Plan a months worth of meals ahead of time

                                 So I have been quite the busy mom. I have been working multiple jobs, going to school, and helping to maintain our home, garden and animals. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to coupon. But, being as frugal as I am, I refused to pay full price. I planned a months worth of meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, for my family of three, including snacks and drinks, and only spent $200. Now don't get me wrong, it took some serious planning, but 4 stores later and 3 days of cooking I did it. I went to the dollar tree for a lot of the easy stuff(tin baking pans, ghetto zip locks, spices etc) and i went to the grocery outlet for the majority of it. went to the bakery outlet and stocked up on breads, and had no choice but to go to Safeway for a couple cheeses and a certain vinegar. I went to www.momswhothink.com and used her guide to planning meals ahead. All the meals are freezer meals and are in large batches. Go to "think dinner", then go to "think ahead", click on "freezer meals" and up comes an organized set of recipes to choose from. The 3 cheese Kielbasa bake was great, as well as the garlic pork stir fry. The lasagna rolls are time consuming but tasty, although i recommend a better sauce for the topping. Hope this helps any busy moms who want to give their family a home cooked meal, but just don't have the time to cook every night.

A few good recipes for homemade products

Clogged Drain Remedy

1 cup salt
1 cup baking soda
1 cup vinegar

Mix, then pour down the drain. Follow with 2 quarts boiling water.

Color-Safe Bleach

This bleach is for delicate colors and synthetic fabrics. It reduces yellowing in silks and woolens.

2 cups hydrogen peroxide
14 cups water

Mix ingredients and store in a plastic one-gallon container. Soak items to be cleaned in this solution for 10 to 30 minutes.

Daily Shower Cleaner Spray

3 tablespoons liquid Jetdry (for dishwashers)
Water

Combine Jetdry and water in a spray bottle to fill the bottle. Spray shower walls after every shower.

Early Spring Insect Soap Spray

This suffocates early spring insects, especially on fruit trees.

1 gallon light-grade oil
1/2 gallon warm water
1 pound laundry soap

Dissolve soap in water. Add oil and mix well to emulsify. Dilute with 20 times more water before use. Apply the soap while the trees are still in a dormant, leafless state, covering the tree thoroughly with each spraying.

Read more at http://www.recipegoldmine.com/house/early-spring-insect-soap-spray.html#qEZvD0aeHRcdOlVX.99

Citrus Floor Cleaner

1 gallon hot water
2 tablespoons liquid soap
15 drops orange essential oil
8 drops lemon essential oil or 1/4 cup lemon juice

Mix together and wash floors.

Bay Leaf "Tea" Remedy for Ants

From Susan

Bay leaf has been used as a natural insecticide. It has been used to keep out the little bug that show up in staples (flour, rice, cereal, boxed mixes, etc.).

Take a large stock pot or canning kettle, add about 2 to 3 tablespoons of salt, and a handful of bay leaves. (NOTE: buy them at a food co-op or look online because you can get them cheaper than in a grocery store.) Bring to a rolling boil and let simmer for several hours. The longer it simmers the more potent the tea.

Take the hot "tea" to the ant colony. Coat the colony. Use the "tea" to "draw" a line of demarcation around their colony; around your house, etc. Repeat a couple of weeks later, just to be sure. One treatment may do it. If you use it on your garden plants, DON'T put boiling water on them; go for the ant nests or the ground; let the mix cool somewhat so it doesn't hurt the roots. REMEMBER: peonies need ants to bloom.

Cooking it creates a very strong smell - not bad when you consider that it's only affecting the insects. The vapor and steam will take care of any creatures that may be in your house.

Read more at http://www.recipegoldmine.com/house/bay-leaf-tea-remedy-ants.html#RCtyqU9F0RVXYPLZ.99

natural degreaser link

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Natural-Degreaser