Coffee Break

When you're trying to stretch your budget, you're willing to make sacrifices in several areas. You'll cut back on ordering pizzas or eating out so often. You'll switch to cheaper versions of brand-name items. But some things you just won't touch. If you're one of those people who must have coffee in the mornings, you probably haven't even thought of any ways to try to save some money there. But even with something you love and feel you can't live without, there are always ways to cut costs here and there.

Try blending your favorite brand with a cheaper version. You can still have enough of the flavor of your favorite while stretching it out, saving money and making it last longer.

If you drink lots of coffee, don't be afraid to buy larger quantities of your favorite brand. Take advantage of sales and stock up, or buy bigger packages than you normally do. Coffee can stay fresh for awhile unopened.

Get a thermos and take the rest of your pot of coffee with you to work, rather than tossing it down the drain. That can also help save money if you have a habit of stopping by Starbucks on your way to work.

When your budget is tight, you have to get creative to save money without giving up too much. Look for other ways to stretch your money you haven't tried before.

Budget Christmas Gift - Cinnamon Sugar Mix

You definately feel a tight budget at Christmas time. And somehow it seems your list is getting longer while your paychecks dwindle. But even if you don't think of yourself as a crafty person, there are still some homemade things that are cheap to do and will be appreciated too. A mix of cinnamon and sugar in a decorative shaker is fast, easy, and inexpensive.

What you need to make about 1/4 cup mix:

• 1/4 cup granulated sugar


• 4 tsp cinnamon


• Salt shakers from a dollar store

Mix the cinnamon into the sugar thoroughly. Use a funnel to put the mix into individual shakers. You may wish to decorate the shakers as well.

And just how are you going to do that?

An excellent, and legitimate, question. One for which I'm still working on an answer. Like moving into a new place, there's alway that period of time during which you're unpacking, shifting things around, deciding what works where, etc.

Starting with why I even created this blog in the first place seems like a good place to begin. I chose to stay at home early this year. At the time, it was the best solution to family scheduling conflicts. But life goes on. And beyond just paying bills and surviving, it's hard to give up those extra things that cost money. Music, movies, and family entertainment come to mind. And I've become interested in environmental causes over time. It's hard to donate money you don't have.

So I thought that I'd look at ways to still have a life within a limited budget in addition to throwing in my two cents on ways to make money at home. We'll see how it works.