Blogger's Block

The deals have been few and far between the last couple weeks, which is why I haven't written many new posts lately. I try to post things for you that I find relevant, useful and appropriate for frugal gals (and guys) like me. It's common knowledge among my fellow bargain blogger friends that the first quarter of the new year isn't always the best time to happen upon the greatest deals. With the second quarter swiftly approaching, I'm hoping that there will be lots of great finds to share with you all very soon.
In the meantime, here are a few frugal tips and recipes that help Brad and I manage our family's finances:

1. Learn to love your slow cooker.

This one, inexpensive appliance has saved our family tons of money by preventing us from eating out at restaurants when I'm too tired to cook at night. I do a little prep work and throw the ingredients in the slow cooker in the morning when I'm fresh and my energy level is at it's highest. I plug it in and look forward to not having to try to figure out what I'm going to feed my family in the afternoons when I'm most tired.

Here's one of my favorite slow cooker recipes:

Fiesta Chicken
6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
16 oz. jar salsa
2 cups instant rice

1. Place chicken in slow cooker. Pour salsa over chicken.
2. Cover and cook on Low 6 hours, or until chicken is tender.
3. Remove chicken to serving platter and keep warm.
4. Add rice to hot salsa in slow cooker and cook on High 30 minutes.
5. Shred chicken and return to slow cooker.
Serve with tortillas, cheese, guacamole, etc...
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2. Get on a budget!

I've kept a budget for our family for years. I happen to be an Excel freak and really enjoy creating budget spreadsheets. I do not, however, enjoy following the budget. That part always seemed to trip me up. And, then, we met our good friend, Dave. Ok, so we're not exactly "friends", but Brad and I plan on calling him up in the not so distant future to scream in his ear that, "WE'RE DEBT FREE!". And, I feel absolutely certain that he'll be over the moon thrilled for us. If that's not a friend, I just can't imagine what is.
If you've not heard of Dave Ramsey or if you're absolutely skeptical about his program because of what you have heard, I would really encourage you to take a look at his website HERE.
About a month ago, we started his 13 week Financial Peace University class at a local church. We're just 4 classes in and, already, we've put $1,000.00 into a savings account, paid off 2 credit cards and 3 medical bills and put ourselves on a budget that allows us to give, save, pay bills and plan for our future. We've even begun to set aside some money each month for a Disney vacation that we plan to take in the summer of 2011. We are more hopeful now than we've been in a long time. I feel certain that my chidren, should they choose to do so, will graduate from college without the burden of student loans following them into their "real" lives. I'm excited to teach my children how money really works, so that they will make better decisions than we have. Isn't that one thing that most parents want?... For their children to know more and do better than they did?!
I'll step down from my soap box now... Promise me you'll at least take a glance in Dave's direction and give it some thought. Promise? (=
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3. Do your research!

There are lots of bargain blogs out there that are similar to mine. Here are some of my favorites that I try to check on a daily basis:







Be aware that these are bloggers from different states and that some of their information will only apply to their local stores. If you're a blogger, be sure to link back to the original blogger's post if you share one of their great finds to your readers. It's the courteous thing to do... (=