Stocking your Freezer with Delicious Home-Made Meals

As we bid farewell to February and usher in March, the long winter days can seem never-ending. So why not take advantage of this extra time to get organized and ahead of the game? Jump-start your year by preparing homemade frozen meals for school lunches, family dinners and entertaining -- you’ll eat healthier, spend less and it’ll reduce a great deal of your day-to-day stress.

Chill Out, Winter is the Perfect Time to Defrost the Freezer.

• Gradually deplete long-standing frozen food stocks (especially commercially prepared products), a few weeks prior.Place delicate food items in your fridge-freezer, during the thaw.
• Stack remaining food in coolers or plastic bins, and place inconspicuously outdoors. Secure lids well, so inquisitive critters can’t gain access.
• Hair dryers, rubber mallets and blunt chisels are great tools to expedite your thawing efforts. Proceed carefully and gently, to avoid accidents or damage.
• Defrost within twelve hours to minimize spoilage.
• When finished, restock your freezer in an organized and logical manner…and don’t forget to plug it back in.

Starved for Inspiration?

• Devote an entire day or weekend to cooking -- and little else.Plan the dishes you’d like to prepare, ahead of time. Include healthy options, personal favourites and a good variety, to stave off boredom.
• For greater efficiency and cost effectiveness, prepare food in reasonably large batches.
• Thaw out any meats and stock plenty of fresh vegetables, pulses and starches, the day before your cook off.
• Have lots of spices, herbs and sauces at the ready, to maximize taste.
• Sample mains: spaghetti bolognaise, sweet and sour chicken, vegetable curry, lemon trout, peanut pork, mushroom risotto, sweet pepper beef, etc.
• Sample starches: wild rice, whole wheat pasta, naan bread, rice noodles, spaetzle, polenta, jasmine rice, etc.
• If need be, refer to library cookbooks, your own stash of recipes, or the internet for further inspiration.

Savvy Storage.

• Purchase inexpensive, transparent (plastic or glass), stackable, single-portion containers for freezing.
• Preserve food texture and taste, by placing starches in small separate containers (away from meats/vegetables/sauces). This also allows for different food combinations i.e. curry and rice, curry and naan, etc.
• Store similar items together to help identify and locate meals, with ease.
• Colour code or label containers to eliminate potential confusion.
• Reheat within the same vessel for delicious no fuss meals, in minutes.

Enjoy the Fruits of your Labour.

• Access whatever you want to eat, whenever you want it, for weeks to come -- without spending a dime.
• Improve your diet by preparing plenty of healthy, vegetable laden options to choose from.
• Never get caught off-guard by unexpected company again. Rest easy knowing that you have a wide array of meals available, at a moment’s notice.
• Avoid wastage by utilizing aging fridge ingredients to create more delicious frozen dishes.
• Create a never-ending supply of choice meals, by cooking a few additional dishes, every couple of weeks.

By following these simple steps you’ll eat better and stay on budget, with much less fuss. For more great ideas on how to save money and live better, please follow “Leading a Champagne Life on a Beer Budget“.

Enjoying Valentine’s Day Together

 

Some people avoid Valentine’s Day like the plague -- and with good reason. But if you’re in a loving relationship, you’ll likely feel compelled to show your partner that you care on February 14^th. So is there a way to enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day, without stressing out, or splashing out? Just follow these few simple steps and true romance will be yours!

Pick up a Card

• It’s the least you can do. Really, the very least.
• It doesn’t have to be schmaltzy or fancy…but trust me, this small effort will go a long way.
• Save trees or make your stand against commercialism another day -- these are pretty transparent excuses for not doing the absolute minimum.
• eCards don’t count. Going to the store too onerous? Begrudge spending a few bucks on your partner? Perhaps it’s time to revaluate the relationship.

Dining on Valentine’s Day

• Valentine’s one of the busiest days of the year for the restaurant industry. If you dine out on Feb 14^th you’ll pay top dollar, the service will suck and you’ll be lucky to get a mediocre meal. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
• Pick an alternate night to celebrate, if you want to treat yourselves to an evening out on the town.
• For an intimate meal, order in, or cook something simple together.
• If you do decide to eat in, don’t allow one person to slave away in the kitchen, whilst the other dines alone -- that‘s no fun at all.

Romantic Activities

• Plan a cozy night in without the kids, TV, computers, phones or other daily distractions constantly bombarding you.
• Go for a couples massage. You can often claim the expense through your insurance and it’s a relaxing treat for both of you.
• Take in a romantic movie.
• Visit a local attraction, art gallery, or museum together.
• Do what you love as a couple -- go night skating, learn to snowshoe, dance, walk or go bowling. All you need is a little imagination.

Keep Gifts Small and Sentimental

• Valentine’s gifts aren’t crucial, but the right trinket can earn you a lot of relationship points.
• Presents needn’t be expensive. A nice bottle of wine, a favourite candy or pretty bunch of flowers are excellent examples of appropriate gifts.
• You can also impress with less by picking up a well chosen book, collectable, or novelty item for that special someone.
• Lingerie is a risqué and a risky purchase -- and it’s often more for the giver, than the receiver. My advice is to play it safe and focus on love, not lust.
• Avoid expensive jewellery, unless you’re flush with funds or about to get engaged.

One last tip -- be gracious and considerate of others on Valentine’s. Not everyone is madly in love. Although friends may be happy for you, know that there’s a fine line between sweet…and saccharine. Finally, enjoy the day for what it is and don’t put too much pressure on yourself!

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Get Home from Your New Year's Party Easily, Safely and Inexpensively

Who amongst us hasn’t spent hours frantically trying to hire a cab, on New Year’s Eve? At that point, we’d pay just about anything to get home expeditiously. It’s a nightmare that most of us are very familiar with, yet we repeat the process year-in and year-out. So how do you avoid that frustration, while staying on budget?

Driving isn’t a great idea, because many of us want to celebrate the season with abandon (and drinking and driving is simply out of the question). Public transit may be the answer, but if you’re not close to city routes, or you’ve missed the last bus or train -- the journey home could be a long and dangerous one. Most of us prefer to take taxis at New Year’s because it’s often the most convenient, reasonable and safe way to get around, especially when we‘re all spiffed up. But that’s precisely why taxis are so hard to hire on New Year‘s.

This year, why not book an airport Limousine for the festivities? That’s precisely what we do when we just can’t miss that all-important flight; So why not give our holiday celebrations, just as much forethought and gravitas? Limousines are far more luxurious than taxis and generally cost the same, or even less. Share the ride with your fellow partygoers and it’s a no-brainer. All that’s required is a little extra planning.

Step 1: Book the Limousine

• Choose a departure destination for your group (i.e. your apartment).
• Decide upon pick-up times both to, and from, the party (i.e. 9:00pm and 2:00am)
• Have the party address on-hand for the call.
• Book a few days in advance, to ensure availability.
• If there are more than four people in your party, hire additional Limousines.

Step 2: Gather the Troops

• Ask the members of your party to be at your departure destination at least 15-30 minutes before the Limo is scheduled to arrive.
• Provide drinks, nibbles and music to make the wait more enjoyable.
• Inform everyone that the Limo will leave as scheduled -- with or without them.

Step 3: Skip the Nightmare

• Keep an eye on the clock around the time your Limousine is expected for pick-up (and lookout for it‘s arrival).
• Have your group ready to go at the appointed time.
• Enjoy a safe, economical and luxurious ride home with your friends.

For more great ideas on how to live well and avoid overspending, please click ‘follow’ on
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Enjoying a Fun Filled Holiday -- Without Going into Debt

If each December you promise not to over-stress or go crazy with holiday spending, yet things never seem to go as planned -- this article is for you. Staying on budget without losing your mind is possible, but it requires a bit of planning.

Getting organized is the easiest way to reign in spending and still enjoy the holidays. By mapping out the festive season (and doing so early on), you set yourself up for a stress free and economical closeout to the year. Prioritize. Break tasks down into manageable chunks. Target weekly goals and tick items off your list, as you go. By investing a little bit of effort upfront, you’ll save time, money and a great deal of unnecessary aggro.

February through December:

• Pick up ideal and/or silly price gift items, as you see them. These will be great for holidays, birthdays and much more.


• For bargains, shop at discount stores, big box retailers, warehouse or seasonal sales, outlet malls, craft fairs, flea markets, second hand shops, etc.

October:

• For holiday travel, get transportation, accommodations and activities booked early; Otherwise, prepare to be flexible with dates and arrangements.


• Align family celebrations well in advance, to avoid disappointment.


• Hosting a holiday party? Send ‘save-the-date’ notifications so your invite doesn’t arrive too late to be accepted.


• If you exchange wish lists, request (and create) them promptly. This allows time for the purchaser to compare prices and easily locate items.

November:

• Send or RSVP to holiday invitations, and mark them in your calendar.


• Identify volunteer activities in which you’d like participate. Budget sufficient time for them, in your schedule.


• Plan for ‘can’t miss’ holiday events i.e. School Recital, Office Party, Santa Claus Parade, Nutcracker Ballet, etc.


• Pick up parcel items and post international packages first.


• To reduce holiday spending and free up time, draw names for gift exchanges, set spending limits, or agree to gift embargos (where appropriate).


• Leave ego out of it. Don’t spend more than you can afford just to impress.


• Eliminate unnecessary or unappreciated gifts and donate to charity instead.


• Perform a gift inventory and shop to fill gaps. Some items are impossible to find on sale i.e. gift cards -- and malls are far saner in November.


• Choose your 2012 holiday décor theme (if different from last year).


• Shop for entertainment non-perishables early. This may include alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, party plates, napkins and cutlery, candy, crackers and nuts.


• Buy more cards than you’ll need, along with sufficient postage. Write and mail cards and keep the remainder handy for anyone that you may have missed.


• Purchase gift bags and coloured tissue at the dollar store. They’re a fraction of the regular price and can be re-used, year after year.


• Hang outdoor lights while the weather’s still relatively mild.


• Bake your socks off and freeze what you can. It’s extremely satisfying to pull out home-baked goodies for any occasion, even at the last minute!

December:

• Cook/bake edibles that can’t be frozen or perish quickly, and purchase remaining seasonal treats for parties or entertaining.


• Erect and decorate the Christmas tree. This can be a time-honoured family tradition, a relaxing solo pursuit, or fun social affair with friends.


• Wrap gifts. Again, gift bags and tissue render this a far less onerous task.


• Play your favourite Christmas carols while you work, to get you into the holiday spirit.


• Enjoy the festivities and savour the magic of the season!

January:

• Keep the holidays feeling ‘special’ by dismantling Christmas trees, holiday lights and decorations promptly. Raggedy icicle lights don’t add curb appeal in mid-March!


• Store your holiday decorations carefully, so you can enjoy them in coming years. Plastic drawer bins provide both good protection and easy access.


• Shop Boxing week sales for deep discounts on next year’s cards, decorations, etc.

If you feel you’ve already fallen behind, don’t worry -- there’s still time to catch up. Many steps don’t apply in all cases. Start with October tasks and compress the roadmap to suit your particular needs. You’ll enjoy the 2012 holiday season like never before…and stay on budget. Season’s greetings to all!

* Please note that this roadmap is designed with Christmas in mind, but many elements could be employed for Chanukah, Kwanza, or other seasonal celebrations.

Creating a Reusable Halloween Wardrobe

Halloween is one of my favourite holidays for many reasons -- mostly because you can celebrate with as little (or as much) fuss, as you please. However if you do decide to go all out any particular year, it can get quite expensive. That’s why assembling your own permanent costume stash or tickle trunk, makes so much sense.

If you think owning a dress-up box is just for kids and kinks, then think again. Putting together your own fancy-dress collection makes more sense than you might imagine -- and amassing a costume wardrobe can be fun and relatively cheap, if you incorporate the following tricks.

Everything Old is New Again:

• Most costumes can be recycled, but it’s surprising how many get trashed after just one wear. Be smart and store this year’s costume/s for future use.
• Tired of wearing the same ol’ get-up, year after year? Exchange tired ensembles amongst family and friends, to get more mileage out of them.
• Put together new looks by re-imagining costume components. Create a magician, an equestrian or a jazz dancer, all with the same black top hat.

The Upside of Fashion Faux Pas:

• Ever asked yourself “What the heck was I thinking?” during a closet cull. Fashion mistakes provide great costume inspiration.
• Those black leather pants become too racy for primetime? Halloween’s perfect for pushing fashion boundaries and unleashing your alter ego (somewhat).
• Head to your nearest Sally Ann for cheap and outrageous attire. A quick visit will give you some terrific ideas and it’s a wonderful way to give back.

Details, Details, Details:

• Don’t forget to collect old accessories too. Shoes, belts, hats, jewellery, sunglasses, tights, ties, scarves, etc. are all incredibly important when completing a look.
• Throw in any silly toys you may have lying around the house. These bits and bobs serve as great costume props, with just a little imagination and vision.
• Augment your creations with items from your regular wardrobe. For instance, a flared skirt can quickly become a cape, with a few pins and ribbon.
• Visit dollar or big box stores to pick up finishing touches, at knock-down prices.

Kiss and Makeup:

• Sift through your cosmetic drawer for questionable choices from the past. Weird and flamboyant colours work best for fancy-dress.
• False eyelashes/nails, coloured/sparkle hairspray and wigs can all be used over and over, if stored carefully.
• Don’t keep perishable cosmetics for too long. Note that Mascaras and creams will expire before powders.

By collecting these items gradually and wisely, you can create your own permanent costume wardrobe. And you don’t have to wait until Halloween to break out the fun either; Costumes are perfect for theme parties, children’s events and they inject a bit of life into everyday celebrations. Why not host your next Indian meal, decked out in a sari, sandals and gold bangles? With your new tickle trunk, you’ll always have the right kit on hand -- and won’t have to spend a dime, to look the part.

For more clever and timely dollar-stretching ideas, please click the ‘follow’ button athttp://champagnelifebeerbudget.blogspot.ca/.

Designing and Burning Custom CDs

I love listening to music, especially while I drive. It lifts me up and sets my mood for the rest of the day. But as much as I treasure my iPod and radio, I just can’t let go of my good ol’ CDs. Perhaps it’s because my iPod requires a bit too much fuss at times (not very good when I’m driving)…or maybe it’s because CDs pump out better sound than the radio…whatever the case, I still love having my favourite tunes available on CD format.

I am fussy though. I want to hear my preferred selections and not someone else’s idea of a great playlist. Of course, I also want to compile these music lists on the cheap. As such, I figured out early on how to design and burn my own custom CDs. It’s pretty easy, once you know the drill.

Step 1: Create a Custom Playlist

• Group music together by genre, timeframe or specific taste i.e. Caribbean Tunes, Christmas Classics, Summer Hits or Love Songs.
• Include approximately 20-24 songs in each CD playlist. (CD capacity varies according to the length of each individual tune.)
• Arrange songs in the desired order (sort by Name, Album, Artist, etc.)
• Ensure the most critical tracks are at the top of the list, so they’ll definitely be included on your album.

Step 2: Burn CD

• Highlight or click on the playlist of your choosing.
• Insert a blank CD into the CD drive.
• Go to the ‘File’ drop down menu and click ‘Burn Playlist to Disc’.
• Follow prompts and remove when complete. (You’ll automatically be notified if/when you’ve reached CD capacity.)

Step 3: Design Album Cover

• Choose an appropriate photo or image for the album cover.
• Add special effects like increasing colour saturation, airbrushing, posterizing, adding contours or oil paint techniques.
• Name the album or dedicate your creation, by superimposing text over a portion of the image. Experiment with different fonts and colours.
• Cut and paste the song playlist (including artist details) into a text document. Insert this on the inner sleeve of the CD cover.
• Use permanent marker to label the CD disc, to avoid later mix ups.

Once you get the hang of creating your own CDs, you can start to customize CDs for others. They make very impressive and inexpensive gifts. You’re crafting something distinct and personalized, just for that person. Also, the final product will be something they’ll actually use and enjoy.

Please share your music and other money-saving ideas with the rest of the group, in the comments section below. Click ‘Follow’ on this page for further articles on how to live better, with less.

 

　

Building a Comprehensive (Yet Inexpensive) Music Library

Congratulations! You’ve finally downloaded all of your music into one central, accessible library. (If not, you’ll want to refer to my July blog for easy step-by-step-instructions.)

As expansive as your music library may be, you’ll inevitably want to add further material. You may be seduced by a catchy new song on the radio, or perhaps you yearn for more classic rock. Regardless of the impetus, when it comes to music -- you just can’t get enough. But how can you constantly upgrade your music collection, without breaking the bank, or the law? It’s simple really. Try these tips and you’ll have more music than you ever thought possible.

Surf’s Up Dude!

• Although some free music websites have gone the way of the dodo bird, there are still many that offer audio downloads at no charge. Just enter ‘free music downloads’ into your search engine and fill your boots!
• Similarly, there is a plethora of ‘apps’ (applications) that allow you to share audio files through your mobile devices. Again a quick search will provide you with more than enough options.
• iTunes offer free downloads in their weekly newsletter. Take advantage of them. It could turn you on to an interesting new artist.
• Concerned about the legalities? Relax. In Canada, it’s legal to download (or upload) music for personal use.

Share and Share Alike.

• Host a CD exchange party and invite all of your friends. Ditch old tracks that you’re tired of storing and acquire something fresh instead.
• Circulate CDs amongst your neighbourhood, at work, or within community groups. It’s also a terrific way to get reliable music referrals.
• Be sure to loan your CDs to trustworthy custodians and agree to split loss or damage expenses, upfront.
• Again in Canada, as long as CDs aren’t purchased primarily for distribution, it’s perfectly legal.

Libraries Aren’t Just for Geeks.

• These days libraries offer far more than hardcover books; Sign out DVDs, eBooks, magazines, CDs and much more. In fact, you can borrow up to 50 CDs for 3 weeks at a time, in some municipalities. Imagine the possibilities!
• Many communities have several library branches. Each location offers a unique collection of material, so be sure to exercise all of your options.
• Got something specific in mind? Search the library website and put the item on hold. Many communities allow up to 60 holds at a time. The library will call or email you when the CDs (or other items) arrive at your local branch.
• Libraries are my favourite resource because they provide such a large selection. You can source recent releases, revered classics and obscure preferences en masse -- all with very little effort and at no cost whatsoever.

Step 4: Don’t Forget to Support your Favourite Artists.

• No matter how much we all love free stuff, it’s important to support the music industry by continuing to purchase music. CD and download sales are especially important for struggling artists and emerging bands.
• Additionally, by attending concerts and buying promotional materials, we ensure our favourite musicians can afford to keep pumping out new and exciting material.
• Know that in Canada, musicians also get a (small) royalty from the sale of blank CDs. This arrangement was put in place to help offset the recent music sharing trend.

That brings us to the our next instalment. In September’s release I’ll provide instructions on how to burn and design your own custom CDs.
Please follow http://champagnelifebeerbudget.blogspot.ca/ for regular articles on how to get more out of life, without spending a great deal of money. As always, I’d love to hear your feedback on this and other money saving ideas!