Living Frugal Tips http://www.livingfrugaltips.com Create a Rich Life by Living on Less Mon, 20 May 2013 19:14:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 21 Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Fast & Affordable http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/velveeta-cheese-recipes/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/velveeta-cheese-recipes/#comments Sat, 18 May 2013 18:40:41 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=3888

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Quick and easy, budget-friendly Velveeta Cheese recipes. Recipe ideas contain only a few ingredients and are things you keep on hand. Fast, fun and affordable Velveeta recipe ideas.

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21 Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Fast & Affordable is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Velveeta Mac and Cheese2 21 Velveeta Cheese Recipes   Fast & Affordable

Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Mac and Cheesy Cheese

Not sure what to cook for dinner? Need some quick, low cost meal ideas? Here are 21 quick and easy, budget-friendly Velveeta Cheese recipes. Recipe ideas contain only a few ingredients and they are likely things you keep on hand. Some ideas are ways to quickly “jazz” up a pre-packaged product for a homemade taste that’s great.

Velveeta Cheese is a staple in most homes and has been since the early 1900′s when it was first made. Its velvety smooth texture and meltability make it a great addition to many recipes and its long shelf like means no waste due to spoilage. While many may frown upon this processed cheese product, it was actually the first cheese product to gain the American Media Associations’s seal of approval.

Try some of these delicious Velveeta Cheese recipes and quickly see how adding in some Velveeta Cheese can create rich and creamy yumminess! Ah … the comforts of comfort food.

Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Appetizers:

1. Beefy Queso Dip (of course) – Brown and drain 1 lb of lean ground beef. Add 1 can of well drained Rotel Tomatoes, 1 can of cream soup (cream of mushroom, cheddar or chicken). Stir well on medium heat until blended. Finally add 1 box of Velveeta Cheese cubed. Stir until melted and creamy. Turn to the lowest heat and keep on stove and serve in small dip bowls. Or, after browning ground beef everything can be placed in a crock pot. Heat on high until melted and then lower heat to low or warm setting. Serve with your favorite Tortilla Chips or Frito Scoops.

2. Sausage Dip – Brown a pack of Italian sausage, drain. Add 1 can well drained Rotel tomatoes and 1/2 package Velveeta Cheese. A great twist with a different flavor. This is thicker and great served with Scoops or Fritos.

3. Chili Cheese Dip – Add cubed Velveeta Cheese to a can of Chili and microwave until melted and hot. Stirring occasionally. Serve with Tortilla Chips or Frito Scoops.

4. Fruit & Cheese Poppers – Simply cube it up and incorporate it on a cheese tray with other cheese selections and fruit. Or a fun idea is to cube the cheese and place a grape on top and stick it with a toothpick to hold in place. Guests can grab and pop in their mouth. No need for serving utensils.

Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Main Meals:

5. Velveeta Rotel Chicken Spaghetti -  Grown up mac and cheesy goodness and a favorite of the Velveeta Cheese recipes. Here is the recipe: Velveeta Rotel Chicken Spaghetti.

6. Mac and Cheesy Cheese – Jazz up a boxed mac and cheese by adding a bit of Velveeta Cheese for an instant taste of home made. Through in some Parmesan cheese or other cheese you have on hand for an even more “gourmet” taste. Place it in a casserole dish, top with a little more Velveeta is you like and then bake at 350 degrees for a few minutes until the cheese is melted, a bit browned and bubbly.

7. Beefy Salsa Mac – Make a boxed mac and cheese as directed. Add some ground beef and add a cup or so of salsa or a drained can of Rotel Tomatoes.

8. Fiesta Scrambled Eggs – Mix 8 – 10 eggs with a large tablespoon of sour cream (instead of milk). Add 1 can well drained Rotel Tomatoes and approximately 1 cup Velveeta Cheese cubes. Vary amount based on number of eggs. I use 2 eggs per person.Cook scrambled eggs as usual and stir occasionally until cheese is melter. A delicious twist on scrambled eggs.

9. Cheesy Broccoli Potato – Add Velveeta Cheese and some steamed broccoli to a baked potato for a quick meal.

10. Cheesy Potato – Same as above but without the broccoli.

11. Grilled Cheese – Just butter up some bread and place a slice of Velveeta Cheese (from the boxed variety not the sliced singles) in between and grill it up.

12. Hot Dogs & Crescent Rolls – Take a pack of Crescent Rolls and roll them out and carefully break apart as indicated. Place 1 hotdog and a narrow slice of Velveeta Cheese in each and roll shut, pinching slightly to seal. Bake as directed on package.

13. Velveeta Cheese Fondue – Melt Velveeta Cheese in fondue pot. Can also added some fresh grated Parmesan cheese or other cheeses you may have on hand. Stir until melted. Season as desired. Serve with cubed up French Bread and slices of Granny Smith apples (tart goes great with the cheese).

14. Stuffed Peppers – Add Velveeta Cheese to your favorite stuffed pepper recipe. You can add a slice to the top or add a few cubes to the stuffing in each pepper.

15. Nachos – Top a plate of nacho chips with with browned ground beef, salsa and top with Velveeta Cheese. You can place in the oven for a quick melt or even microwave for 1-2 minutes to melt the cheese.

16. Stuffed Cheese Burger – Top a grilled burger with a bit or stuff the burger with a cube or two. If stuffing, be sure to seal the edges really well so it stays inside the burger and doesn’t ooze out. You can also add a slice to any sandwich for some cheesy goodness.

17. Broccoli Cheese Soup – Cook 2 packages broccoli florets with 2 15 oz. cans of chicken broth until tender. Puree with a hand blender and then add 8-12 oz. Cubed Velveeta Cheese. Stir until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste. OR, you can simply use a broccoli soup starter mix and cook as directed and added the cubed Velveeta at the end and stir on low until melted. Super easy.

18. Potato Cheese Soup – Can prepare like Broccoli Cheese Soup (above), replacing the broccoli with the potato.

Velveeta Cheese Recipes – Sides:

19. Cheesy Cornbread Muffins – Add some cubed Velveeta Cheese and a finely diced Jalapeno Pepper to a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix and you will forever change the way you eat corn bread. These are great and can be served with any one of these meal ideas.

20. Broccoli Rice Casserole – Make a package of Uncle Ben’s or Lipton’s Broccoli Cheddar Rice as Directed. Add 2 cups steamed and chopped broccoli and 1 to 1-1/2 cups cubed Velveeta Cheese. Stir all together and place in a baking dish and heat at 350 degrees just till hot and bubbly approximately 20 minutes or so.You can also add a sauteed onion if you’d like.

21. Broccoli with Cheese Sauce – Simply melt the Velveeta in the microwave and pour over or toss the prepared steamed broccoli.

For more creative and delicious Velveeta Cheese recipes out the Velveeta Kraft Recipes website.

Also, always watch for sales. Since this product has a long shelf life you can stock up. Better yet, get it on sale AND use a coupon. Check for a coupon now.

Please share any other quick and easy Velveeta Cheese recipes you have.

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Taco Pie Recipe – Quick Mexican Favorite http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/taco-pie-recipe/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/taco-pie-recipe/#comments Mon, 06 May 2013 17:08:38 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=2536

Taco Pie Recipe – Quick Mexican Favorite is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

This is a quick and easy Taco Pie recipe that's a great Mexican favorite. Quick prep and short cooking time make it a great weeknight dinner when on the go.

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Taco Pie 300x206 Taco Pie Recipe   Quick Mexican Favorite

Quick & Easy Taco Pie

This Taco Pie recipe is quick and easy and a great Mexican favorite. The quick prep and short cooking time make it a great dish for weeknight dinner when you’re on the go.

It’s also a fun dish to make for a dinner with friends or family. You can set up a topping station and let them add different garnish and top the way they like it.

I often serve this with black beans and rice, refried beans or a simple salad.

Enjoy!

Taco Pie
 
Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

Author:
Recipe type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 4 – 6

Ingredients
  • Ingredients for Taco Pie:
  • 1 (8 ounce) package refrigerated crescent rolls
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
  • 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
  • 8 ounces shredded Mexican-style cheese blend
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) package crushed tortilla chips

Instructions
  1. Directions for Making Taco Pie:
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  3. Lay Crescent Roll dough flat on the bottom of a square cake pan or a glass pie plate.
  4. Bake Crescent Roll dough according to package directions.
  5. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat.
  6. Add the taco seasoning and stir together well.
  7. When dough is done, remove from oven and place meat mixture on top, then layer with sour cream and cheese, and then top off with the crushed nacho chips.
  8. Return to oven and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 10 minutes, or until cheese has melted.

Notes
You can garnish your Taco Pie with a variety or options — diced tomatoes, sliced avocados, shredded lettuce, black olives and extra cheese. it’s fun to place the garnish in little bowls and let everyone top their Taco Pie with what they like.

Here are a few other recipes that are great Mexican favorites:

Velveeta Rotel Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Crock Pot Taco Soup

Watermelon Salsa

Skinny Margarita Recipe

 

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9 Fashion Tips to Dress for Less http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/saving-tips/shopping-tips/fashion-tips-dress-for-less/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/saving-tips/shopping-tips/fashion-tips-dress-for-less/#comments Thu, 02 May 2013 19:14:09 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=3736

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Learn how to dress for less with these savvy shopping tips. These 9 useful fashion tips will have you "dressing to the nines" without breaking the bank.

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Dress for Less 300x246 9 Fashion Tips to Dress for Less

Monochromatic Wardrobe with Mix & Match Options

Dress for less and “dress to the nines” with these savvy shopping tips. With the change of every season we are inundated with all the new fashion trends and we are all tempted to buy all the latest clothing, shoes and accessories to update our wardrobe. These useful fashion tips will have you looking your best without breaking the bank.

Tips to Dress for Less:

1. Think Monochromatic and Buy Versatile Items

Only buy items that you can mix and match with several different outfits. Think neutral colors like black, white, navy, grey brown and tan. These are perfect since they go with many different colors. Jeans and black slacks can be mixed with different shirts, jackets and accessories to look like new outfits. Or, go monochromatic with an even more limited color palette where everything in your closet is interchangeable. Note: This also makes packing for travel much easier too!

2. Think Classic

The 80/20 rule applies here … women wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. Is this true for you?Avoid the super trendy stuff like big ruffles, crazy zippers and the latest seasonal colors as these fads come and go quickly and then you’re left with a closet full of stuff you don’t wear. Instead buy classic pieces that you can wear through the seasons and through the years. That’s truly how you will maximize savings and dress for less. My go-to favorites … Banana Republic grey, black and tan slacks and sweaters that I bought at the Outlet store, Gap t-shirts, Paige Jeans I got for 75% off and Christopher Blue Jeans I found at Goodwill. They’ve all be worn season after season.

3. Shop Vintage & Thrift Stores

Shopping at vintage stores and thrift stores is a great way to dress for less and find amazing items at an enormous discount. Look for classics. Look for great labels. Check everything out carefully for rips, tears, stains and fading. Try stuff on. Ask what their return policy is. For more Thrift Store Tips check out my post Thrifty Shopping at Thrift Shops.

4. Choose Quality Made

I always look for quality labels, fabrics and construction … but at a deep discount of course. If you’re buying classic items that are versatile you’ll be mixing and matching and wearing them often, so you’ll want them to last. Avoid cheap fabrics, clothes with embellishments, and avoid dry clean only if you can.

5. Determine Cost-Per-Wear (CPW)

This is a little formula that I work in my head while shopping and then think about over time as I look in my closet. It’s simply (COST OF ITEM) divided by (# OF TIMES YOU WEAR IT) = CPW

Example:

Trendy blouse on sale for $20 / 3 times worn in that season = $10 CPW

Classic blouse on sale for $50 / 20+ times worn over the seasons/years = $2.5 CPW

You get the point. You can justify spending a bit more for standard, long-lasting things like jeans, black slacks, the classic little black dress, the crisp white blouse, good shoes and a versatile handbag.

6. Accessorize for Less

You can often update your wardrobe for the new season simply buy purchasing a new scarf in the hot new color, a necklace, or new handbag for a fraction of the cost. Adding that splash of color can have big impact for a modest price compared to an entire outfit.

7. Never Pay Retail

If you want to dress for less … never pay retail. Never ever! I am always amused by people who pay $175 retail for a pair of jeans that I can buy for between $4.00 and $40.00 depending where I find them. Dress for less by shopping sales, shopping thrift stores, and looking for store coupons and online coupon codes before you buy. Price shop with your phone while in the store. Google labels on the go that you might not be familiar with.

8. Buy Off-Season

This takes a little bit of planning (see below), but can save you big money. At the end of every season stores deeply discount merchandise. Heading into Spring you can get Winter Coats for 75% off or more.

9. Think Ahead and Inventory Your Closet

This is the last fashion tip, but most important fashion tip to dress for less. Really take a good hard look in your closet. Determine what percentage of your clothes you actually wear. Does the 80/20 rule apply to you? Make a list and jot down wants and needs. Look at the list a few weeks later and see if you still really want and need everything on the list. This gets you past those impulse purchases. Do some research and make a game out of getting great bargains.

Remember that looking great is very important, but not at the sacrifice of saving money. With these tips you can do both. Please share all your frugal tips and ways you dress for less. Also, checkout my Pinterest Style Board (below) for lots of great fashion looks and ideas.

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8 Great Websites for Free eBooks http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/finance-and-tech/great-websites-free-ebooks/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/finance-and-tech/great-websites-free-ebooks/#comments Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:41:38 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=3339

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8 great websites to download free eBooks. Special sifter tools, daily deals, high rated & hand picked. They speed up the search so you have more time to read.

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free ebooks free kindle books copy 8 Great Websites for Free eBooks

Find Free Kindle Books with these Great Free eBook Websites

I’ve continued the search to bring you more great websites for free Ebooks, free Kindle books, free online books or whatever else you might be searching for.

The No-brainer is Amazon Free Kindle Books which is a must stop place with over 26,000 free eBook titles and growing daily. I like how they break free eBooks out by category, but also by Last 30 Days, Last 90 Days and Coming Soon so I can know about all the new stuff that’s coming.

But, let’s move beyond the obvious. I’ve reviewed new sites that are popping up daily and several readers had great suggestions. Here are some new and some different sites worth taking a look at.

Beyond the Basics – 8 Great Websites to Download Free eBooks:

Free eBook Categories Galore

eBook Junkie - As a self-professed eBook Junkie, I may have found a new favorite website to download free ebooks. eBook Junkie has over 20 different categories with sub-categories; art, cooking, crafts, home & garden, mystery & thrillers, self-help and many, many more. Just make sure you click on FREE eBooks as they also have Premium eBooks on the site too.

Free Tool to Find Free eBooks on Amazon

Freebook Sifter – An interesting site/tool that makes it easier to find free Kindle books on Amazon. They do the heavy lifting and update their database daily by adding new free eBooks and removing eBooks that are no longer free. Simply click on a category and you get a sorted list of free eBooks in that category. They are sorted by the number of ratings with the highest listed first, making for a quick read. Once you select a free eBook and click on it you are taken to the Amazon Kindle interface you are familiar with. Worth checking out.

The Daily Deals of Free eBooks

Pixel of Ink - If you like the daily deal sites then this might be the free eBook site for you. Pixel of Ink features daily deals of free Kindle books and other specials. On a daily basis they are sorting through hundreds of Free Kindle Books to bring your the best reads.

A Buffet of Free eBooks

Weber Books  – Check out this site daily (Monday – Friday) where you will find a hand-picked list of highly rated free ebooks. These free Kindle books are available for a limited time for anyone with a registered Amazon account. The list is updated every afternoon and the free books are listed on the home “Today’s Freebies” page.

The Grand Daddy of Free eBooks

Project Gutenberg Free eBooks - Project Gutenberg offers over 42,000 free eBooks and free Kindle books that your can download or read online. As the first and largest single collection of free electronic books, or eBooks you are sure to find what you are looking for.

Discover Independent & Aspiring Authors & Self Publish

Foboko – This is the sister site to Free-ebooks.net and offers something different for those of you that like to break away from all the bestsellers. Discover new authors and even start your own eBook and self publish it.

Textbooks, Business Books and Travel Guides

Bookboon.com  - Bookboon.com offers a broad range of over 1500 free eBooks in seven languages, directly available to download from the website. They specialize in three key areas:

  • Online Textbooks – Free online textbooks for students written by highly respected professors from top universities. Topics include: economics, statistics, IT, engineering and natural science. It’s a great place to go for continuing your education. Also check it out before you pay top dollar for books each semester.
  • Business Books – Free eBooks for business professionals written exclusively for bookboon.com by industry experts. Topics range from personal development to accounting, finance, management and strategic marketing.
  • Free Online Travel Guides - When planning a trip, make this your first stop for free travel guides. Destinations include the USA, Europe and Asia.

Classic Literature

Ebook-Cafe – Explore all of the great literary classics conveniently located in one place. All of the ebooks are free and easy to download. They have over 60 classic authors and with a simple click you get a brief author bio and a list of all the free ebooks to download written by that author. This is probably the best site I’ve seen for finding the classics.

 

Once you’ve checked out the 8 great sites above you will see that it all comes down to personal preference in terms of where you go for your free ebooks. Every site has a unique spin, some sites have broader categories and some are very specialized.

As an eBook junkie, it’s great to see reading on the rise. In fact, the most popular post on Living Frugal Tips is 17 Best Websites to Download Free Ebooks. At the time of writing this, it’s been pinned on Pinterest over 48,000 times and climbing. Check it out if you haven’t already and then you’ll have 25 sites to choose from.

Please share other great websites for free eBooks. Oh, and never forget about your local library.

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Free Online Career Planning Tools Help Job Search http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/career/free-online-career-planning-tools/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/career/free-online-career-planning-tools/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:46:40 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=3030

Free Online Career Planning Tools Help Job Search is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Free online career planning tools help you assess career interests, research companies, find & build social networks & help you prepare for an interview.

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Happy lady on computer 200x300 Free Online Career Planning Tools Help Job SearchUse these free online career planning tools to help you maximize your job search and career planning efforts. These valuable free online career planning tools can help you assess your career interests, research companies, find recommended networking websites, and help you get prepared for your job search or even guide you down a new career path. 

Free Online Career Planning Tools:

Career Assessment

Discover your personal passion with these career assessment tools. Matching your personal interests and aptitudes with the right job is what proper career planning is all about. We all excel at things we enjoy … and enjoy things that we excel at. Find the right job for you.

Assessment.com

Assessment.com contains a career assessment tool called MAPP which stands for Motivational Appraisal of Personal Potential. In a few minutes you can answer a list of questions and determine your motivations towards work. Based on your key motivators, career categories/fields are recommended that match your interests and motivations. You can get a free report or a full report for a fee … but stick with the free report for now.

The Princeton Review Career Quiz

This is a really quick, fun quiz that takes just a minute or two and then you immediately get the results of your interest and style profile. By signing up for free, you then get a list of careers that match up with you interest and style. You can click on any of the suggested career fields and it will then give you a day-in-the-life job description, associated careers, and more. Give it a try – you might discover a new interest or validate that you’re currently in the right field. I found out that I’m a match with what I’ve been doing and with what I am currently pursuing.

Company and Industry Research

Research industries and companies and learn all that you can to help with your career planning and job search, and get you prepared for the interviews.

Hoovers Online

A quick one-stop reference for business information: industry overviews, company directories, Fortune 500 lists and more.

BusinessWeek Online – Company Research

Search over 42,000 public and 322,000 private companies worldwide. Find stock quotes, news and press releases, financial data and key competitors. Research compensation, biographies, and board relationships of key company executives.

Forbes -Lists

Lists of everything imaginable – best small companies, best big companies, fastest growing, top private, world’s biggest and more.

The Inc. 500

Quickly get information on the top 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. With a quick click on Top 100 Lists you can drill-down and get all sorts of statistics on the top 100 fastest growing private companies.

Newslink

Easily search for news articles on the web on any given company, industry or topic. The site also has state and market links to every major media outlet: magazine, newspaper, TV and radio for easy access and on news with the U.S. and beyond .

Networking

Never under estimate the power of connections. In many situations it’s who you know that will ultimately get you the interview and  job. And, in many cases employers are actually doing social searches to see how connected and influential you are within your social circles. Build your social and professional networks with these selected networking sites.

Facebook

Everyone knows about this big one, but it’s worth repeating since most people would not naturally think of it from a job search standpoint. But, it helps you connect and share with the people in your life and these friends can help you in your job search.

LinkedIn

From a business networking standpoint this is the best networking site. You can connect with past co-workers, friends and associates on a professional level. You build your network of connections which then builds exponentially based on the “friends of friends” philosophy. You can interact, get introductions, make recommendations, and more. The really nice feature is that it shows you who you are connected to when searching for jobs on the major search sites.

Klout

Klout is the new standard of measure of online influence. Klout measures your influence based on your ability to drive action on social networks and it creates a score based on this influence. Some companies are actually looking at Klout scores as a interview tactic and hiring factor. This might be especially true in sales type positions where influence and persuasion in key.

Pinterest

Yes Pinterest can be considered another one of the free online career planning tools if used properly. You can create boards for companies you are following, interview prep and careers of interest. You can also create an online resume using Pinterest boards to showcase your work, hobbies, volunteer initiatives, etc. Get creative and always remember that building your network is important.

Naymz.com

This is a newer one. It’s a reputation network whereby you build and monitor your online reputation, review your peers, promote your good name on search engines, and communicate with reputable professionals.

Plaxo

Plaxo is a great way to keep all your contacts organized across all the various social networks and all your various devices. When you or any of your contacts makes a change to the stored information, such as updating a new job, change in contact info, etc., these updates appear on your “pulse” page. A really neat way to quickly see who’s going where and doing what.

My hope is that these free online career planning tools help you find the job you are looking for, help get you prepared for an interview and aid in your job search.

Best of luck!

 

 

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Tips to Decorate Your Home on a Budget http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/home-decor/tips-to-decorate-your-home-on-a-budget/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/home-decor/tips-to-decorate-your-home-on-a-budget/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:37:15 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=2932

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Quick tips and easy steps to decorate your home on a budget or quickly change a room on the cheap by repurposing or reusing existing items.

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Tips to Decorate Your Home on a Budget is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

It’s always a lot of fun to decorate your home, or even change things up in a room or two to give it a new look. But, it all comes with a price tag and things can add up quickly. With that said, I wanted to share with you some tips for how to decorate your home on a budget and change it on the cheap. I’ll share a room in our cozy cabin in the woods and hope to get you excited about the thrill of the bargain hunt and finding buried treasures … perhaps buried in a bin at a thrift store or even buried in someone else’s garage. First up is our office loft. We went with the rustic/cabin theme, but it’s a mix of different pieces that work together. See the photos below and after that the list of smart tips that you can use.

cabin loft decor Tips to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

Top: Loft Office At-a-Glance
Bottom Left: Barn Wood Armoire – Craig’s List $200 (Originally $895)
Bottom Right: Desk: – Furniture Thrift Store – $140, Chair – Extra Chair from Farm Table

loft accessories1 Tips to Decorate Your Home on a Budget

Top Left: Frame – $0 Gift, Top Right: Southwest Rug Wall Art – $0 Friend Was Getting Rid of It
Bottom Left: Table – $0 from Friend, Bottom Right: Mason Jars – Goodwill $0.25

 Easy Steps to Decorate Your Home on a Budget:

Step 1: Get Inspired - Find inspiration online. Pinterest is great for this. You can check out my Cabin Decor Board on Pinterest if you’d like. This is where I found things that I love and that I thought would look great in the space. You can also use magazines for inspiration. Most Public Libraries now have adjoining used book stores where they sell used books and magazines for cheap. My library offers the magazines for free. You can’t beat that. In this case I came across a magazine I had never heard of called Country Sampler. I was inspired with every turn of the page and dog-eared favorites.

Step 2: Make a List – Now that you’ve got all sorts of great ideas, make a list of wants and needs. Be as specific as possible and refer back to your inspiration boards or magazines for specifics. For example, I needed a desk and wanted various accessories or pictures that worked with the space such as mason jars and barn wood frames.

Step 3: Set a Budget – You can certainly do this earlier on in the process, but I find that I need a better sense of what I might do with a space first. In this case we wanted to spend $500 or less to decorate this room on a budget..

Step 4: Repurpose or Reuse – Next look around your house for items that could be repurposed or reused in a different manner to check off items on your list. A few examples in my office loft:

  • Our two extra farm table/dining chairs serve as our desk chairs. We simply bring them downstairs if we need them to seat more guests.
  • A plastic lined plant basket now serves as my garbage can.
  • A stone toothbrush holder now holds my pens and pencils.

Step 5: Identify Where to Shop – Remember it’s all about finding the items you want and need at the best prices and to stay within budget. I always start with my needs first, but that doesn’t mean I won’t find some of my “wanted” items along the way. Be resourceful. My go-to list:

  • Friends and Family – We all have stuff that we don’t want, need or use that’s piled up in a garage, stashed in a basement or buried in a cabinet or closet. A lot of times people are happy to give you items that they just want to get rid of. Our friends had a pine sofa table and two end tables that they gave to us for free. They said they didn’t want the hassle of a yard sale and wanted the space back in their garage.
  • Garage Sales or Yard Sales – The best thing is to scout out the big multi-family or community sales, or church sales. Remember to negotiate.
  • Craigslist.com – This is a goldmine and where we got our barn wood armoire for about 25% of the cost if purchased new. Check often for key items on your list as the good stuff goes fast.
  • Thrift Stores – Goodwill is one of my favorite stores. What an amazing place to find amazing bargains. Remember one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Also check out Salvation Army, Humane Society, Hospice, Habitat for Humanity and churches to see if they have thrift stores in your area. Again, go frequently to hunt for the items on your list as items change daily. This is where I got all the accessories in our loft office. Baskets, barn wood frames, mason jars, etc. Baskets were $0.50, mason jars $0.25. You get the point.
  • Consignment Shops – These are a bit more expensive than Thrift Stores because monies are paid out to store owners and the people trying to sell items versus at thrift stores the items are donated. I bought my desk at a Furniture Consignment Shop for $140. It easily would have retailed for 3 times that. And, you can negotiate. I got another $20 bucks knocked off.
  • Overstock and Closeout Stores – Such as Overstock.com or TJ Maxx, etc. Just remember to price shop and check the clearance areas We bought our rug at Overstock.com at a deeply discounted price.
  • Additional Saving Sites – I also highly recommend using Ebates.com for added savings. They offer rebates, cash back and coupons, for every purchase you make from their online shopping portal of over 1500 different retailers. It’s quick and easy and a great way to save even more. They mail you a check for your cash back savings each quarter. What’s not to love about getting money back! If you shop online you are missing out if you are not using Ebates.

Please share other quick tips for how to decorate your home on a budget and change it on the cheap. Go ahead and get inspired and relish in the thrill of the hunt!

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Top 40 Best Job Sites http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/career/top-40-best-job-sites/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/career/top-40-best-job-sites/#comments Sun, 02 Dec 2012 22:55:00 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=3047

Top 40 Best Job Sites is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Simplify your job search with this list of the Top 40 Best Job Sites. Websites were evaluated and grouped by key job types and categories to help you find the right job fast.

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Top 40 Best Job Sites is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Best Job Search Websites Top 40 Best Job SitesSpeed up your job search with this list of the top 40 best job sites. Sites are grouped by key categories based on the types of jobs that you are looking for and then alphabetized for quick reference.

At Living Frugal Tips we reviewed tons of job sites to determine this top 40 list. Finding a job and knowing where to look can be difficult. This go-to list of the best job sites will certainly help simplify your search and help you find the right jobs more quickly.

Best Job Sites Grouped by Categories:

General – Best Job Sites

Indeed.com  (TOP RECOMMEND)

This is the #1 job search site and surpassed Monster.com. The site aggregates job listings from thousands of websites, including job boards, newspapers, associations, and company career pages. Indeed is currently available in 53 countries.

Alljobsearch.com

This job search site searches across 200+ different job search websites, 500+ newspapers, and 300+ newsgroups all at once. Streamline your searching and fine tune as you review results from each site.

Careerbuilder.com

Everyone should be familiar with this powerhouse. It’s a staple in the entry to mid-level jobs search, as well and hourly jobs and part time jobs. It has all standard the features for posting resumes, email alerts and more.

Flipdog.com

Another great among job search sites. It’s easy to use and pulls up good quality jobs by city, state or keyword. Jobs are from hourly jobs and part time jobs to entry level and mid-level jobs. The vague national listings and work from home stuff is eliminated.

Monster.com

Great for finding entry to mid-level jobs. You can easily search for jobs, or register to maximize the benefits of posting your resume, setting up saved searches, email alerts, and more. There are also a number of career and education resources.

SimplyHired.com   (TOP RECOMMENDED)

This is another great job search site that aggregates job listings from thousands of sources - job boards, newspaper and classified listings, associations, social networks, content sites and company career sites.

Advertising, Marketing and Media Jobs

AdAge.com

Advertising Age is a top industry trade publication and resource. The site offers search capabilities for advertising jobs and marketing jobs.

AdWeek.com

Another top job search site for advertising jobs and marketing jobs. In addition to searching jobs, you can also post your resume and register for full access to a number of tools.

MarketingPower.com

This is the official site of the American Marketing Association. The majority of jobs posted are marketing jobs on the client-side, across a broad range of levels and disciplines. This is an excellent resource for quality media jobs, advertising jobs, marketing jobs and IT jobs.

MediaBistro.com

Your source for all media jobs within the publishing and journalism industries. Beyond the job search feature there is a wealth of industry information on this site to keep you connected and “in the know.”

Talent Zoo  (TOP RECOMMENDED)

The #1 site for advertising, marketing and media professionals. In addition to a ton of industry specific jobs to search from that they have posted it will also pull in other related jobs posted through Indeed.com. You will also find great articles and resources.

Blogging

ProBlogger Job Board

Top job site for finding blogging jobs. Find professional freelance writing jobs and full time writing jobs for top websites and blogs in the country. You will also find web design positions, graphic jobs and more.

Client Side Jobs

JobCentral.com

Provides quick access to the Direct Employers Association providing all job listings for specific companies. There is an alphabetical list of hundreds of companies.

Executive Level Jobs – Best Job Sites

6 Figure Jobs.com

A favorite for executive search and finding executive jobs. It targets executive jobs $100,000+ across all industries and all executive jobs are pre-screened to meet requirements. Membership is free and there are no monthly fees to search or apply for jobs, however membership does give you access to more job listings. There’s also a nice “find a recruiter” feature that is worth checking out to assist you with your executive search process.

Career Journal 

This is the official job listing area of The Wall Street Journal. By registering for free you can post your resume, sign up for email alerts and gain access to more tools. There are also good career related articles on the main page and they offer a free resume critique for people looking for $75,000+ positions.

Execunet.com

A comprehensive resource for executive jobs, executive search, and career management. It has been recognized by the press (Fast Company, Forbes, Fortune and more). It’s a powerful referral network with access to confidential jobs, salary information, job descriptions and links to key decision makers. You’ll also gain access to proprietary research, career advice and can sign up for newsletters and locate local networking events in your area.

LinkedIn   (TOP RECOMMENDED)

This is the #1 business networking site and offers a great job search area. The added bonus is that when you search and find job listings you like you can see who you might be connected to at the company of interest. Or see friends of friends that are connected. Remember … most of the time it’s who you know.

The Ladders.com   (TOP RECOMMENDED)

The Ladders.com is a great resource to help with the $100,000+ executive search process. You can sign up for free and utilize a trial version which gives you limited information on posted executive jobs. To get all the details on executive jobs you need to pay for a premium membership which is reasonable. You can also set up email job alerts and access a number of valuable tools.

Government Jobs

USAjobs.gov

This is the official job search website for all jobs within the Federal Government.

Healthcare Jobs

Absolutely Health Care

Search over 275,000 medical jobs and healthcare jobs in the U.S. Set up a job search agent, post your resume, review licensing information, and obtain healthcare salary information.

AllHealthcareJobs.com

Includes a broad range of healthcare jobs encompassing medical jobs in nursing, allied health, pharmacy, physician employment, executive, rehab and laboratory.

HealthCareerWeb.com

HealthCareerWeb.com is full service site for finding healthcare jobs! Not only do they have an extensive list of available medical jobs nationwide, they provide job seekers the opportunity to connect with others.

Information Technology (IT Careers)

Dice

Dice.com is one of the best IT career sites for looking for IT jobs. Beyond the expected job search and resume posting features, the site is full of helpful resources including Local Market Reports for the hottest tech cities, The Rant Room, a Q & A area called Dice Discussions and all sorts of tech articles and resources for finding IT Jobs. Dice is definitely one of the best job sites for IT.

Part-time Jobs

SnagAJob.com

Great part-time job search site that specializes in hourly jobs or part-time jobs. You can very quickly search jobs by zip code, but the real benefits come when you register for free and are then able to create a profile, apply for jobs online and get email job alerts.

Retail Jobs, Merchandising Jobs and Manufacturers Reps

Crossmark.com

Crossmark is one of the leading retail merchandising companies in the consumer products industry. They have been in business for more than 100 years and employ over 17,000 associates worldwide.

NARMS.com

National Association of Retail Marketing Services – JobBank contains a database of positions available in the retail services industry. You can search the current jobs companies have available in a number of categories and locations. The list of jobs is always current.

RetailFit – WorkInRetail.com

RetailFit is the nations largest retail job board specializing in retail jobs from part time jobs to management jobs. This is a great resource for finding any type of job within the retail industry from merchandising, marketing, sales and accounting, to operations, warehouse, clerical and cashier jobs.

Senior Jobs – Best Job Sites

AARP.org

This is the absolute trusted source for information pertaining to the 50+ workforce and for finding senior jobs. Their career area is full of articles and resources on finding jobs for seniors, choosing a career, knowing your rights, financial planning tips, newsletters and more.

Experience Works

Experience Works is a national charitable organization and the leading provider of training, community service and low-income senior jobs. They help low-income seniors get the training necessary to find jobs for seniors in their neighborhoods.

Retirement Jobs.com

A great job search website for finding senior jobs. The goal of this job search site is to identify companies that are best suited for senior workers and match them with talented, mature professionals. You can search for jobs by zip code, sign up for their free newsletter with job tips for 50+, and if you need help with a resume their trained staff specializes in creating resumes for people 50+ and they can write one for you.

Seniorjobbank.org

The original job search website for the 50+ workforce. You can find senior jobs and search by state, category and type of employment. Employers with job listings are specifically looking for and value the 50+ worker. You can post resumes, set up email alerts and find a number of educational resources.

YourEncore

YourEncore is a network of retired engineers and scientists that help clients accelerate their innovation by leveraging the expertise of industry veterans. The company was started in 2003 by Proctor & Gamble and Eli Lilly and The Boeing Company is also a founding member. They now work with over 25 Fortune 500 companies. Retired engineers and scientists are matched with short term projects at client companies.

Workforce50.com

This is the sister senior  job site to SeniorJobBank.com and they are dedicated to serving the 50+ workforce with job postings, and relevant articles and resources.

Summer and Seasonal Jobs at Camps and Parks

A+ Summer Jobs

Find fun and adventurous jobs working on a dude ranch, being a rafting guide, or find a number of other cool Summer or seasonal positions at state parks, camps, theme parks and other adventurous places around the world.

American Camp Association

Search for summer camp and year-round camp jobs.

Cool Works

This is the best website for finding seasonal jobs or careers at some of the greatest places on Earth such as state parks, camps, theme parks, resorts and other cool places. You can review openings by category or state.

Outdoor Adventure Professional Network

Search for fun, outdoor adventure jobs throughout the U.S.

Teaching

K12 Jobs.com

Search for virtual teaching positions with the K-12 online teaching program. K-12 is the number one provider of online education for K-12 students. They partner with education leaders in 25 states plus D.C. For more info on the program itself go to K12.com.

Volunteer Opportunities

Corporation for National and Community Service – Senior Corps

A great job site dedicated to serving communities and counties by linking volunteers to special programs in their neighborhoods. You can easily search for volunteer opportunities by state or zip code and find special opportunities for seniors in the Senior Corps section that taps the talents and skills of the 55+ population.

Service Corp of Retired Professionals – SCORE

SCORE is a nonprofit association and partner with the Small Business Administration dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and growing small businesses. Both working and retired business professionals donate their expertise and time as business counselors. There are 389 chapters in the U.S. and over 10,500 volunteers. Lend your expertise today!

We hope this list of the top 40 best job sites helps you find your dream job as quick as possible. Please comment and add any other great job search sites that you you find helpful.

 

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Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/sausage-stuffing-recipe/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/sausage-stuffing-recipe/#comments Sun, 18 Nov 2012 21:39:32 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=2859

Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Try this Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe that is easy and delicious. Add simple ingredients to store-bought stuffing for a completely made from scratch taste.

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Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe
 
Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

This Sage Sausage Stuffing recipe is quick, easy and always requested. This recipe starts with a store bought basic Stove Top Stuffing and then I put my personal twist on it to make it distinctly mine. This Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe makes a full casserole dish and easily serves 4-6+ very hungry people with leftovers for the next day. If you have more mouths to feed you can simply add another box of stuffing to the mix or simply double the recipe below for a big group.
Author:
Recipe type: Casserole
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients
  • 2 – Boxes of Stove Top Stuffing – can use any flavor as desired: Savory Herbs, Chicken or Turkey
  • 1 – Package Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage
  • 1 – Medium Onion
  • 2 – Stalks of Celery
  • 1 – Package Mushrooms – you can use regular or Baby Bella’s, whichever are on sale
  • 2 – Cloves of Garlic or 1 tsp. or so of Minced Garlic
  • 3 cups – Chicken Broth
  • ½ cup – Butter
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions
  1. Chop and saute onion, celery, mushrooms and garlic in a large pot with a tablespoon of butter. This is all made using one pot so select one that is large enough to hold everything. Let saute for just a minute or two.
  2. Add the Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage and let it cook thoroughly. Do not drain the liquid as it is full of flavor.
  3. Next begin to make the Stove Top Stuffing as per the directions on the package. Again, it all gets added to the same pot.
  4. Add 3 cups of chicken broth (or you can use water as per the package directions)
  5. Add ½ cup butter and bring to a boil.
  6. Once boiling, add contents of the stuffing pouches, stir, cover and reduce heat to low and let set for a few minutes before removing from heat completely.
  7. Add Salt and Pepper to taste.
  8. Place in a corning ware serving dish that is oven safe.
  9. At this point it the sausage stuffing recipe is actually ready to eat, but here’s what I do. When I take my turkey out of the oven to cool before slicing I take a few spoonfuls of the turkey dripping and pour it on top of the stuffing and then let it heat in the oven at 350 degrees for the 15 minutes of so while I am slicing the turkey. This way it incorporates some of the great turkey flavor, adds great moisture and gets a bit crispy on top. YUM!

Notes
This Sage Sausage Stuffing Recipe can be enjoyed with holiday meals and throughout the year. It easily serves 4-6 people with plenty of leftovers.

 

 

 

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Take Control of Car Insurance Rates and Save Money http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/finance-and-tech/insurance/take-control-of-your-car-insurance-rates/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/finance-and-tech/insurance/take-control-of-your-car-insurance-rates/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:57:32 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=2742

Take Control of Car Insurance Rates and Save Money is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Save money on car insurance by taking control of your car insurance rates. Here are some tips to help you get quality coverage at lower rates.

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Take Control of Car Insurance Rates and Save Money is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

MP90030929411 300x196 Take Control of Car Insurance Rates and Save MoneyHere are some great tips to help you get cheap car insurance quotes and save money on car insurance. So many companies are constantly vying for your attention by advertising their car insurance discounts on the radio, TV, billboards and all over the Internet. The truth is you can get great collision, comprehensive and regular insurance at an affordable annual rate. But nothing good comes easy so you will have to compare car insurance rates online.

Tips to Save Money On Car Insurance:

Shop around

Almost every car insurance company will give you a free quote online. This is not the time to sit back and relax, you will have to do some research and look into which company gives you the kind of discount you want. Friends may advise you to go with their insurance company and it never hurts to take their advice but you must also shop around for other discounts that serve your purposes better. Read up on reviews on the agency’s website and test their promptness to get back to you. If you ask a question and the company representative takes a week to get back to you, well, that’s not the kind of service you want to pay for.

Ask for discounts

When you find a car insurance company that you might be interested in, call them up and ask them if they have any additional discounts for a person in your situation. If you have a clean driving record or if you’re a good student, chances are a car insurance company can provide some discount. Sometimes being affiliated with certain organizations can be helpful as well. Military families are offered discounts by some car insurance companies too.

Drive carefully

Being a responsible driver is not hard to do when you’re on your way to the supermarket. But when you’re going to be late for work, you may find yourself ready to make hasty decisions that you will regret later.  Those are the times you need to remember that being a risky driver will increase your car insurance rates sooner rather than later!

Move to a safer neighborhood

The benefits of moving to a safer neighborhood are varied. For one you can feel safer in your own house and know that your children are safer as well. But did you ever think that moving to a safe neighborhood would reap car insurance benefits as well? The chances of your car being stolen are lower in certain neighborhoods. Not all neighborhoods that have a suburban look are really safe but if you do move to an area that is reported to have less theft and vandalism, your car insurance rates will decrease!

Buy a used car

The point of buying a used car is much the same as moving to a safer neighborhood. Used cars are less likely to be stolen and insurance companies will charge less to insure them. Another reason used car insurance costs less is because if the car gets into an accident, it is much cheaper to repair.

Multi-car and multi-policy

When you buy car insurance along with home insurance from the same company, you’ll get them both for a significantly cheaper price. Operating on the same principle, you will get a better rate if you insure more than one car from the same company at the same time.  It helps company loyalty and shows that you trust your insurance agency.

Drive less

Driving less is a simple and practical way to get a lower insurance rate. The less you drive, the less likely you are to get into an accident so the car insurance company will charge less to insure you. Instead of driving to nearby places you can walk or bike. Instead of taking the car to work you can carpool. It’s not just better for you, it’s also a really environment friendly habit.

Maintain good credit

One of the factors that insurance people take into account when they calculate how much insurance you should pay is your credit score. The best way to make a good credit score is by paying your credit card bills on time.

Use all these tips while you shop around for the best and cheapest car insurance for you. Remember that car insurance may seem like something you have to do just because it’s required by law but actually it’s more for your benefit and safety. Never skimp on coverage, get full car insurance if possible.

Editor’s Note: This is a quest post by Bethany Collins who is a Work at Home Mother (WAHM) who lives with her husband and two kids. She loves to read and surf the internet looking for new money saving tips. In her spare time she writes on personal finance (home, life and auto insurance companies, budgeting, and other investment options) and grows organic vegetables in her vegetable garden.

 

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Crock Pot Taco Soup Recipe http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/taco-soup-recipe/ http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/recipes-food-tips/taco-soup-recipe/#comments Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:28:03 +0000 Lisa Duncan http://www.livingfrugaltips.com/?p=2539

Crock Pot Taco Soup Recipe is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

This is an easy Taco Soup recipe made in a crock pot with ground beef, beans, corn, rotel tomatoes, green chilis, onion, taco seasoning and ranch dressing.

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Crock Pot Taco Soup Recipe is a post from: LivingFrugalTips.com - Learn about: Living Frugal, Frugal Tips, Saving Money, Saving Money Tips

Crock Pot Taco Soup Recipe
 
Prep time

Cook time

Total time

 

This is a very quick and easy Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe that you can make in a crock pot or slow cooker for a simple evening meal. It’s got a spicy “kick” to it, but the flavor heat can be adjusted based on the type of tomatoes that are used. There is also ranch dressing mix in it that adds a special cool twist to the heat and flavor.
Author:
Recipe type: Crock Pot Soup
Serves: 3-6

Ingredients
  • Ingredients for Crock Pot Taco Soup:
  • 1-1/2 pounds of Hamburger meat browned
  • 1 Yellow Onion Diced
  • 3 Cans of Original Rotel Tomatoes (can substitute with diced tomatoes for less “heat” – do not drain)
  • 1 Can of Pinto Beans (do not drain liquid)
  • 2 Cans of Corn (whole kernel, do not drain liquid)
  • 1 Can Diced Green Chilis
  • 1 Package of Taco Season
  • 2 Packages of Ranch Dressing (Hidden Valley)
  • ½ Cups of Water
  • Toppings:
  • Corn Chips (optional)
  • Shredded cheese or Velveeta cheese (optional)
  • Sour Cream (optional)
  • Green Onions (optional)
  • Black Olives (optional)

Instructions
  1. Brown ground beef and diced onion until done. Drain and place in crock pot.
  2. Add all remaining ingredients listed above into the crock pot and stir just a bit to mix up all the ingredients.
  3. Cook the Taco Soup in the crock pot on low for 4 hours for all the flavors to combine.
  4. Serve with corn chips.
  5. Garnish this easy Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe with sour cream and grated cheddar cheese, grated Mexican style cheese, or it’s great with cubed up Velveeta Cheese. The Velveeta cheese melts nicely and makes the Taco soup nice and creamy. You can also garnish with green onions and black olives if it suits your tastes.

Notes
Additional garnish options for this Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe include: avocados and diced tomatoes. Basically whatever Mexican favorites you have on hand.

Try this Skinny Margarita Recipe. It’s the perfect drink to go with this Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe.

Other Mexican Favorites:

Skinny Margarita Recipe - It’s the perfect drink to go with this Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe.

Taco Pie Recipe

Velveeta Rotel Chicken Spaghetti

 

 

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