Healthy Hints

1. If you are trying to lose weight, chew your food slower and take more breaks between bites. It takes approximately 20 minutes for your brain to tell your stomach that you are full.

2. Forget sodas and drink water. Water is good for your overall health, as it washes away toxins from your body. Sodas have no nutritional value and are packed with calories. Go easy on the diet sodas. They are full of sodium

3. Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day. This is good for your overall health and will reduce the risk of cancer

Turn Off the TV and....

1. Start a journal. Record your dreams, your goals, your accomplishments, 5 things you are thankful for, as well as daily events. It is a great way to stay connected with yourself, track who you are, where you are going, and where you have been.

2. Take a walk in your neighborhood. Pick up trash. Recycle what you can and throw away the rest.

3. Volunteer your time. Help an elderly neighbor with yard or house work. Read to a class at a school. Join an organization such as Red Cross or a volunteer rescue squad.

Sustainability: Saving Water

Although 10% of the earth is covered by water, only 0.3% is drinkable by humans. Reducing shower time, sink usage, and car washing can help us and future generations make the most of that 0.3%. Cutting water usage can also cut your water bill. Here are some ways to do this:

Take a shallow-water bath instead of a shower and save 15-20 gallons a day

Run only full loads in the washer and dishwasher and save 75-200 gallons a week.

Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator and save 200-300 gallons a month

Rinse vegetables in a filled sink rather than under running water and save 15-250 gallons a month

Water the lawn in the evening instead of at midday and save 300 gallons a month

Use native or drought resistant plants and save 750-1,500 gallons a month

(Cut Your Spending in Half Without Settling for Less by the Editors of Rodale Press)

Ranch Chicken

I have never learned the art of frying chicken, so have always coated and baked my chicken with various breaders. I enjoyed Shake and Bake brand for many years, but have now started to use Chicken Bread from House-Autry. It is a more frugal choice and tastes good. Last night, just for something different, I spread ranch dressing on each chicken piece before coating it with the breading mix. After baking it for an hour, it came out so moist and had a little extra tang in the flavor. I was quite pleased and thought I would pass this tip on to you.

Healing with Honey

These have not been verified. They have been passed down through the generations like many home cures.

Arthritis One part honey to two parts lukewarm water and a teaspoon of cinnamon will make a paste that will reduce pain quickly. If you sufferi from arthritis take one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon once in the morning and again in the evening.

Cholesterol Mix two tablespoons of honey and three tablespoons of cinnamon in 16 ounces of tea. Use cinnamon and honey on bread for breakfast to revitalize the arteries and veins that lead to the heart and it will help to prevent heart attacks.

In India and Japan honey and cinnamon is said to help with most stomach ailments.

Colds One tablespoon honey with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon taken daily is said to cure most chronic coughs and clear the sinuses. Honey and lemon added to hot water or hot tea is soothing for sore throats.

Pimples, Make a paste of three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon. Put onto pimples before going to bed and wash it off the next morning.

Weight loss. Twice daily, once at night, and one in the morning ½ hour before breakfast drink a cup of boiled hot water with honey and cinnamon. Drinking this mixture doesn’t allow the fat to accumulate in the body.

Chronic fatigue One half tablespoon of honey in a glass of water and sprinkled with cinnamon in the morning and in the afternoon will increase your vitality within a week.

Bad breath Gargle in the morning with one teaspoon of honey and cinnamon mixed in hot water is supposed to keep breath fresh all day.

(from http://www.solveyourproblem.com/natural-health/can_honey_cure_ailments.shtml )

Thrifty Washington DC Vacation?

I thought it would be a great vacation for a tightwad. I didn't think it out very well, or do much research. I waited until the last minute to make hotel reservations but used my Wal-Mart associates discount. Two of the nights were a great bargain, but Saturday night was a killer. Jimmy Buffet was in town (we stayed in Manassas instead of DC itself) and the hotels all hiked up their prices for that night. I thought that was a pretty shady business practice but it must be legal, since they all did the same in that area.
There were microwaves in the rooms, as well as a refrigerator, so what I should have done was pick up food that we could have cooked in the rooms instead of ordering delivery or going to Olive Garden. By the time we were done walking the many miles of DC we were all too beat to think of shopping at a grocery store.
We took the train to and from. It was free parking at the Metro stops. Even though it cost all 7 of us nearly $100 for three days of metro riding, it probably still was the best choice. At least we didn't get lost or park in a tow zone. It is too easy to do there in the city.
We didn't pay for any of the attractions, but next time I might get a small cooler on wheels. It was hot and the water was extremely expensive. There were water fountains around, but they were more bird bath than drinking fountains.
It was a very nice, very long, very hot weekend. Next time I will put on my tightwad thinking cap before I do it again.

Shopping Savvy

Shopping is one of the necessary evils. One way I make it more fun is to save as much money as I can doing it. It is a challenge, so if you enjoy challenges, here are some ways to work the system.
1. Use sales flyers and shop for the best bargains. You can plan your menus around the bargains, or use your shopping list. Always use coupons

2. Shop loss-leaders. These are the items the store loses money on but they draw customers. They are usually placed on the ends of the aisles. Again, you can plan your weekly menu around these items.
3. Shop at Wal-Mart. They will match the prices in the sales flyers and it is one stop shopping.
Keep a notebook with prices of items you buy most often to help keep track of bargains and to compare prices.
4. If you shop in bulk, know prices. Just because it is bigger, doesn't mean it is a bargain. And they don't let you use coupons at Sams and Costco.
5. Know which stores use Rainchecks and use them for sales items. If they run out of the item during their sale, they may let you have that same item later when it is in stock.
6. I will repeat it. Use coupons, but use them effectively. Take a calculator with you if needed, but always work out if you are getting a better deal with the coupon or another brand without the coupon. Don't use coupons just because you have them. If it is an item you don't normally use, don't bother with the coupon.
7. If you find refund/rebate coupons, these are also good. You can use them to get free items or free coupons.
8. Use a shopping list and stick to it. Plan a menu and take stock of what items you need. Clean out freezer and refrigerator before you shop so you will have room and see what items you have on hand. You might not need another chicken or package of hamburger.
9. Write a list on an old envelope and keep the coupons that go with it inside the envelope.
10. Don't shop for groceries while you are hungry. You will buy more and most of it will be junk.
11. Shop with a notebook, listing clothing sizes. Carry swatches of color samples and measurements for decorating projects. This would be handy for when you come across unexpected sales or go out to yard sales
12. When shopping for a large item such as a house or car, take Polaroid's of your options to review at home, when you're not under pressure.
13. When shopping for pre-bagged produce, always weigh and choose the heaviest ones. The weight marked is the minimum weight required, so always try to get the most for your money. If you are buying a head of lettuce or broccoli, for an example, for a set price, weigh to find the largest one.
14. Buy pasta sauce in cans rather than in glass jars. They weigh the same and the cans are cheaper than the glass.
15. Buy bags of frozen vegetables instead of boxes. You will get more for the money.
16. Avoid high prices for small containers of spices and herbs. Buy large containers and share with your friends.
17. Buy large turkeys when the prices are low. Ask the butcher to cut them in half for easier storage and less waste for non-holiday meals.
18. Contact manufacturers with complaints or compliments. You may be rewarded with coupons for free or discounted products