#8: The last bit

My Mom is an expert with a spatula.  I've never seen anyone with talent like hers.  But for the rest of us, here is a tip for using up the last remnants in food jars.

Peanut Butter:  add a half cup of oatmeal, some milk, sugar, dried fruit, whatever floats your boat.  Let sit overnight and in the morning enjoy a nourishing cup of soaked-oatmeal!

Mustard:  Add a little olive oil and some vinegar to create a lovely salad dressing.

Catsup:  Fill the container half-way with warm water, shake then pour into any soup meatloaf, or casserole that has a tomato base.

love always,
JEnny

#7: Gifts

Somehow I think I grew up in a family with a  wrapping paper problem.

Ever since I can remember, my Mom has saved wrapping paper off of presents and it's one thing I haven't been able to escape.  I'm a little embarrassed to admit; I do it, too.

Here is a fun way to re-purpose used wrapping paper without looking uber-cheap:  Run used wrapping paper through a shredder and use it as packing in gift bags or boxes.

love always,
JEnny

#6: Pizza, anyone?

 Here's an awesome one:  Did you know that you can use the bottom of your cast iron pan as a pizza stone?!?  I've always wanted one but never had the big bucks to shell out.

Homemade pizza can cost under $2 for an entire pizza.  Here is the link to a homemade pizza crust that really tastes like a store bought one but takes only a few minutes to make (scroll about 1/6 of the way down the page).

love always,
JEnny

#5: Credit Cards

 This is a really good one I just heard:  erase the stored credit card numbers from your online accounts.  I think this one could easily save me a few dollars each month, because it's almost too easy to pop onto Amazon or iTunes or some app store.  "It's only 99cents!!"  Well, those certainly add up!  I'll have to think twice if I have to run out to the car, find my wallet, and reenter all of those numbers just for one little dollar item.

love always,
JEnny

#4: 30 Day List

I read recently that a good way to keep an eye on minor spending (the kind that can add up so quickly) is to keep a thirty day list.  You simply write down the little things you think about purchasing and then wait 30 days before you actually purchase them.  Knowing myself, I'm sure I would not return to purchase that tube of chapstick or mp3.  How about you?

love always,
JEnny

Tip #3:Utilities

One time my friend had a technician at her home looking at her air conditioning.  He told her that if she left her fan on all the time it would better circulate the air in her home and the air conditioning and heater would kick on less, thus saving her money on her utility bills.

love always,
JEnny

#2: Tires

So over Christmas break I had a lot of extra time on my hands, especially after I was bedridden with the flu for several days.  Having run out of things to read or watch, I decided to check out past episodes of Mythbusters , a show I had not watched before but came highly rated by my 13-year old ;)

On this particular episode the guys checked into the myth that under-inflated tires create worse gas mileage and found it to be true.  You'll have to watch the episode to hear all of the cool ins-and-outs.

So today's money saving tip is:  Check your tires regularly to save money when driving.

Steps:

1.  Find out what your car's tire pressure is supposed to be at.
2.  Acquire a tire pressure checking device and use it regularly (I'm reading weekly, I think every time I fill-up will do).
3. For even better savings, take the time to find out which gas stations near you offer free air.  You won't actually be saving anything if you end up spending $1 for air every time you fill up!!

Here is an interesting discussion about the science behind why cars lose air pressure in the winter.
 

Safe driving!!



love always,
JEnny