Zion's Bank offers a free online service where you can track your budget for a specific project, for your monthly expenses, for an upcoming event, or for holiday gifts and budgeting. You do not have to be a member of Zion's Bank to participate (I am not a member). You only have to create an account using your email address as a username and set up a password.
You can track your monthly expenses, such as your mortgage, utilities, grocery, etc in the Monthly Planner. The Event Planner is set up as a wedding (sample) and the Project Planner is set up with a sample as a home remodel, but you can customize it to be whatever you want the project/event to be.
I used the Gift Planner last year to keep track of my Christmas purchases. I liked it because my kids can read now (and also read cursive, lol) so I can't hide my lists from them like I used to! Also, because it has a password, I can hide what I have purchased from my husband so he also gets surprised on Christmas day. I also liked it because it tallies up the total you have spent in a spreadsheet and you can easily see how much money you have spent so far, which can be eye-opening! You can also access it from your Blackberry or from your work computer, and not be stuck without your list when you have a minute to run out shopping. You could certainly create your own spreadsheet (if you are someone who simply has a love for those.... ahem, Lori.......) but this is already done for you, and it works well.
Just passing it along as we all start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. The website is http://www.zionsbankezbudget.com/.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sack Lunch Ideas
My kids are very excited about packing their lunches from home this year, for some reason. They have always enjoyed school lunch in the past, but each year is different, I suppose. I have been researching some ideas, and I am posting them below. Thanks to my super organized and thrifty friend, Jen, for some great ideas, too! I hope they will help you out.
An edit to this post: I think I have figured out how to upload a Word document to blogger and you can print it from your computer instead of having to scroll through all the suggestions below. Hope it works. Click to view document for sack lunch ideas. If it works, comment and let me know! Thanks!
As for packing lunch for an adult, consider if there is access to a microwave. If not, purchase a good quality thermos food jar that can keep foods hot or cold. You might also want one for beverage. They come in kids' varieties (smaller and cuter) and adult & teen varieties. They even have some for babies. I personally really like the thermos brand. I have been extremely impressed with them. I got mine at Target. They also have them at Walmart, Amazon.com, and Shopko, etc. so look around. Initially, the cost of investing in these seems very expensive (that's because it is!). When you purchase a nice quality lunch sack, a beverage thermos and a food jar, it can be over $30-35. But the thermos, insulated bag and food jar I bought for my son when he was in Kindergarten are all still in great condition and he is now in 5th grade, so I figure it was a good investment. They have been extremely durable (and no, I am not getting paid for anything I am suggesting!!) You might also look into thrift shops for used thermoses if you can find them. (And my kids have been lectured on how much they cost and that they'd better keep track of their stuff!! lol)
NOTE: if you "preheat" the food jar by filling it with hot water for about 5 minutes before you fill it with food, it will stay hotter longer. You also want to use plastic silverware so you don't scratch the protective surface on the food jar.
The lunch sacks I bought for my kids have a small zippered pouch on the outside, where I have stashed a small Ziploc back filled with quarters. They can use this to purchase a milk box at school if they want to. Our school charges $0.25 for milk.
I also purchased some small plastic containers to put the food in. Wal-mart has some sandwich containers that are easy for little hands to open. I think they were about $1 a piece, and then you don't have to keep purchasing Ziploc bags. If you really want to be frugal, you can use cloth napkins, too. Also, pick up a small ice pack at Wal-mart or Target for around $1 and you can keep a sandwich or yogurt nice and cold until lunch time.
Food ideas:Bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter. If your child only will eat 1/2 a bagel, then cover the topping with a piece of plastic wrap.
Sandwiches (cold cuts or PB&J, tuna fish, chicken salad, egg salad, etc.)
Crackers and cheese
Crackers with peanut butter between them (cracker sandwiches)
Spaghettios, ravioli, spaghetti, soups, macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, baked potato
Hard-boiled eggs
Meatballs
Tuna salad with crackers
Burrito roll ups
Any kind of leftovers
Muffins
Chips and salsa
Pita pockets or tortillas (rolled up "wrap" style) or English muffins used for sandwiches to provide variety
Chili (you can add chips like Tostitos scoops, Fritos, etc.)
Homemade lunchables (i.e, pepperoni & cheese & crackers; cut up bologna w/cheese & crackers, etc.) Look at the Lunchables varieties to spark your brain for some ideas.
Cold pizza (if your family member likes that.)
Cold cereal (send the milk in the thermos and pack the dry cereal in the food jar)
Side Dishes:Applesauce
Yogurt
Pudding
Jell-o
Canned or fresh fruit (grapes, peaches, Mandarin oranges, apples, bananas, nectarines, kiwi, oranges, plums, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
Veggies and dip (carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, celery, cherry or grape tomatoes, etc.)
Popcorn
Crackers
Chips
Cheese sticks (make your own by cutting up a block-- it's far cheaper)
Granola bars (you can make your own. There are lots of recipes out there.)
Cookie
Dried fruit (Craisins, raisins, blueberries, apricots, banana chips, apples, pineapple, prunes, etc.)
Fruit salad ("frog-eyed" salad or ancini de pepe, Waldorf salad, etc.)
Trail Mix
Beef Jerky
Nuts (if they are allowed at your school. Check because some kids have allergies)
Cottage cheese
Pretzels
Beverage ideas:
Freeze juice boxes and allow them to thaw until lunch time
Juice, milk, water or Kool-aid (sometimes) will stay cold in a thermos
Occasionally you can offer them strawberry or chocolate milk, (or even an instant breakfast shake for an adult).
Buy milk at school
Hot chocolate
Also, check out Kraftfoods.com for some great ideas and recipes for kids' lunches and budget adult lunches. Enjoy!!
An edit to this post: I think I have figured out how to upload a Word document to blogger and you can print it from your computer instead of having to scroll through all the suggestions below. Hope it works. Click to view document for sack lunch ideas. If it works, comment and let me know! Thanks!
As for packing lunch for an adult, consider if there is access to a microwave. If not, purchase a good quality thermos food jar that can keep foods hot or cold. You might also want one for beverage. They come in kids' varieties (smaller and cuter) and adult & teen varieties. They even have some for babies. I personally really like the thermos brand. I have been extremely impressed with them. I got mine at Target. They also have them at Walmart, Amazon.com, and Shopko, etc. so look around. Initially, the cost of investing in these seems very expensive (that's because it is!). When you purchase a nice quality lunch sack, a beverage thermos and a food jar, it can be over $30-35. But the thermos, insulated bag and food jar I bought for my son when he was in Kindergarten are all still in great condition and he is now in 5th grade, so I figure it was a good investment. They have been extremely durable (and no, I am not getting paid for anything I am suggesting!!) You might also look into thrift shops for used thermoses if you can find them. (And my kids have been lectured on how much they cost and that they'd better keep track of their stuff!! lol)
NOTE: if you "preheat" the food jar by filling it with hot water for about 5 minutes before you fill it with food, it will stay hotter longer. You also want to use plastic silverware so you don't scratch the protective surface on the food jar.
The lunch sacks I bought for my kids have a small zippered pouch on the outside, where I have stashed a small Ziploc back filled with quarters. They can use this to purchase a milk box at school if they want to. Our school charges $0.25 for milk.
I also purchased some small plastic containers to put the food in. Wal-mart has some sandwich containers that are easy for little hands to open. I think they were about $1 a piece, and then you don't have to keep purchasing Ziploc bags. If you really want to be frugal, you can use cloth napkins, too. Also, pick up a small ice pack at Wal-mart or Target for around $1 and you can keep a sandwich or yogurt nice and cold until lunch time.
Food ideas:Bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter. If your child only will eat 1/2 a bagel, then cover the topping with a piece of plastic wrap.
Sandwiches (cold cuts or PB&J, tuna fish, chicken salad, egg salad, etc.)
Crackers and cheese
Crackers with peanut butter between them (cracker sandwiches)
Spaghettios, ravioli, spaghetti, soups, macaroni and cheese, ramen noodles, baked potato
Hard-boiled eggs
Meatballs
Tuna salad with crackers
Burrito roll ups
Any kind of leftovers
Muffins
Chips and salsa
Pita pockets or tortillas (rolled up "wrap" style) or English muffins used for sandwiches to provide variety
Chili (you can add chips like Tostitos scoops, Fritos, etc.)
Homemade lunchables (i.e, pepperoni & cheese & crackers; cut up bologna w/cheese & crackers, etc.) Look at the Lunchables varieties to spark your brain for some ideas.
Cold pizza (if your family member likes that.)
Cold cereal (send the milk in the thermos and pack the dry cereal in the food jar)
Side Dishes:Applesauce
Yogurt
Pudding
Jell-o
Canned or fresh fruit (grapes, peaches, Mandarin oranges, apples, bananas, nectarines, kiwi, oranges, plums, watermelon, cantaloupe, honey dew, strawberries, raspberries, etc.)
Veggies and dip (carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, celery, cherry or grape tomatoes, etc.)
Popcorn
Crackers
Chips
Cheese sticks (make your own by cutting up a block-- it's far cheaper)
Granola bars (you can make your own. There are lots of recipes out there.)
Cookie
Dried fruit (Craisins, raisins, blueberries, apricots, banana chips, apples, pineapple, prunes, etc.)
Fruit salad ("frog-eyed" salad or ancini de pepe, Waldorf salad, etc.)
Trail Mix
Beef Jerky
Nuts (if they are allowed at your school. Check because some kids have allergies)
Cottage cheese
Pretzels
Beverage ideas:
Freeze juice boxes and allow them to thaw until lunch time
Juice, milk, water or Kool-aid (sometimes) will stay cold in a thermos
Occasionally you can offer them strawberry or chocolate milk, (or even an instant breakfast shake for an adult).
Buy milk at school
Hot chocolate
Also, check out Kraftfoods.com for some great ideas and recipes for kids' lunches and budget adult lunches. Enjoy!!
I'm Back
There was quite a break! The cross country move killed my "frugal-ness" as I saw money flying out of our account at rapid speeds. But I'm back and I'm here ready to be frugal. Three topics I am going to explore the next week and hopefully report on:
-budget friendly daily packed lunches for my husband and daughter
-budget friendly date ideas
-"allowance" program for my 6 year old sans money
-budget friendly date ideas
-"allowance" program for my 6 year old sans money
If you have any suggestions I'd love to hear. If not, I'll be back soon with my findings!
Monday, August 3, 2009
Great Website
I came across this website yesterday in the Sunday paper....http://blog.superhealthykids.com/. I've been checking it out today, and I am super happy with the meal ideas bar on the side. I'm always looking for new things to cook for dinner that are healthy and inexpensive. She has a lot of great recipes. Check it out. We're having black bean burgers tonight and lentil sloppy joes next week.
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