Money & Finances

5 Ways To Use Deli Chicken To Save Money

I'm always looking for ways to stretch my grocery budget. I mean, let's face it with the recession, many of us are looking for ways to stretch our dollars.

I would never have thought you could do so much with one deli chicken, but the mom in this video proved me wrong!

See how using deli chicken can save you money and time:

• Purchase a deli chicken and eat the first meal as chicken with a side dish or two.
   
• Use the leftover chicken for the next day by making chicken quesadillas, or chicken salad.
   
• Boil the leftover bones and skin for chicken stock, then use it to make chicken noodle soup, and casseroles.
   
• Take advantage of buy-one-get-one-free sales when it comes to deli chicken. If your store is having one of these sales, then get 2 deli chickens! Use the first one the same way you would with one deli chicken (mentioned above).
   
• For your second deli chicken, debone it first. Then put the meat into freezer bags and store it in the freezer for sandwiches, soup, chicken salad, casseroles or whatever you'd like.

Aging In Place - How To Adapt Your Daily Lifestyle As You Prepare For Old Age

Like taxes, death is something we have no choice about. It will definitely catch up with all of us at some point in time.

Wise is the person (or couple) who realizes this fact of life and makes some realistic plans to deal with life's changes. It's something that we all must accept as a part of getting older.

This fact was made clear to me upon the deaths of my own father and my father-in-law.

Continue reading: How To Prepare For Old Age

Suze Orman Book Review: Women & Money, Owning The Power To Control Your Destiny

Women & Money, Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman begins with the premise that women can invest, save, and handle debt as well (and as skillfully) as any man. 

Suze wrote this book because she realized that even though she believed that women were as capable as men in handling money, many of the women close to her were still in the dark over finances. 

The book is for beginners. If you have not read any of Suze’s other books or if you have no knowledge of money management, then this book is definitely for you! 

If you have previously read any of Suze’s books, then this one will sipmly be regurgitation of her previous books with a bit of a pep talk in the beginning.

Continue reading: Suze Orman Book Review: Women & Money

8 Ways To Save Money On School Lunches

It's amazing to me how much money we spend simply for convenience when it comes to school lunches.

We purchase lunchables, those little bags of chips, juice boxes and the like paying huge amounts of money -- just for the convenience of being able to drop them in a lunch bag or lunch box quickly in the morning.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can save a lot of money just by spending an hour or so one day a week. Here are 8 tips to save money on your school lunches:

• Fill a thermos half full with your child's favorite juice and then put it in the freezer. In the morning, fill it up the rest of the way and pack it in our child's lunch box. This way the first half of the day the frozen juice will melt and cool off the rest of the juice, and the thermos will also keep the rest of the food cool.
   
• Instead of buying snack bags, make your own. Purchase plastic lunch bags that seal up, and then buy a large bag of chips, pretzels, or whatever snack your kids like and make up enough snack bags for a week.
   
• Make your own lunchable kits. Buy crackers, lunch meat, and cheese. Cut up the lunchmeat and cheese to fit on the crackers. Then, pack them each separately in lunch bags or washable plastic containers. You can even make your own pizza or sub sandwich kits.
   
• Make up a large batch of gelatin or pudding. Then, separate portions into small plastic containers and put them in the refrigerator. You can make enough for a week. Then, just drop one into your child's lunch box each morning.
   
• Make your own brownie bites. Simply mix up a batch of brownie batter. Then, use mini muffin tins to bake the batter in. Pop out the brownie bites and store them in sealable plastic lunch bags.
   
• Buy enough fruits and vegetables for a week. Then, cut them up into smaller pieces and put them in sealable plastic lunch bags. You can do this for a few days at a time. Then they are ready for snacks or lunch boxes.
   
• Buy cheese in large blocks. Then, simply cut small pieces off to be added to sandwiches or to sealable plastic bags for your child's lunch boxes.
   
• Don't throw away those extra catsup and mustard packets and napkins. Instead, save them to put in your child's lunch boxes.

5 Tips For Better Couples Money Management

Money is one of the main reasons some couples fight all the time, and many even break up.

Since most of us want to avoid that, here are 5 tips to help couples better manage their money:

• Get help if you need it. If you and your spouse are fighting a lot, or are on the verge of breaking up over money issues, then consider getting both relationship and financial counseling.
   
• Work with each other. Keep each other in the loop about where money is coming from and where it is going -- even if you each keep separate accounts.
   
• Create a budget. Sit down together and figure out what money you have coming in, as well as what  your bills are. Then do your best not to go over your budget once you have it figured out.
   
• Be aware that different couples have different work situations. For example, in some families where there is one main bread winner, it is important for both people to still sit down and discuss finances and to feel comfortable if the main bread winner needs to let off some steam.
   
• Treat your kids the same when it comes to money. Don't have a situation where one parent is telling the kids yes and buying them whatever they want, and one parent is always telling them no. Not only is this going to give the kids an opportunity to pit one parent against the other, but these kind of expenditures can become a money pit.

4 Easy DIY Money-Related Halloween Costumes

Whether you work in a money-related industry (such as banking, stocks, or credit cards) or not, Many would get a kick out of dressing up in a money-related costume this Halloween.

Here are 4 easy mony Halloween costumes that you can make yourself:

• Dollars and cents. You just need a black outfit, some poster board, and felt tip pens, and maybe a few coins to jingle in your pocket. Simply punch a couple of holes in the poster board to thread string or yarn through, and then hang it on your neck.
   
• Wishing well. All you need is a box, some scissors, something to make shoulder straps with, and pens. You could also put fun things inside your wishing well!
   
• Piggy bank. This one is my favorite because it's pretty simple. All you need is a pink sweat suit, a pig nose, ears, tail, and some construction paper. Use the construction paper to cut out an opening and attach it to the front of your suit, then you're a life-size piggy bank. Also, I just think pigs are cute!
   
• ATM machine. You need the same stuff to make this one as the wishing well for the most part. The design is just a little different in that you need an opening for the money to come out and a place for the receipt to come out. With a little construction paper and scissors you can make those, and you're set to go.

6 Tips To Help College Students Save Money

If you're leaving home for the first time and going off to college, you're probably pretty excited and really looking forward to being on your own.

While it's true that college can be one of the best times of your life, it can also be one of the easiest times in your life to accumulate a huge debt load.

Here are some tips to help new college students save money:

• Say no to credit cards. While it's true that credit cards can be cool to have in the event of emergencies, they can also be a horrible way to add to your debt load before you even graduate. Saying no, ensures you aren't tempted.
   
• Know your total cost of living. Figure out exactly how much money you need to pay rent, utilities, gas, food etc ahead of time. That way you are on top of your expenses and won't accidentally overspend.
   
• Let yourself have an allowance. An allowance leaves you some money for fun, even if it's only $25 a week. If you stick to it, you won't overspend.
   
• Keep track of your receipts. It's easy to just toss receipts, but receipts are one way to know exactly what you're spending, and to help you get a handle on spending if you find yourself going over your budget.
   
• Learn how to be frugal. You are never too young to learn the art of frugality, and learning it now will help you to stay out of debt in the future, as well as to save money. Find ways to save money now, and you won't be as in debt in the future.
   
• Keep your eyes open for identity theft. If you become a victim of identity theft in college, it can ruin your credit rating and the ability to get a good job before you even graduate. So, it's a good idea to stay on top of your credit reports.

Also see this great article: Student Loans, How To Find The Right Loan For College.

Should You Close A Paid Off Credit Card Account?

With the way employers and creditors use your credit rating to determine your worthiness to be employed or to be a trustworthy person, is it any wonder that when you finally get a credit card paid off that you don't know if you should close the account or not?

That's something I've wondered myself. I personally closed mine, but there are other opionions on this subject.

Here are some things to think about with regard to closing a credit card account:

• If the issuer closed the account once you paid it off, ask them if they'll update your account to show that the closure was voluntary.
   
• Consider leaving it open and using it a couple of times a year for small purchases that you pay off right away. This will help to rebuild your credit.
   
• If you find yourself being tempted to begin charging more than you can really afford, it may be in your best interest to either close the account, or if you want to keep it, to give it to your spouse if he or she has more willpower. Or, freeze it so it's harder to get to.

Also, see how to choose between a high credit score and being debt free.