Garage Sale Tips

Spring cleaning will probably involve getting rid of a lot of things you no longer need or want. If you're thinking about having a garage sale to remove as much of it as you can, remember the following tips:

Advertising
In addition to making lots of signs consider posting an ad on places like Craigslist and your local newspaper(s), both online and print. The more exposure the better.

Pricing
People are looking for bargains. They don't care how much you paid for it, or that it's brand new still in the box. Don't expect to get at least half or more that you originally spent, or you'll probably be sticking it back wherever you'd been storing it. Price your stuff low, after all, the whole point is to get it out of your house.

Unsold Items
If you still have things after the sale you really don't want anymore, look into posting them on Craigslist or Freecycle.

Good luck!

No more pizza delivery

Cut corners by making your own pizza instead of ordering. You don't have to buy a pre-made pizza shell, try one of the following recipes to make your own custom pizzas in a variety of ways. You might even discover a new favorite.

Tortilla Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 package of flour tortillas, any size


• 1 can or jar pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce, any flavor


• 1 8oz pkg shredded mozzarella cheese


• Optional - pepperoni slices, black olives, small can of drained mushrooms, chopped onion, diced ham, small pineapple chunks

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F.
Line a baking pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Arrange tortillas in baking pan and spread sauce on each thinly.
Sprinkle each tortilla with mozzarella cheese and add any optional toppings.
Bake for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Yield: ? servings
Prep Time: About 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5-10 minutes


Taco Cornbread Pizza

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. corn muffin mix


• 1 lb. ground beef


• 1 pkg. Taco seasoning mix


• 1 8 oz. pkg. shredded cheese, divided (Cheddar or Mexican blend)


• Optional - lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, salsa

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray a 12" pizza pan with cooking spray and set aside. Prepare the corn muffin mix as directed on package. Spread batter into the pan. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until lightly brown.
Brown meat and drain. Add the seasoning mix as directed on package.
Sprinkle 1 cup cheese over baked crust. Top with taco meat, and then the remaining cheese.
Bake for 4 - 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Optional - top with taco favorites such as lettuce and tomato. Try using sour cream and salsa as dipping sauces.

Yield: About 4-5 servings
Prep Time: About 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes


English Muffin Pizza

Ingredients

• 6 English muffins, split in half


• 14 ounces pizza sauce, any kind


• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese


• Optional - pepperoni slices, mushrooms, black olives, chopped onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Line a baking pan or baking sheet with aluminum foil.
Arrange muffin halves in baking pan and spread 2 to 3 tablespoons pizza sauce on each.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and add any optional toppings.
Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

You can also use bagels instead of English muffins.

Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: About 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes


Pizza on a Hamburger Bun

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef


• 1 jar or can pizza or spaghetti sauce, any flavor


• 1 pkg. shredded mozzarella cheese


• 1 pkg. 8 count hamburger buns


• Optional - mushrooms, black olives, chopped onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Separate buns and place halves on baking pan. Heat buns for 5 minutes.
Brown ground beef and drain. Add pizza sauce to the ground beef.
Spoon the ground beef mixture onto the bun halves and top with mozzarella cheese.
Add any optional toppings.
Bake for 10 minute or until cheese is melted.


Yield: 16 pizza burgers
Prep Time: About 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Family adventures on a budget

If the warmer weather is inspiring you to get outside but your budget isn't allowing theme park trips, get creative and make your own adventures. Don't just drag your kids along a nature trail in the park, take the camera and search for exotic animals on a safari. Take a picnic with you and add an extra bag for collecting plants and flowers (if allowed) to press at home for lasting memories. Or go out at night to star gaze and imagine you're on a distant island, rather than just stepping out into your own front yard to look up at the sky. You'll probably have a better view in a park anyway.