The idea behind once-a-month cooking (OAMC) is to spend a set amount of time cooking, be it a day or two, but cooking and freezing enough meals to last through the whole month. Some people, especially beginners, feel intimidated by the process so start out with once a week cooking instead of monthly.

Some benefits are using less time and energy…it takes longer to make three chicken meals one at a time, than to make them at the same time. Another benefit to having meals on hand is not relying on processed food when you are pressed for time.

I don’t take credit for the following tips, I’ve had them saved on my computer for a while and the original author is unknown to me. It’s a great tutorial for anyone who wants to get started with OAMC or OAWC.  

STEP ONE: Choose 20 recipes.
This will last a family of 4 about 4 weeks, (allowing for leftovers, eat-out nights, scratch cooking nights, baked potato nights, etc.) Try to have a balance of casseroles, soups, stews, pasta, meats,
ethnic foods and so on.

STEP TWO: Make up a master grocery list.
Make sure you list EVERY SINGLE ITEM you will need. Include products like aluminum foil, freezer bags and scouring pads. Don’t forget simple things like flour, salt and sugar. (You don’t want to run out of something on cooking day!) Once you have your list, check off the items you will need to purchase.

STEP THREE: Start a notebook of your very own recipes.
Either copy the recipe or rewrite it on a 8×11 sheet (one recipe per page). On cooking day, you will be taping these up around your kitchen, so you don’t want to have to hassle with cookbooks or recipe
cards. Organize them to your liking in a 3-ring notebook. After a few months, you’ll have a nice notebook full of once a week cooking recipes that WORK!!!

STEP FOUR: Read through each recipe and break it down into simple steps.
On a sheet, list the recipe names in columns. Write the steps underneath. Do it in an order that makes sense to you. Then take similar steps from ALL the recipes and do them together.

Example: To make spaghetti sauce and lasagna
chop onion (x cups or x pounds of onions)
grate cheese (x cups or ounces)
chop peppers
chop veggies
mince garlic
combine cheeses
brown meat and drain
make layers
add tomatoes
wrap pan and freeze
simmer
bag and freeze

On cooking day, do similar tasks together, i.e. all the chopping, sauteeing, peeling, boiling. Put soups and stews which will cook for a long time on early to simmer. Then put the casseroles together;
wrap carefully and put in the bottom of a chest freezer or on the bottom of shelves. (They take up more room and also take longer to freeze).

STEP FIVE: Label your items!
Put a “sharpie” indelible marker on your shopping list if you don’t have one. Ink pen is not legible and regular markers run. Include any preparation instructions on a piece of paper slipped inside the
double bag. Be sure to write down the number of servings! (You will not remember!)

STEP SIX: On cooking day, start as early as you can and dress to work.
Wear comfortable, supportive shoes. Have a change of aprons ready and lots of clean towels. Clear off your countertops and clutter so that you have maximum workspace. Tape up the recipes where you can see them in plastic page protectors. You will be amazed at how quickly things go together if you’ve done steps ahead of time (the chopping, browning, etc.)

STEP SEVEN: Evaluate how your OAMC session went.
Make notes on your recipes if you want to make any changes the next time. Clean up your kitchen so that you don’t have to face that mess tomorrow!

STEP EIGHT: Don’t cook dinner on your big day!
Order in a pizza or go out to eat. If you are short on funds, save your crockpot for your evening meal so that you don’t have to fix another dish. You will be TIRED, but it will be worth it.

Also, be sure to check out these posts:
Free Printable Coupons
Coupons & Freebies

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Some of you may remember the snowman dishes I posted about. I bought the whole set for five bucks at a flea market. We used them for the first time over Christmas week and I wanted to share some pictures.

This post is part of Thrifty Thursday and Tablescape Thursday.

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If you find it difficult to put aside money to purchase gifts for different occasions, you probably pass up on special events just to avoid gift giving. Although you inhibit yourself from spending by doing this, you also miss unforgettable moments with your loved ones and friends. This article will give you some tips on how to save money buying gifts and some gift ideas that will surely get you going in every special gathering or occasion.

Whether it’s your dad’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or your daughter’s graduation, you should never worry about going into debt when you purchase gifts. Remember the following pointers, which are an idea beyond the traditional thinking, “it’s the thought that counts.”

Packaging –
Prevent yourself from purchasing gift bags and wrapping papers. As an alternative, save up all the gift bags and wrapping papers that you’ve received from other people and use them again. You can also try to go eco-friendly by wrapping your gifts up with old newspapers or you can be more creative by making a collage of old photos and use it as gift wrapper. Through these steps, you are not only saving money, but you are also supporting a good cause to save the planet.

Dollar Stores –
There is no point in visiting expensive shops and boutiques for a birthday gift if your budget is limited. You can learn how to save money buying gifts by making your present more personal and sentimental. You can buy an album or a picture frame from a dollar store. Place your favorite photos in it and include a personal letter that recounts what happened in each picture. Your relative, best friend, or special someone will surely be appreciative for the gift’s personal touch.

Dinner Date –
If you want to surprise your special someone, you can cook his or her favorite meal in your home. Set the tables and then light the candles. This absolutely beats splurging lots of money at a fancy restaurant and compensating the server a tip.

Music –
If you are searching for a gift for someone who loves music, you should get in touch with his or her inner deejay by making a personalized CD. Make sure that the album cover features him or her.

Poetry – How about making a poem for your friend, loved ones, or special someone? Even if you are not into poetry, when you begin to think about his or her special qualities and attributes, you’ll definitely come up with a great poem. You can place it in a frame and decorate the frame with his or her photos.

Books – Books are gift ideas that will help you recognize how to save money buying gifts. Bookstores always have sections where they sell books at a bargain cost. For only a few dollars, you’ll be delighted to see the books you can purchase such as dictionaries, former bestsellers, and even how-to and DIY manuals.

In the end, you don’t have to spend a fortune to show your receiver how much you love and appreciate him or her. Check out flyers for discounts and deals, create your own gifts at home, and always remember to reuse gift bags and wrapping papers.

Read our inexpensive Valentine’s ideas!

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Food is the second highest expenditure in most people’s lives, yet they don’t pay attention to it. Pay yourself by using the information inside of 5 Meals for $5. This cook book is not only filled with delicious and plentiful recipes, it is filled with the information on how you can get the same prices and lower than the recipes listed!

You don’t need to change what you eat, just the way you shop! And you don’t need to rely on Spam or unhealthy meals to live in today’s debt ridden economy. It’s not all about coupons and Jaci will show you how!

If you think you might starve because of portion size, think again! If you’re single, freeze the leftovers and save or cut down the recipes and eat a fresh meal every day and using Jaci’s Buddy Shopping System.

5 Meals for $5 also has a weights and measures chart, free date night ideas, measure conversion tables, Jaci Rae’s “The Plan” on how to get out of debt and much more!

One recipe example:

Pot Roast
Cost per person $0.97
Total cost five people $4.87
2 lbs chuck roast ($1.92)
(my store just had a sale for $0.69 a lbs. A lot less than listed here!)
1 lb. potatoes, diced ($0.40)
4 carrots, chopped ($0.10)
1 onion, chopped ($0.30)
1 beef bouillon ($0.16)
1 garlic clove, minced ($0.01)
Salt and pepper to taste ($0.02)
Iceberg Lettuce and Cucumber Salad ($1.45) (recipe listed in book)
Basic Vinegar and Oil Salad Dressing ($0.42) (recipe listed in book)
1 lemon, sliced in 5 wedges ($0.09)

Saute chuck roast in a dash of oil until both sides all dark brown (about 2 minutes on each side on high). Combine all other ingredients into a large stew pot or crock-pot. Once meat is browned, put into pot with other veggies and spices and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until Meat is tender and fully cooked. Make salad and serve with chilled water and lemon wedge.

Click Here To Purchase

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This was submitted by Jenny, one of our long time readers at Simply Saving.

Coupons are great. There’s various types of coupons that can save you money in supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and movie theaters. My husband is retired and I’m approaching that while self employed. So saving on expense helps us a great deal. On Sundays, we get coupons with the Sunday newspaper. I keep a folder to keep them in. The most economical way to use coupons is to purchase items you normally purchase or maybe just another name brand for an item you tend to purchase, perhaps, like granola bars. We have the advantage at one of our supermarkets that they double the value of the coupon as long as it’s $0.99 or less. So, if there’s a coupon for $0.50, then the item sells for $1.00 less at this particular supermarket. This supermarket called Giant Eagle in our town also gives you $0.10 off per gallon for every $50 you spend in their store. This keeps accumulating for several months if you wish. So, let’s say you have accumulated $0.60 off per gallon, you have to go to this specific gas station to get the discount on your gas. So, besides doubling coupons, they have this added advantage.

Then there’s also the Entertainment Book we have specifically for our district in Ohio. This book contains hundreds of coupons. The book isn’t free but right after Christmas it sold for 19.99 online instead of the 30.00 which it normally sells for. There are a lot of coupons for fast food restaurants where you get possibly a drink for free, or you buy one and get one free. That comes in handy. Also, there’s a dining card attached to the book and you can go to any of the selected finer dining restaurant and get a substantial discount on two meals possibly up to $15.00. Movies are half the price if you purchase the tickets ahead of time with the coupons. All sorts of entertainment events offer coupons as well.

You can also find coupons online just by Googling the restaurant or place. It’s almost a shame to purchase anything without a coupon. Often pharmacies have specials. Stores like Kohl’s or JCPenney’s offer coupons to credit card members that are fairly good anywhere from 15% to 30%. I always feel like I’m robbing the bank when I get a great deal. Just the act of searching and finding a great coupon in the newspaper or online is entertainment in itself.

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These days, brides are all about saving money, but you don’t have to scrimp on having a fabulous wedding! Check out this video for
cost saving ideas for your ceremony, reception and more. See how top designers are creating gowns to fit brides with all budgets and tips for saving money at your cocktail hour.

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Leo Babauta of Zen Habits (I love that blog) is offering his e-book, Thriving On Less for free. This e-book is a companion to The Power of Less.

From the introduction:

The recent economic recession has a lot of people worried, about their jobs, their businesses, their homes and their bills. When your income is dropping or in jeopardy and you still have a mountain of bills to pay, things can get pretty scary.

However, tough economic times do not have to be a time of struggles! If you look for the opportunity in the middle of difficulty, as Mr. Einstein suggested, then tough economic times become an opportunity to transform your life.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. A Simple Lifestyle
2. Focus on the Essentials
3. Thriving on Less, Not Struggling
4. Focusing on Enough, Not More
5. Make Small Financial Changes First
6. Look at Large Expenses for the Long Term
7. Changing Your Spending Habits
8. A Guide to Getting Out of Debt
9. Tools for a Frugal Life
10. Resources

Read our inexpensive Valentine’s ideas!

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Clothing and personal care expenses are necessary expenses but there are ways to save money.

Clothing

* Buy only because you need clothing and buy only those items that will fit into your present wardrobe. If you are choosing between two outfits, buy the one that goes best with what you already have.

* Buy good, usable clothing from thrift shops, garage sales, warehouse outlets, discount centers, and yard sales. Check any purchases first for stains or worn spots.

* Make purchases during sales time: clearance, end-of-month, or end-of-season.

* Buy versatile clothes that will expand your wardrobe, i.e., a sweater you can wear with two pairs of slacks you already have.

* Instead of buying new clothes, buy accessories that give a new look to the clothes already in your closet.

* Buy multi-season clothes such as an all-weather coat with a zip-in lining.

* Remodel or recycle an outfit you already own.

* Use cloth diapers and launder them yourself.

* If you know how to sew, consider saving by sewing your own clothes, but estimate costs carefully. You may be able to buy certain items on sale for less than you would spend on fabric and supplies.

* Share or trade sewing skills with family members or others in your community.

* Swap outgrown children’s and/or maternity clothes with neighbors or friends. Consider doing the same with shoes, ice skates, sports equipment, baby accessories, activity or school uniforms, etc.

Clothing Care

* Always consider care costs before purchase by checking the care label. Washing by machine costs less than dry cleaning.

* Keep clothes clean and in good repair. Remove stains promptly.

* Store clothes properly to protect from sun, moths, mildew, stretching, etc.

* Protect shoes and other leather items from water and salt stains.

* Buy minimum-care clothing: washable, dark colors. Dark clothes usually show wear less than light colors — especially coats, slacks, etc.

* Use self-dry-cleaning services and dry-clean your own clothes. Make sure all stains are removed before dry-cleaning. Self-dry-cleaning kits don’t usually work well on oil-based stains such as lipstick, grease, butter, etc.

* Share a dry-cleaning load with a friend if you don’t have enough for a full load.

Personal Care

* Use a mixture of baking soda and salt for brushing teeth.

* Buy personal care items from discount stores or wherever you find a personal care product on sale.

* Buy necessary items such as shampoo and toothpaste at reduced prices when stores offer “specials.” Stock up on specials but no more than you can reasonably use within the life of the product.

* Compare generic, store, and national prices — you may be paying for advertising.

* Give haircuts and permanents at home. Adopt a hair style you can manage yourself and which doesn’t need expensive care products and/or upkeep.

* Try inexpensive cosmetics. Similar ingredients are used in like cosmetic products. The difference in price is often due to promotion and advertising costs.

* Watch for coupons and rebates for personal care products.

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I have a thing for snowmen.

Maybe it’s because I’m a New Yorker living in Florida and I stupidly have fond memories of the snow. How quickly we forget what it was like to shovel your car out of a mountain of snow. *lol*

The last time I was at our local flea market (I had a table there, but found a few minutes to check around for goodies), I spotted this adorable set of snowman dishes.

Here to shop for your own adorable snowman dishes?
Scroll down for my top amazon.com’s choices.

It was service for eight; including a large plate, a salad dish, a coffee mug and a bowl. Figuring the price would be $15-$20, (reasonable but more than I wanted to spend that day, after all I was there to sell, not buy!) I passed them up and went back to my table.

After a few minutes, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

I asked my daughter to go back and ask how much they wanted for them. When she came back and said $5.00 (yes-FIVE!), I almost tripped over my feet getting out from behind our table to buy them.

Aren’t they great?

Update: We’ve used this set for the last two winters, including Christmas. Here’s a post with pictures of our Christmas table setting from 2009. 2010 pictures will be uploaded soon!

Set Of 3 Snowman Serving Dishes / Platter / Bowl Price: $9.90

Ceramic Snowman Candy Dish Rimmed in holiday tartan with a snowman family hidden below! Dishwasher safe. Price: $17.95

Set Of 8 – 9″ Paper Plates Price: $2.19

Hallmark Snowman Plate & Cookie Cutter Price: $16.85

Ceramic Hand Painted Snowman Plates – Set of 4 Price: $24.99

Vintage Snowman 11″ Stoneware Plates – Set Of 4 Designed by Susan Winget – Hand Painted. Microwave safe for re-heating and dishwasher safe. Price: $45.00

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1. Swap, don’t buy (try eBay.com, craigslist.org, and freecycle.org)
2. Use concentrated soaps and cleaners since less packaging means less waste
3. If you see litter, pick it up
4. Spread the word
5. Invest in environmentally conscious mutual funds (find them at socialinvest.org)
6. Buy shade-grown coffee
7. Unload your trunk; the lighter the load, the less gas your car consumes
8. Seal up your house
9. Go toxin-free at home

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