How-To Make Frugal Pantry Ham and Lentil Soup

Here's my "How-To make leftover soup." I have so many odds and ends around this house, I've decided it's time to take some action! I love a good blog challenge and the Eat From the Pantry Challenge came at just the right time for me, since I'm trying to clean out the freezers and pantry of my house and save money on groceries this week!

So far, I'm not doing too bad. We did get Arby's one night because I lost track of time and stayed too late at a friend's house one night and I did buy ice cream at an outrageous price on New Year's Day to take to my mom's house for dessert. Ah, poor planning. The enemy of the frugal foodies.

But not yesterday! I planned on using the ham bone that's been sitting in our freezer since my 2nd daughter was born...... last June. :) Told ya, I really need to clean out the freezers! I wish now I had taken pictures. That's my next blogging goal to work on: Actually use the awesome digital camera I got for Christmas. Plus, you may not have wanted to see pictures of the ham carnage anyway... it was a scary sight. Picture this......

Me with a knife trying to hack slimy chunks of meat off of a ham bone. *Gag* I hate messing with meat with my hands. I'd always rather dump it in a pan or pot and just cook it. I'm a texture freak. My husband had people there looking at a table we're selling (and sold!) as I was trying to dumb my lovely ham stock into another pot and burning myself. Ah, the joys of cooking. The problem with my "creations" is that I rarely remember how I created it so I often can't tell others or even duplicate it myself. I think I basically remember this time, so, if you're interested, here's a fairly good recipe for :

Pantry Ham and Lentil Soup

• Ham Bone and water to cover
• whole cloves (about 1 tsp)
• bay leaves (5 or 6)
• old carrots that have been in my refrigerator since harvest time... in September?
• small onion, chopped
  
• extra brown rice water (saved it from boiling rice, had too much water)
• palmful of Italian seasoning we've had since we were married, I think
• salt, pepper, etc.
  
• bag of lentils (16oz I think)
• small amount of No Yolk egg noddles forgotten about in my pantry
• a block of frozen peas from my garden that had almost been forgotten about
• a few garden carrots that were still worthy of eating, sliced

You get the idea. This soup was a hodgepodge of extra ingredients I had laying around. I boiled the ham bone for maybe an hour or so with the cloves, bay leaves and old carrots. I poured the stock into another pot, discarded the carrots, cloves and bay leaves. I removed any useful meat from the bone (uck!!) and added it back into the stock with the chopped onion, sliced carrots, rice water and spices.

Frugal Foodie Tip: Whenever you add dry spices to something (like Italian seasonings) put them in your palm and rub it between your palms into the dish. This helps bring life back into older spices. :) I think this is one of the few things I learned from Rachel Ray.

I heated the stock again and 1/2 an hour before I wanted to serve the soup I added the lentils. I just dumped in the whole bag because I don't need another half bag of something in the pantry! 20 minutes later, I added the noodles and peas. There you have it! I added water as needed throughout the process, so now we have enough for several more meals.

Add in some Cresant rolls (bought with coupons!) from the fridge that expired in Dec 09 and you've got a wonderful, frugal meal that uses up extra pantry and freezer items! This same kind of idea works with a chicken carcass or any other bone you have around. Use old meat bones to make great stocks! Want some other great food ideas? Check out Tasty Tuesday, Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Dining With Debbie , and Tuesdays at the Table!

How-To: Table Etiquette

I recently read an article on www.meals.com about proper table manners for a very formal dinner party or restaurant. If you're going somewhere nice for New Year's Eve, this list might be useful to you!

The silverware is placed on the table in the order in which it will be used, starting with the outside pieces. Let this be your guide as you work your way through a meal.

Tips:

• It is proper etiquette to wait for the host or hostess to unfold the napkin and begin eating before the guests do likewise.
• To eat soup, dip the spoon into the soup, then remove it by going away from your body, not toward it. Sip the soup off the side of the spoon, instead of placing the whole spoon in your mouth.
• When eating bread, tear off pieces with your fingers - don't cut it. Also, butter the piece you've just torn right before you eat it; don't butter the whole piece first.
• If you're uncertain about how or when to use a certain utensil, watch others and do what the majority of them do.

Steps:

1. Put your napkin on your lap. Unfold it, but don't spread it.
2. Use outside fork for first course, unless soup is served, then use the outside spoon.
3. When you are finished with the course, place your fork at the right end of your plate, using a slight diagonal. This signifies that you are done. For a soup course or another course that uses a wide bowl, place the spoon on the plate below the bowl. If a shallow bowl is used, place the spoon on the bowl in the same manner as a fork on a plate.
4. Continue by using the new outside fork. If the course requires a knife, use the knife farthest to the right.
5. Use fork closest to your plate to eat your entree. The spoon and fork at your plate's head are for dessert.
6. Drink water from the largest glass at your setting.
7. Drink red wine from the big bowled glass; drink white wine from the narrower bowled glass.
8. If a little bowl of water is on the table, or appears with the dessert, wash the tips of your fingers in it. Dry them on your napkin.
9. Refold your soiled napkin when you leave the table.

Do you have any stories about etiquette, either funny or tips? Share them with us!

How-To Beginners Series (4)

Now that I've explained coupons a little, I will explain a little bit of the world of drugstores. Drugstores are a great way to stretch your budget. The author of the Money Saving Mom blog says she only spends $40 a week on groceries and household products and one of the ways she accomplishes this is by using drugstores for most household products and some groceries. I find that usually I no longer pay anything for toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, lotions, hair styling, body wash, feminine pads, most makeup and more. Things like deodorant, tampons, and food are a little bit harder, but not impossible!

Walgreens
I have become a very huge fan of Walgreens lately. They just opened up a new one near where I live and I love it! They will accept internet coupons which is a huge help. The best thing about Walgreens is their Easy Saver booklet. Every month, they put out a new booklet (which you can find in the store near the weekly ad) and it is filled with store coupons and rebates. I used to never bother with rebates because I didn't think they were worth it. Boy, how wrong I was!! Every month there are Free After Rebate items. Some of these items are useless to me (like Walgreens filter replacements) but others are VERY valuable, like lightbulbs, toothpaste, shampoos and conditioners. One thing is that you can't be too brand loyal, because it's different every month.

The great thing about the rebates is that they are very easy to do. After you buy the indicated items, simply go to www.walgreens.com (register/log in) and then click on the view more link near the top. Then select view rebates. You can view the monthly Easy Saver or go to claim rebates. Next, select start/add receipt. Click on the rebates you are claiming on the list and click on continue at the bottom. On the next screne, type in your Receipt Reference Number (RFN#) found at the top of your receipt and hit save receipt. Walgreens will review your receipt information and send you an email when they verify it. It may sound complicated at first, but believe me, it is SO easy! Just to be sure, keep all your receipts for the month with your Easy Saver booklet just in case there is an information problem.

At the end of the month, you will click on the review/submit rebate button. If you choose to receive your rebate on a Walgreens gift card, they will give you 10% more back (which I figure will cover the sales tax). They say it takes 4-6 weeks to get your first rebate gift card. After that, you can choose to have them "reload" your gift card each month with the rebates, which should only take a few weeks and they will send you a post card telling you they have reloaded it (it usually only takes a few days in my experience). After the first month or two, you should no longer need to pay out of pocket (OOP) money. You can just use your gift card and keep rolling the money over.

They also have what's called Register Rewards (RR). These are similar to CVS extra care bucks. If you meet the deal requirements, you will receive RR good on your next purchase-they are kinda like gift cards. Keep these in a safe place. Also, RR are not tied to a card which means you can come back multiple times to do the same deal. However, don't let these expire as they usually won't take expired ones! It's like throwing away cash (which unfortunately I've let happen!)

Some Tips

• Grab more than one Easy Saver booklet. It has coupons and stuff in it. It's nice to have one to use for rebates and a couple for coupons
• Try to wait to buy the "Free After Rebate" items till the end of the month. Very often a coupon will come out for that item and it's even better than free! Ex. Crest Pro-Health toothpaste is free after rebate this month. I was silly and bought it on Friday. Today there was a $1.00 off coupon in the Sunday newspaper ads (P&G 8/31). If I had used it, I would still have gotten the same amount of rebate money ($3.79) while only paying $2.79 for the item! They would have "paid" me $1.00 to buy the toothpaste! (This is why I said in the coupon post to NEVER throw away coupons, you never know what you'll need) Note: Sometimes they sell out of items very quickly and don't restock them. It's up to you how you want to handle when to buy them!
• Manufacturer coupons (found in newspapers and online) can be combined with Easy Saver Coupons. One Easy Saver coupon will work on multiples of that same item. Example: If you're buying 4 toothbrushes and the ESC is for $1.00 off one, the register will take off 4X$1.00=$4.00. Other store coupons can also be combined with ESC. Example: the Walgreen's coloring book coupons can combine with the ESC, as well as the ones from their weekly ads
• I've heard Walgreens cash registers can get goofy about coupons, so Money Saving Mom has suggested a few tips about how to use them. Always have the same amount or more items than coupons and give the cashiers the coupons in batches in this order: RR, manufacturer coupons and Easy Saver/Walgreens ad coupons. I usually don't follow this and haven't had a problem... yet. Refundcents.com does suggest manufacturer coupons first and then store coupons to maximize what it'll take off.
• This takes practice!! Don't give up! I am still getting used to it, but I'm finding it to be well worth the time and patience. We'll get better and faster as we learn.

I will try every week to post the best Walgreens deals I can find. There are many websites that list them. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. You can also check out the post at http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2008/03/ive-been-shoppi.html which is another great post about how Walgreens works! refundcents.com also did a comprehensive guide to Walgreens that is a TON of information but you have to be a member to access it.

How-To Beginners Series (3)

Today will be an introduction to general couponing. I'm no expert, but I'll try to tell you all the things I have learned so far. A lot of what I have learned has come from the blog at http://www.momsavingmom.com/ I highly recommend her website if you get a chance to check it out. She is a Christian stay at home mom with budgeting and couponing in mind.

Where
A lot of the coupons you'll need you can get in your Sunday newspaper. My parents get two newspapers and they don't use coupons, so I just snag them from my parents. Some people manage to get a newspaper subscription for only Sundays for $1.50 or less. You don't want to pay too much if you're just getting it for the coupons. Some people buy multiple copies for the coupons (if they have large families and such). You can also preview the coupons for the week (not always totally accurate, depending on area, but it gives you an idea) here to see if you'll maybe want to get extras.

Other coupons come from online. Not all stores will accept online coupons, so check with your store. I have 2 Walgreens near my house and one will take them and the other won't. Go figure. I have coupons.com links on the side and bottom of my blog. Just click on them and you can print FREE coupons. You can print several of them multiple times (it will eventually say "print limit reached"). There are many other coupon sites such as eversave.com, redplum.com and many others. I will try to find ways of listing them on my blog. Another way is to go directly to the manufacturer's website and sign up for a newsletter or something. I did this for Huggies and Coffee Mate.

Some people get even more creative with coupons. If there is a good recycling drop off center near you, you can check for unused Sunday newspaper ads. Some people ask elderly neighbors or coworkers for their unused ads. Some people even bum them off their parents! :) There are also websites that you can buy or bid on coupons or some people give them away on their blogs. I personally have not paid for coupons yet and probably won't. I am a little unsure of paying for coupons. I don't think it would be worth it. I have, however, heard of stories where people got a lot of free stuff by purchasing coupons.

Another good source is the All You magazine which can only be bought at Walmart or through a subscription. I've heard it's about $2.24 at the store and full of great coupons. I just ordered my subscription for $18 for a 2 year subscription through a Southern Living consultant. That's $0.75 an issue! You can usually find a preview of the AllYou coupons and I often list where for that month.

Whatever you do, when you look through the coupons, just don't throw ANY away! I have thrown some away, thinking I'd never use them, and I have really regretted it when, a week or two later, that item is on sale or free after rebate. You can't beat free. Even if I don't need it, I could always give it as a gift or to charity. So I strongly recommend coming up with a good coupon system and not throwing any of your valuable coupons away until they expire.

Sometimes, it's not even necesary to cut each coupon until you decide it's time to go to the store. Some people cut all coupons and store them away in a binder, while others just mark their ads with the date on it and file them away whole. Many websites, when they list the sales and coupons that go with the sale will list where you can find the coupon you need. Example: 10/26 RP. If you see this, it means the coupon you are looking for can be found in the Red Plum insert that came out in papers on 10/26. I personally do both methods. I like cutting some just so I can tell quickly if I have a coupon for an unexpected purchase or in case the site doesn't list where to find it. It's up to you. Either way will work.

How-To Beginner Series (2)

For today, I'll list some common coupon lingo and abbreviations. I may have left something out, just leave a comment if you notice anything or have any questions. Also, you may not understand what some of the terms are. We'll go over all that when we get to talking about the stores!


Common Coupon Lingo (some variations apply)

Blinkie- Coupons found in the blinking machines near the products in the store

BOGO- Buy One Get One Free

BOG50%- Buy One Get One 50% Off (and so on)

Catalina- A coupon that prints out of a machine located by the register (a catalina machine). Sometimes are also OYNSO coupons. You got them when certain specifications are met. Used like cash on your next shopping trip to the same store. Watch the expiration dates! They are sometimes very soon and some stores won't accept expired ones (some will)

C/O- Cents off coupons (sometimes also listed as q's)

ECB- CVS Extra Care Bucks which print on the bottom of your receipt on certain specified deals and can be used at CVS like cash

ESB- Easy Saver booklet. Found at Walgreens near the front of the store (usually near the weekly ads) are are full of coupons and the list of rebates for the month. Grab several copies- you'll need them!

ESC- Easy Saver coupons. Walgreens store coupons that are found in the Easy Saver booklet each month

FAR- Free After Rebate items at Walgreens. There are a few each month which can be found in the Easy Saver booklets

IP- Internet Printable Coupons

OYNSO- $$ Off On Your Next Shopping Order. Used like cash next time you come to that store

P&G- P&G insert found in newspapers in the ads section

Peelie- A coupon found on the package

RP or R- Red Plum (a coupon insert found in newspapers)

RR- Register Rewards. Same idea as a Catalina- usually at Walgreens (see above) At Walgreens, these cannot be used to redo the same deal

SS- Smart Source (a coupon insert found in newspapers)

V- Valassis ( a coupon insert found in newspapers)

How-To Beginners Series (1)

So today I will finally begin to compile all the information I would pass along to anyone who is looking to learn to save money through coupons, the internet and other more creative means. Today, I will start by sharing some of the tips, ideas and tricks I've picked up along the way. Feel free to leave your own comments if you feel they will help others!

Be Organized
This is the first thing I learned the hard way. Staying organized with coupons, rebates and ads can save you a lot of money. Many people have coupon organizing systems that fit them personally. I have a 3 ring zippered binder I rigged up that has baseball card holders for all the coupons. Some people use enveloped in a box. Everyone's different. I encourage you to find what works for you and stay on top of it! A little work everyday can keep it from turning into an ugly, seemingly impossible job if you put it off. You can see some people's coupon organizing methods: here, here, and here

Plan Ahead
Almost every place I've looked at about grocery savings has started off by talking about menu planning, lists and planning ahead. If you buy a bunch of cheap stuff that goes bad before you use it, how much money did you save? I encourage you to learn to work the weekly deals that can be found into your weekly menu planning. It can be hard, but it gives you a chance to be creative and you'll probably hear less of "This again?!" I've found that everytime I take the time to sit down and plan out the weeks' meals (including time for entertaining, leftovers and eating out) it's SOOO much easier during the week. I don't agonize all that day about what I feel like making. I just make what's on the list. Many people also encourage cooking ahead and freezing meals, meat, extra ingredients, etc. I'm sure this can be a huge time saver, I just haven't worked up to this point yet. I aspire to though. Moneysavingmom recently did some posts on her baking day where she precooks many items from scratch and freezes them for later use. You may want to check out her ideas.

Save Every Coupon You come Across!!
This may seem silly but I have definitely learned this the hard way. I often throw away coupons I think I'll never use only to learn soon afterwards I could have used them to get free stuff. Even if I never use it, if it's free I can at least give it to someone who will. Some coupons I give straight to people I know will use them. Other stuff I use as gifts (think creative Christmas gifts). I try not to pass up free deals unless I really can't give them away or use them at all.

Take Your Coupons With You
There has been many times that I go to the store without my binder only to find unadvertised deals and items I really regretted not having the coupons for. Sometimes you'll find items on clearance (you can coupons on those too!) and Walmart is always a surprise as to what you'll find

Know Your Stores
It will save you a lot of time and frustration if you know your stores. I know which stores near me accept internet coupons and which don't. Some double, offer incentives and some are just plain difficult to deal with. Some stores allow you to use a Buy One Get One Free coupon with a Buy One Get One Free sale, making both free, while others don't. Walmart does price matches. You get the idea. Be armed with information!!

Check Online
The best deals, coupons and advice can all be found online. I will try to make it a point to round them all up here on this site as much as I can. I once wrote about how someone gave me a giftcard and I jumped online to see if I could find a coupon for that place. And I did. Write manufacturers, sometimes they'll give you good coupons or even free items. Google it. You'll be amazed at what you find.

Now for some DON'Ts

Don't Let Yourself Get Overwhelmed
It's very easy for all of this to be overwhelming. This I also learned. Keep in mind that this should be fun and a hobby. One lady said this is meant to be fun and save you some money, not pay your mortgage. If it becomes overwhelming, take a break. Take a step back. I had to learn that it was OK if I missed some great deals. There'll always be more.

Don't Do Anything Questionable
There are some rules for do's and dont's of couponing. Some people like to break those rules and some have even been taken to court. If it's questionable or you're not sure about it, just don't do it. I've skipped some "deals" posted online that were questionable. Don't sacrifice your integrity for saving money.

Don't Give Up Too Early
It can take some time to get all this stuff down. Down get discouraged too early! It takes lots of practice and can seem like a waste of time and money when you start out (like with Walgreens' rebates). Make sure you give it enough time to make sure whether or not it's really for you.

You can go here to see some more tips from other online bloggers and deal seekers.

How-To and Beginners Series

As I mentioned in my last giveaway, November 14th at the Rock Cafe, I will be doing a class on all the things I've been learning about saving money, coupons and free stuff lately. Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm far from being an expert, but I hope that I'll be able to share some new stuff with people that can help them be good stewards with their money. For those of you who can't come and still want to learn some stuff, I will be doing an online version of what I hope to cover. It'll help me get ready for it!