Veggies for Free!

With the cost of food rising more and more people are starting a garden - even Michelle Obama has gotten into the spirit and planted a garden at the White House with a group of children.

Go to any garden center or nursery and start adding up the cost to grow you own food and you might rethink the process.

I have some tips that will help you save a money and get expert, face-to-face advice for free. And we can all use free expert advice.

SAVE MONEY ON SEEDS
Most garden centers reduce seed packet prices after April 1st. Resist the urge to buy your seeds prior to April. Want to get even better prices? Buy seeds at the end of the season. Most seeds are good for one to three years if kept in a cool, dry place.

A more cost effective way to get seeds is to save seeds from plants you have grown or food you have eaten like red peppers or tomatoes. If you liked the food, set aside some seeds on a paper towel until the seeds are dry. Once the seeds have dried, place the seeds in a clean container and store in a cool, dry location. When you are ready to plant, (I plant in mid-April) sow the seeds in small containers of soil.

SAVE MONEY ON CONTAINERS
The easiest way to have enough containers for your seeds is to save yogurt cups or other small plastic food holders. If the container held food stuffs then it will be safe to grow a plant in that same container. Remember to create small drainage holes in any sealed container so your plants won't rot. Of course, you can always buy the expandable peat pots or large, plastic shallow seed flats with the clear plastic cover. Keep in mind that buying materials takes away from your bottom line savings.

Want to go all natural? Save the egg shells, rinse them, insert a small hole in the bottom of the shell and fill that with soil.

For my money, I save egg cartons and place moist potting soil in section. Once the soil is filled to the top of the individual container, make a hole and place the seed in the soil and cover with additional soil. Mark the outside of the carton with the name of the seeds you planted.

FREE EXPERT ADVICE
For instructions as to how to germinate the seeds, (if the plant germinates in light or dark for example) search your State's land grant college or university web site. I live in Michigan and MSU has an excellent horticulture program - many universities throughout the country share that distinction.

Want to talk to someone in person? Contact your county's horticulture extension service. These are the folks farmer's contact about insects and soil tests. They are also available to homeowners, apartment renter, or any citizen that wants to know the answer to questions like, "How do I get rid of grubs from my lawn" or, "Why do my tomatoes get black spots on the ends"?

Another great resource is a Master Gardener. Every county in the United States has a Master Gardener organization. Participants of the program have undergone intense education and volunteer activities and are available to help the general public with gardening and turf questions. (Full Disclosure: I am a Master Gardener)

Most people don't realize that their county extension office offers a wide range of information and experts ready and willing to help you succeed in your gardening adventure. And the best part is it's free!

Learn more about saving money and financial strategies at Wise Bread.

Natural Dyes for Easter Eggs

My friend Carol forwarded me her copy of the April, 2009 edition of the Ladies Home Journal magazine. On page 194 is an article on using food to color Easter Eggs. As soon as I read the piece I started gathering what was needed to bring this colorful show to life.

For ORANGE:
Use 2 tablespoons of Paprika (I used 3 tablespoons)

For BLUE:
Use 1-1/2 cups of blueberries (I used one cup)

For PINK:
Use 1 cup of chopped, fresh beets

For GREEN:
Use 1 cup blueberries and 2 tablespoons Turmeric

For each of the colors, add 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar to the food or spice mixture.

According to the magazine, bring the dye mixture (water, vinegar, food or spice) to a boil, remove from heat, cool and strain liquid into a medium bowl. (I recommend using a glass bowl or a plastic food storage container). Submerge 4-6 hard-boiled eggs in the dye for up to 30 minutes. The longer the eggs are in the mixture, the more intense the color will be. Remove and place colored egg on a cooling rack with newspaper or paper towel underneath to catch drips. You can store the eggs in the refrigerator up to a week until ready to use.

Here is the result of my orange and blue natural dyed Easter Eggs. I didn't have any vinegar on hand so the colors didn't adhere as deeply as I had hoped. Still, pretty vibrant for blueberries and paprika. Give it a try!

Walmart Deals

Went to Walmart this morning and found a few deals...

Kraft dressing, 16 oz. is $1.58 . There was a coupon for $1.50 off recently in the newspaper inserts, making the dressing 8 cents.

Also, Olay bath bars, 2 pack (shea butter) are $2.48. There was a coupon for $2.00 off ANY Olay body wash or soap (and something else). Look at the $2 Olay coupon and then read the fine print. This one has tax so the final price is $.48 plus tax. That's 63 cents for a 2 bar pack or 32 cents a bar.

Finally, SeaPak Shrimp Poppers are $1.32 (appetizer section-frozen foods). There was a coupon in a couple Ladies Magazines - Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies Home Journal, RedBook, etc. - for $1.00 any SeaPak product. That's 32 cents after coupon.

Barilla Piccolini at Meijer

How would you like to get one pound of quality pasta for 29 cents? It can be done at Meijer.

In the ad section of the 3/29/09 newspaper insert, there was a coupon for 50 cents off Barilla Piccolini pasta. Meijer has the mini bow-tie pasta for $1.29. The coupon doubles at Meijer so the final cost is - drum roll - 29 cents!

This deal is not part of any ad, it's the everyday low price.

Aldi Deals 3/31/09

Wow! Boy, did I score some wonderful buys at ALDI today. Wonder if it was because it was the end of the month?

I went into the store to purchase rice. What I found was pork sausage rolls for 49 cents a pound. This sausage was in a plastic wrap tube. Nearby were 2 oz. packages of thin sliced, lean beef for 10 cents each. Next, I strolled by the frozen foods area only to spy 28 oz. boneless buffalo strips for $2.69! Deals vary by location.

For less than $8.00, I bought 2 rolls of pork sausage, 5 packages of thin sliced beef, 2 bags of rice (3 pounds each) and buffalo chicken strips. Thank you ALDI!

Turn Your Lights OFF

World Wildlife Fund is asking everyone to turn off all non-essential lights tonight between 8:30-9:30 p.m. It's called , "Earth Hour". This one act will save energy dollars and help the environment. So simple.

Go one step farther. During the hour, read a book by candlelight or play cards. What about having a romantic dinner or dessert by candlelight. The moon is still quite large and bright in the evening sky - you could take a walk around your neighborhood. Lots to do and it costs nothing.

Meijer Deal on Kraft 2% Cheese ends 3/28/09

OK. So I found out about this deal late. Good news is you can still get great cheese and save money. Meijer has Kraft cheese on sale for half price this week. The no-growth hormone added cheese is included in the sale. My local store has 8 oz. shredded for $1.77 after the sale price. There are 8 oz. cheese cubes for $1.88 or you can purchase 6 oz. packages of cheese strips for $1.77. The best deal is the 8 oz. shredded package.

Here's the deal.

Buy four packages of the 2% fat cheese, must be 2% version. That comes to $7.08. At the end of your transaction, a coupon prints for $3.00 off your next purchase(a.k.a. catalina). So your cheese now costs $4.08 or $1.02 each!!! Hurray!!!

Sale ends March 28, 2009.

(I also got 32 oz. of Dannon plain non-fat yogurt for $1.34...clearance price)

Bird's Nest Floral Corsage

Take a look at the floral corsage I made today at a seminar. It uses coated copper wire that's crimped. I love working with wire. Mix in flowers in an arrangement and you have the finished product. Flowers, wire and glam. My three favs.

Almond Crescent Macaroons

This recipe is courtesy of Martha Stewart Living, April 2009 edition. The recipe says it makes 8 servings, I was able to get 10 treats from the ingredients. No flour is used in this dessert.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Whisk 1/3 cup sugar and one egg white together in a medium bowl. Stir in 1 cup unsweetened, shredded coconut, 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt. Form into mounds, approximately 2 tablespoons each on baking sheet. Leave about an inch or two between morsels for possible expansion while baking. Bake until golden on edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet before removing.

Here's a photo of the finished product. You can also drizzle the macaroons with dark chocolate.

Any Frugal Tips from TV and Magazines?

I admit it. I am sucked in to watching a TV show or reading a magazine when they boast about how much money you can save using their tips and tricks. Imagine seeing a teaser saying, "Save $500 a month by following these 5 steps." Who wouldn't want to save $500 these days? So I watch the program. You know what I learn? Squat.

Most of the tips are things our mothers, fathers, family, friends and teachers taught us. Things like; use vinegar and water to wash windows instead of Windex; wipe windows with newspapers; wash clothes in cold water; brew your own coffee instead of going out to buy that latte.

Hello! Been there, done that. Tell me something I don't know. I realize you cannot fathom each person's life experiences, but saving money buying shoes at Target rather than at Prada is a no brainer.

The best tip I heard lately was to use clean, discarded aluminum foil for eliminating static from clothing. Just roll the CLEAN foil into a ball and place it into your clothes dryer with the wet clothes.

Another laundry tip is to use distilled white vinegar in place of fabric softener in your rinse cycle. Pour about a quarter cup of vinegar into the washing machine during the rinse cycle and voila, soft clothes.

Or dry your clothes on a clothes line. No static, no energy usage and clothes smell great.

These money saving ideas aren't new. Our parents and grandparents used them for years. How did I learn about them? I asked people how they economize.

Think back to when you started out on your own. Maybe you ate Ramen noodles, brushed your teeth with baking soda or washed your car by hand. Try implementing a few of your lean days, stretch-a-buck strategies today. Include rice noodles in a salad. Eat dinner by candlelight. Go to a free concert in the park. Walk your dog. Reconnect with family and friends with a game night or card party.

It's easier than you think to save a buck or two, or $500.