TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS

SAVING CHRISTMAS DOLLARS WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE ADULTS WHILE MAKING THEM HAPPY

 

 

I got this idea from a good friend. Every year she gives her daughter a family treasure.

It can be as simple as some recipes  for food she always loved when growing up or the recipe prepared and cutely packaged along with the recipe printed up.

 She has also passed along antique goodies from her own Grandmother, cook books, a jar of buttons, little keepsakes such as old jam jars, or embroidered bookmarks. A basket full at a time. Other years she passes along larger items such as a table or magazine rack.

 

I see this as a win win situation for mother and adult child. Mom gets to declutter, save money and - hopefully - please her children while saving family heirlooms and history for future generations while the adult children are getting something money can not buy. 

 

BLESSINGS, GILLY

TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS ? PART 5

MY FAVORITE EASY & CHEAP HOLIDAY MEAL

 



                                                                                                                                                       

 

Last year for the first time ever I had only one person to spend Thanksgiving with. That lucky person was my youngest son. : )

 

Since there was just the two of us we decided it was ridiculous to cook the usual large turkey and even a turkey breast seemed too big and we didn't want to fuss. Neither of us felt like going out for dinner either.

 

I thought of one of our favorite meals that I make now and then - a turkey roast - just the right size for two , microwave mashed potatoes, canned vegetables, and we added canned cranberries, Stove Top Stuffing, store bought rolls that we tossed in the oven and pies from the bakery.

 

It was a wonderful day! instead of slaving in the kitchen I  put the turkey roast in the oven in its own  disposable tin foil pan ( no soaking or scrubbing required after dinner) that is also home to a lot of delicious gravy! It takes 2 and 3/4 hours to cook so guess who was watching the Macy  Thanksgiving  Day parade with her feet up?

 

After 2 and 1/2 hours I wandered into the kitchen and whipped up the the rest of the too darned easy food. : )

 

It took less than 10 minutes to clean up after dinner

and then it was time for movies - NO FOOTBALL! YAY!

 

The turkey roast is A bit over $3 and altogether dinner cost $13 - for two - and there were leftovers.

A perfect dinner and the easiest, most peaceful Holiday Dinner I ever experienced!

 

This year my other two sons joined us for Thanksgiving and I bought 3 turkey roasts and 2 microwave mashed potatoes : ) . After nuking the potatoes I emptied both  containers into a casserole dish and put them in the oven to keep warm. No one minded - everyone enjoyed the meal. One son pointed out that since none of us liked dark meat or drumsticks a turkey would be a waste. ( their father used to take care of that)

My only problem - football was back. : (

Blessings, Gilly

P.S. Will I do it again on Christmas? Stay tuned to find out.

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS

THRIFTY GIFTING FOR WIVES OR GIRLFRIENDS

A friend was upset recently because he didn't see how he could afford more than $10 for a Christmas gift for his wife due to a lot of unexpected expenses.

Most of us have been in similar situations and I have known men who just didn't know what to do and didn't even explain to the woman in their life that they are broke. Just ignoring the whole thing can and has led to some very hurt feelings for women I know.

A simple solution is to head to your local Dollar Store. 
The stock in these stores changes often so I can't be sure what you will find but the following ideas are based on things I have seen on different occasions.

Movies -DVDs that appeal to women,  Box of Movie Candy (yup, that's the name of it)  pop corn ;) soda .choose a basket to put the movies, etc. in -add a really nice card and you are showing her you care and giving her a nice evening or two -

Bath stuff - Bubble bath, scented soap, scented candles, bath pillow, loofah, bath mitts - - - - there is a whole aisle of bath goodies, pick what looks interesting, pick out a cute Christmas Stocking - make sure everything fits. Sometimes they have recorded Cds of rain or other peaceful sounds - great little gift that is perfect for that peaceful bath.

Most women don't care how much or how little you spend, they want to know you care and are thoughtful enough to try to make them happy.

I would love to hear your ideas! Merry Christmas

TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS

 

STRETCHING GROCERY  DOLLARS

Some simple, easy, and downright cheap meals:

 

 

Macaroni & Cheese

Cheese Omelets with Veggies

Canned Stew & Biscuits

Canned soup & crackers

Baked Ziti

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Egg Salad Sandwiches

 

Snack Ideas:

 

Peanut Butter & Crackers

Raisins

Cocoa & Cookies

Pound Cake

Popcorn

Peanuts

 

All of the ingredients for these meals and snacks are sold at the Dollar Store and each meal would cost $2 or $3 to make for your family.

Each snack would be $1 or $2.

 

Guess what? They are even nutritious!

Eating this way will stretch your budget and hopefully leave some extra dollars for presents.

 

What are your favorite budget conscious meals?

 

Blessings, Gilly

 

 



TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS ? Part 2

Saving money on holiday food 

Shopping for food for Christmas is a big job and pretty costly. One little tip to make it easier is buying some of the holiday goodies during your weekly grocery shopping for three or four weeks before Christmas. It makes it easier and the cost is spread out.

Another good idea is to try and cut down on the regular expenses those weeks by serving cheaper meals. This can help to keep the amount spent more or less the same as usual.

 

And speaking of good ideas - - - -

COUPONS !  If you aren't using them yet now is the time to start. They are time consuming and take some getting used to but it is worth it.
A good friend of mine recently used coupons for the first time and left the store with $30. worth of free food! She is one of many on unemployment and says the coupons are a big help. You might want to make this a family project or get together with friends - trading coupons you aren't going to use for ones you do want helps everyone and makes it a fun get together instead of just another boring chore.

My next post will be some terrific coupons I would like to share with you and some meal ideas that are quick and cheap.
If you have some favorites of your own that you would like to share I would love to hear from you.

Blessings, Gilly

Too broke for christmas ? Part 1

SAVING MONEY ON HOLIDAY MEALS


 Christmas Dinner can be expensive, especially if you are used to having a lot of friends and family members join you. 

One option is to turn it into a Bring A Dish Buffet. Be honest and tell everyone money is tight - they  are probably experiencing  some financial challenges too and will understand and be glad to do things differently. This makes the expense and the work ( shopping and cooking)  an evenly shared experience.

 This can wind up being a positive event in many ways; for starters it will encourage everyone to be honest about their own money problems and this can bring a new closeness into any group. Nearly everybody has been affected by the rising costs of food, heat, clothing, housing, and just about everything else while incomes have all too often decreased or almost disappeared.

 Some other bonuses include the great variety of food, the more casual, relaxed atmosphere, leftovers, which are a blessing for the following day when everyone is tired and really doesn't want to cook, AND the food is already paid for. Send everyone home with an equal share of each dish.

A buffet allows you to invite people outside of your usual group, and enables you to include people you would like to know better or a lonely neighbor who doesn't  have anyone to share the holiday with.

Of course if you have family members or friends who are not physically able to handle cooking  ask them to supply some sodas, wine, etc.

Finally, you might have someone who just can't afford to contribute anything - make it easy for them by telling them you have too much food coming and what you really need is some help making a centerpiece for the table or helping with the decorations, or shopping. And make sure your other guests know how much they helped.

Blessings, Gilly

Watch for part 2 and more ideas

TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS ?

 

 

TOO BROKE FOR CHRISTMAS ?



 

I know a lot of people in our broken economy are really struggling financially and at this time of the year it is especially difficult.

 

Heating costs, holiday dinners, Christmas gifts and decorations, cards, the list goes on and on and so do the expenses. If you are on a limited income and worrying about how to deal with the holiday season you are not alone and you have come to the right place.

 

I am starting a new series called " Have a thrifty little Christmas" full of inexpensive, and even some free ideas for everything Christmas. Stop by tomorrow and start planning for a happy holiday that you can afford.   :)

 

Blessings, Gilly

 

 

 

                             

More Help For Restless Leg Syndrome

I have written about other remedies in the past that I had found helpful for Restless Legs but since not everything works for everybody I like to pass along any new things I discover.

My latest discovery for dealing with that unbearable twitchy, indescribably uncomfortable feeling in your feet and legs is a new way to use peppermint of all things.

I noticed this bottle of green Foot Lotion in the section devoted to bathtime products in the Dollar Store. The name of it is, quite simply, Peppermint Foot Lotion. It is said to be good for tired, aching feet and feels cool and soothing when you rub it into your skin. It sometimes tingles briefly and after a few moments you should notice that the restless discomfort is gone. It works for me and it is so nice to be able to deal with something so annoying so quickly and easily.

It is a good sized bottle too; 8.5 ounces - a lot  of foot relief for $1.00 and made in the USA . Good for Dollar Tree Stores!

                   FINALLY BACK                    

I intended to be back a lot sooner but somehow managed to get locked out of my own blog and was unable to get it fixed. (my computer skills are nearly non existent  but let's not let it get around)

Anyway, here I am - not really quite sure how : ) but it's the results that count right? My next post is about  - well, you will find out shortly.  : )                                       

It's been a long time since I have written anything on here and yet I still hear from people who have come across this blog and send comments. Some are very nice ones and I thank you for that. Lately I have been encouraged to start writing  (here) again so there will be new posts soon.

Faces

Is everyone unhappy? I was people watching in Wal Mart recently and noticed no one looked happy. Or contented. Some faces were tired, some strained, some stressed, many looked worried. A lot of people were obviously impatient, in a hurry.
The worst faces looked numb. Blank. Like they weren't feeling anything. Hopeless.
Ok. I know that's only one store. But there were a lot of people there - and no laughter, no smiles.

At this store, we have a greeter who always says" have fun" as we get our carts. It doesn't look like anyone does.

I wonder if all those people hate shopping or just don't like WalMart. Do they morph into cheerful, relaxed people when they escape the most famous 'box store'? Or do they carry that discontented aura home along with their purchases, and live with it always?

I should mention that this store is in a fairly decent area. Most people own their own homes, there isn't much crime, the parking lot is full of new or not very old cars. We are supposed to be the lucky ones, living the American Dream.

What do you think? Have you noticed this? Do you feel the stress while shopping or do you enjoy the WalMart experience?

I'm back and just fine

I have fibromyalgia and had a flare up. I used Magnesium and a homeopathic remedy called Muscular Tissue I - works like a charm and very quickly. As I understand it, this remedy delivers oxygen to the muscles, which is in short supply with Fibro and causes the pain, numbness, etc. I was actually fine the next day but had a serious power outage - then went on to some other problems I had to deal with. Life is never boring. Aggravating, but never boring.

No Posts For Awhile

I'm having a lot of trouble (and pain ) with my hand and wrist, unfortunately it looks like I will not be able to post for awhile. Be back when I can.
Gilly

Herbs For Your Winter Kitchen

One way to brighten our spirits during the long winter is to grow herbs in our kitchen. There are a lot to choose from, but Chives are one of my favorites. It's super easy to grow and doesn't require any special care. This one will grow where the light isn't ideal. At least it does for me. It's a great addition to stews, salads, soups, or fish. The mild, oniony flavor also makes it a perfect garnish for pototoes and souffles.

Mint is another favorite, easy to grow herb that doesn't require a lot of light. Great for adding as a garnish, with your vegatables, lamb, or making your own tea. The minty smell is refreshing and in the depths of winter doubly enjoyable.
Mints like a lot of water but don't let them stand in it. Keep the saucer under your pot dry.

In my opinion, herbs on the windowsill make a kitchen feel homey and cozy. It will also make you feel like a gourmet cook and will impress your friends.

Feel like sharing? A small sprig put into water will quickly grow roots and then can be planted to become gifts for your friends.

Anxiety! Panic! Depression! Helping Yourself Part 4

If you have a nervous disorder it's hard to know where to turn to for help. What I found was that I needed to learn ways to help myself. This post is about things that helped me - and other people - to feel better.
The first important thing I learned was that taking my mind off my symptoms of anxiety or panic was a huge help. When concentrating on something that I enjoyed, I felt better, and the symptoms were diminished, or non existent, at least for awhile.

Taking up a new hobby was a huge help for me. You need to be involved in something you enjoy. Learning about something new, working on something new, shopping for supplies for your new hobby, reading about it, thinking about it; this replaces the time spent fearing a possible panic attack or constantly monitoring your anxiety symptoms. It's also great for depression. I found that hours could go by when working on a craft project without a hint of anxiety or panic. I also didn't feel depressed.

Movies were, and continue to be, helpful also. I have never had a Panic Attack while watching a good movie. My anxiety levels go way down, too.

Relaxation is vital. Try Meditation, or relaxation tapes. Read. Listen to a soothing tape of the ocean while reading. Watching a fish tank has been proven to lower your blood pressure. Why? Because it is relaxing. Sitting before a fire will relax you, too.

Try Reiki! A Reiki treatment is very relaxing and not too expensive. You can get distance treatments at Ebay for $20 or less. Easy! All you have to do is make the appointment for the specified time and lie down in the privacy of your own home. The practioner connects with you no matter how far away you live. Yes, it really works.
You might consider getting an attunement after a few treatments. This can also be done through the internet and can cost $15 or less. There is nothing to study, just a small manual to read, and the attunement won't really be any different than a treatment is. After the attunement, you can not only give yourself treatments to relax daily, you will be also able to give hands on treatments to others. You will be considered a practioner. You won't, however, be able to give long distance treatments.
My first Reiki teacher told me that she had suffered from anxiety and panic disorders and that focusing on Reiki saved her.

Exercise! This helps a lot as it releases endorphins in your brain that make you feel good. Walking, jogging, going to the gym, using a treadmill, taking up Yoga - whatever appeals to you.

Try to include as many of these things into your life as possible; the more you can do for yourself the better you will feel.
Was this article helpful to you? Please comment.

Anxiety! Panic! Depression! Part 3 Helping Yourself

As I said yesterday, there are a lot of things available to help you recover. One of those things is Homeopathy. It has been around for almost 200 years so it has stood the test of time.
Homeopathy means:
A safe and effective system of medicine with no side effects, that assists the body's efforts to heal itself physically, mentally and emotionally.

What I like about this is, it is so safe. There are no interactions with any drugs you may be taking! Isn't that incredible? You also can't overdose with it; no more worrying that you might have accidently double dosed. When you are in a state of panic, very high anxiety, or very depressed it is easy to get confused and do that. I have. Or thought I had, which was enough to bring on a major panic attack and worrying for hours that I was going to die.

Another frightening thing about taking pharmaceutical medicines for these conditions ,was having to take things that are addictive, and strong enough that they want you to be monitored with regular check ups. The anti depressants that they give you have a lot of side effects and most people find that they don't help enough. Getting off them, if you find they aren't helping or you can't tolerate the side effects is Hell. I'll have more to say on that later, along with some links that will give you current important information you should have before making any decision to take the popular remedies from doctors.

Another point I want to make is that these prescriptions for the so popular Xanax and Anti Depressants are not cheap. Even with good health insurance they are fairly expensive. I was paying $30 a month for Xanax some years ago and I'm sure it is more now. If you don't have insurance it was $100 a month. At least. A lot of people simply can't afford that. Most homepathic remedies are $7.95 for a bottle of 500 tablets. Quite a difference.

Last but not least; homeopathic remedies do not leave you feeling as if you are drugged. No 'medicine head' double vision, grogginess, being unable to drive, etc. In fact, you will not feel as if you took anything at all, except that you will feel better, in a natural, gentle way.

The 2 most readily available homeopathic remedies are to be found in large drugstores, health food stores, and, of course, Wal Mart.

• Nerve Tonic


• Calms Forte

These are under $5 at Wal Mart and you get less pills . * The Nerve Tonic is 32 caplets. It is supposed to be taken before each meal and at bedtime. This was my introduction to Homeopathy and a lifesaver. Thanks to my husband who found them. It might not stop a panic attack in it's tracks but it will gradually soothe your nervous system. Most people find it helps a lot and you can take this with Magnesium and Vitamins. The more things you can do to help yourself, the faster you will feel better. *Calms Forte is 100 tablets and is sold as a sleep aid. Insomnia is very common with nerve problems. It is also used, and I am reading this from the box, as a relaxant, 1 or 2 tablets with water 3 times a day. The Calms Forte is probably stronger.It also helps anxiety and panic syndromes if you get a good nights sleep. It gives your system time to relax and heal.

Homeopathy also has quite a few different remedies for anxiety, and depression but you can only find them in a large health food store - if you're lucky - or online - or through a Homeopathic doctor. The health food store might be willing to order them for you if they don't carry them. I don't have a Homeopathic doctor in my area and the health food store isn't nearby so I order online and will give a link to my online store at the end of this article.

I occasionally use :

• Anxiety - Luyties #320


• Anxiety/Depression #304

1-800 Homeopathy Find Homeopathic Remedies Search: Anxiety

1-800 Homeopathy Find Homeopathic Remedies L304 - Anxiety/Depression #304

The link to the following didn't work so I just pasted this:

from Cathleen Henning Fenton - I've never been against the use of medications to treat panic disorder, although I do believe they should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy. It's frustrating, though, to hear from so many people who, not only are not being helped by their medications, but also are experiencing frustrating side effects. Although I continue to believe that the right drug can help a person with panic disorder get better, I'm not sure how many "right drugs" are out there. And with a couple of new reports that have come out (below), I can't say that I trust the motivations of the major drug companies anymore.

Not All Antidepressant Studies Published

That concludes the things you can take information. Next will be things you can do.

Anxiety! Panic! Depression! Part 2

The first thing you need to know about helping yourself to get better is to stay away from caffeine! Your nervous system is already over stimulated and caffeine will increase the stimulation, raising your anxiety levels and actually causing panic attacks.
Caffeine means coffee, tea, soda,and chocolate.
Sugar is another enemy of anxiety and panic. It, too, over stimulates your nervous system.
Most people put sugar in their coffe or tea. Chocolate and soda both have lots of sugar . Soda has TWELVE spoons of sugar in each can! That's a Panic Attack waiting to happen!! We also have to remember that a LOT of things have sugar in them! Cake, pie, ice cream, pudding, that innocent looking jello, etc. Watch what you eat, it could be loaded with sugar. I know how hard it is to give up such things. It was almost impossible for me. So, I came up with alternatives.

• Decaf Coffee
• Sugar free, non chocolate, desserts & snacks
• Herbal Teas
• Water

It can take some getting used to but it's worth it and it isn't forever. I am now able to eat regular desserts, half caffeine coffee, (the regular coffee drinkers don't notice the difference) and an occasional soda. I no longer care much for soda. I prefer water.

There are lots of things that helped me and I'm sure they can help you too. I thought I would start with the quickest, easiest ones.

• Magnesium - good for depression and anxiety
• Lavender - good for depression and anxiety
• Chamomile Tea - good for anxiety
• Vitamin B6 - creates serotonin - good for depression and anxiety

All of these things will calm you somewhat and that helps you to avoid panic attacks. It can take some time; there is no magic pill that will instantly do away with panic or depression. Getting better is a process not an event. I recommend using all of the above. Some important warnings!Magnesium and Vitamin B6 are to be taken with CAUTION! Do not exceed the dosage given on the bottle!! You CAN overdo a good thing with these. With the B6 start with 50 mg once a day. Do NOT go over 100 mg a day. EVER! Too little of these two things can can cause you trouble but too much can make you sick! Magnesium is usually 400 mg seperated into 3 pills which you take : one pill at a time, three times a day, with meals.

Both, along with Chamomile tea are available at drugstores and supermarkets, as well as WalMart. A few dollars each. Lavender might be found at health food stores or online.

That's it for today, much more tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Anxiety! Panic! Depression!

I've struggled with all three for most of my life, and so have an incredible number of other people. Not everyone has all of these, but a lot of us do. There is no cure for any of these conditions, but they can be controlled. You can get to the point that you don't feel that you have a problem with any of these anymore. That's the good news. The bad news is that they can, and usually do, come back. I was repeatedly told that "they were just lurking around the corner waiting for a chance to reappear". Unfortunately, I've found that to be true. High stress situations, pregnancy, or menopause, can start the whole nightmare again. So can not taking care of yourself.

What causes Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, or Depression to appear in your life? There is not a simple answer to this. One thing that they have found is that it usually runs in families. If any of your older family members have had a nervous breakdown, episodes with depression, anxiety, or seemed to be given to hysteria (probably panic) you are at risk. These conditions are passed on genetically.

Severe and prolonged stress can also cause it. With or without the genetic pre-dispositon.

I have also noticed that most of the people with these illnesses have had unhappy lives -usually, but not always, starting in their childhood.

There is a lot of talk about Serotonin. Some doctors are saying that the Serotonin levels in the brains of people with anxiety, panic, or depression, are lower than in people without these problems.

There is also a lot of talk about the Adrenal glands. Once they are subjected to a great deal of stress they can become depleted and cause trouble.

One other thing I have noticed is that highly sensitive people seem more prone to develop any, or all, of these conditions.

None of them can be controlled by will power. There are a lot of people who think you should just 'get a grip' on yourself. That you are weak, and lacking backbone. I even had a friend of many, many years ask me why I just didn't use will power? I did and it doesn't work.

Once we get to the point that we have Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, and/or Depression; our nervous system is a mess, and we need a lot more than will power to help ourselves.

Fortunately, there are many things that we can do that will help us to feel better.

Tomorrow I will get into that and in the meantime I would appreciate some feedback. If you have any methods that work for you please let me know. If you are interested in learning more about this please tell me, so that I am encouraged to go on. If you are suffering with any of these conditions say so, please. I want to help.

You may leave comments anonomously or email me at: http://www.discoverydiva@gmail.com/

Things to come

In the coming days and weeks I will be writing about :
~More fast meals
~Anxiety
~ Panic Attacks
~Depression
~Homeopathy
Stay Tuned

Tired Of Cooking?

I don't blame you; I am too. We all have those days when we are too busy, or too tired ,or just need some free time for ourselves. Of course there is always take out, or having dinner out, but that can get expensive and sometimes we just want to stay home.
I have learned to keep emergency dinners on hand. Fast, inexpensive, & quick clean up are my three rules for 'those' days.
My first meal - one that has become a favorite around here is one that I served one day for lunch to my daughter-in-law. She raved about all the trouble I went to and how delicious it was. I finally had to tell her the truth; that pot roast and mashed potatoes took me nine minutes in the microwave.
I used Tyson Beef Pot Roast in Gravy from Wal Mart - price just under $5 and 5 minutes in the microwave. Add Simply Potatoes - $2.49. and 3 minutes of microwaving. Add a can of vegatables - and some biscuits to pop into the oven and presto! You have dinner in about 10 minutes for $9. This will feed 3 people.
My daughter-in-law liked this so much that when we went to Wal Mart, she made me show her exactly where it could be found. She served it to her daughter, who also loved it and was impressed. Her daughter doesn't cook, so this was one meal she could serve her boyfriend.
These two products honestly taste like home cooking, and are a life saver on those days when you just don't want to spend a lot of time cooking, and cleaning pots and pans.