for formal dining, casual dining, informal dining, and fun. In addition to the coupons within the book, you can register your book online for additional savings.

While supplies last, all Attraction books are $5 off their regular price. As the books are either $20 or $25 depending on your area, you can purchase Attractions books for $15 or $20 each. When we purchased ours, I purchased a second set for my in-laws as these books make great gifts.

We keep our book in our vehicle. I have found that when our plans change, I turn to these coupons to feed our family without paying full price. These options are great for date nights, family nights, and going out with friends. We also enjoy trying new places, and having a coupon encourages our adventurous tendencies.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the Attraction book, then check it out. You can even view the coupon savings before purchasing.

If you prefer ordering over the phone, call 1-800-897-1004, and the representative can answer any questions prior to purchasing. Happy savings while using time wisely with those you love!

Question: Do you use the Attractions books?

Scheduling: Feeding our Families

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Scheduling: Feeding our Families

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

The cold temperatures and snow have driven us indoors, and I love it! With our grocery shopping done, our family is prepared should we get to stay in for the rest of the week.

In completing the Scheduling 2014 series with the last 4 tasks from the Planning for Success series last year, we are focusing on feeding our families.

From choosing a menu planner to arranging coupon redemption, these tasks will help us save money while using time wisely.

28. Print and Display Menu Planner: Planning for Success – Day 3

When preparing for the Scheduling 2014 series, I wrote this article that included my monthly calendar, menu planner, and water and exercise log. If you do not have a menu planner, then feel free to use my FREE printable.

If you are new to menu planning, then I recommend just writing down what you eat. As you get used to tracking your meals and knowing what you have on hand, then you can start to plan. But for starting out, just record what your family eats.

29. Track your Family’s Favorite Meals: Planning for Success – Day 17

I used to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen often. In the past year, I think I tried 3 new recipes and have repeated one of them.

Whether you like to try new dishes or keep with the tried-and-true, tracking your family’s favorite meals gives you suggestions when life gets busy.

Our family’s favorite meals are written down and kept inside my menu planning notebook. When I need inspiration, I go to the list. To see some of our family’s favorite meals, check out this list of 10 favorites.

30. Design a Quick Meals List: Planning for Success – Day 24

Another great tool for using time wisely is a list of quick meals. These are life-savers when traffic was backed up, homework took longer than expected, or life happened.

Keeping the ingredients for one or two of your quick meals on hand will see you through your busy evening. We used one of these 15 quick meals last night when our plans to meet family fell through due to icy roads.

31. Arrange Coupon Redemption: Planning for Success – Day 31

From daily deals to paper coupons, we keep a stash of coupons handy for family outings. If we find a great deal, I make sure I note the deal on our calendar. This way, I am reminded of the coupon when I schedule or consider an activity around a meal time.

In Scheduling 2014, we are off to a great start. There will be more items added to the calendar throughout the year, but the basics are all covered.

As food is a big part of family life, I find the favorite meals and quick meals lists huge time savers for me. As the masses get hungry and time is short, these meals meet us where we are without a trip through the drive-thru.

As you continue Scheduling 2014 may you find the organization tools you choose a help to using your time wisely. If I have left off any tasks, then please share in the comments. I prefer to have too much on the calendar than not enough. Happy scheduling!

Question: What scheduling tasks have I missed?

How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar

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How to Soften a Bag of Hard SugarMy stockpile currently holds 6 bags of sugar – in addition to other types of baking supplies and food. As I store my stockpile in our garage, the bags of sugar get hard.

Finding that adding moisture to the air in our microwave makes cleaning easy, I decided to try adding the bag of sugar within that same atmosphere.

If I were a student, then this experiment would probably be my science fair project.

Instead of How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar, my hypothesis would be Adding Moisture in the Air will Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar. Since my experiment worked, I am glad to report the results.

How to Soften a Bag of Hard Sugar

1. Fill a glass measuring cup with 2 cups of water.

2. Heat the water in the microwave for 5 minutes.

3. Let rest for 2 minutes as the steam fills the microwave’s interior.

4. Open the bag of sugar from the top.

5. Quickly open the microwave door and insert the opened bag of sugar.

6. Close the microwave door.

7. Heat the sugar and water for 1 minute.

8. Let rest for 1-2 minutes as the steam softens the sugar.

9. Remove the bag of sugar and feel the softness by squeezing the bag.

10. If the bag is still hard, repeat steps 7-9.

More than Just a Bag of Sugar

In addition to bags of sugar and brown sugar, this method also works to soften bread. We add moisture to our microwave before heating leftover pizza, breadsticks, corn bread, and biscuits. With the added moisture, the bread perks up and is soft to eat.

Though no science fair projects are on our horizon, I still enjoy experimenting to finding solutions to issues around our home. Solving the dilemma of how to soften a bag of hard sugar frees me from worrying about the sugar getting hard in the garage.

Without worry, I am better able to use time wisely keeping up with other tasks, like laundry. 😉 Happy experimenting!

Question: What experiments have you tried?

Coupons: Ask the Cashier for Clarification

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Coupons: Ask the Cashier for Clarification

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

I went shopping this week at Publix and purchased among other things 2 – 75-count canisters of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for $3.50 each. In the store flyer was a coupon for $2 off a package of 2 – 75-count canisters of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes.

I clipped the coupon when I was preparing for the shopping trip, so I had it at checkout. After the cashier started ringing up the items, I asked her about using the store coupon as I was purchasing 2 – 75-count canisters, but individual containers rather than one package with 2 containers.

She said she would try the coupon and if it rejected it (meaning: beeped at us), then I wouldn’t be able to use it. Well, the coupon scanned, and I saved an additional $2.00. Yay!

When questioning coupons, ask the cashier for clarification. Hearing the request, the cashier is alerted that a coupon might not scan, and it informs the cashier that I want to be ethical and am not trying to slide an extra coupon through my transaction.

Asking a question has increased our savings as most cashiers will try the coupon. If it works, then I save more. If it doesn’t work, then I can better prepare the next time I get a similar coupon – although I will probably ask again. 😉 Happy savings!

Question: Do you ask the cashier for clarification on a coupon?

Scheduling: Finding, Using, and Evaluating a Savings Tracker

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Scheduling: Finding, Using, and Evaluating a Savings Tracker

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Seeing the amount saved each year is such a boost for me. Though each shopping trip is not going to produce a 90% savings, I know that I am saving each time I use a strategy that prevents me from paying full price.

When I pay or schedule our bills twice a month, I also enter our receipt information into our savings tracker. These spreadsheets show me our immediate savings and calculates our savings for the year.

For 2013, I downloaded the savings tracker twice. I used one for our food purchases and the other for everything else – drugstores, electronics, gifts, entertainment, etc. Watching our savings grow, I loved viewing the final results because my goal is to save at least 50%:

2013 Savings Results

Food

            • Spent – $5,962.05
            • Saved – $3,188.83
            • Savings percentage – 53.49%

Other

            • Spent – $4,042.33
            • Saved – $4,570.09
            • Savings percentage – 88.45%

9. Download a Savings Tracker: Planning for Success – Day 10

In planning for 2014, I have placed our 2014 receipts in a pile. The next item on my to do list is downloading a savings tracker to continue seeing the results of combining sales with coupons to feed and nourish our family while stretching our dollars.

Finding a Savings Tracker

If you are looking for a savings tracker to calculate your savings, then try one of these tools:

Using a Savings Tracker

Having used Karrie’s Coupon Savings Tracker for a few years, I find her 2012 version my personal favorite which I will be using again for 2014.

To get two copies, I download the tracker document to my computer, change the title to “2014 savings tracker – food,” and place that document in my Deal folder within My Documents.

Once that document is in place, I open it up, and select “save as.” I then change the title to “2014 savings tracker – other,” and save it.

The result is two documents of the same tracker ready for the information from our receipts.

Evaluating a Savings Tracker

If your time is limited, then you might need to forgo using a savings tracker. For me, the investment of time is invaluable. I find the savings tracker the best tool to evaluate our spending:

1. Immediate calculations

I can see how much we have spent for the month to adjust our spending as needed.

2. Encouragement along the way

When I take a break from couponing and concentrate shopping at Aldi, I know I am saving my family money. But when I get a great deal and see that savings on the spreadsheet, I get excited and want to do it again.

3. Identify changes in our spending habits

By purchasing more fruits and fresh vegetables this year, I saw an increase in our weekly food spending. We went from averaging $80 per week to $115 per week. This $35 weekly increase cost us $1,820 this year.

4. Provide details for considering other options

As we value the fruits and vegetables, I might look into a co-op during growing season to reduce our out-of-pocket expenses on fruits and vegetables while still feeding our family well.

Another option to consider is purchasing a portion of a cow to lower the cost of beef at the grocery store.

With an investment of time to input our receipts into a savings tracker, I am able to evaluate our spending and use the information to better save our family next year. As I see prices increasing, I only get more excited to see how I can use multiple savings strategies to save our family money.

Keep on scheduling 2014. If you have the time to invest, then focus on finding, using, and evaluating a savings tracker. As your calendar fills up, you might find your time best spent on other items. That’s great.

You know what you can and cannot do. Please do not expect more of yourself than you can give. Find what works for you as you continue using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: If you used a savings tracker last year, what is your savings percentage? Remember, you have to start somewhere. 😀