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Mommy Kat and Kids

Canadian Mom Blogger - Product Reviews, Travel, Recipes and Parenting

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Getting Healthy and Saving Money in 2019 With My PC Insiders Subscription

February 19, 2019 by Kathryn 4 Comments

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the PC Insiders subscription service. All opinions are 100% mine.

After giving birth to Cormac, I was surprised by how long it took my body to recover. My energy level was very low and I couldn’t seem to get rid of that last ten pounds of baby weight.

I didn’t worry much about that sluggishness and extra weight for Cormac’s first year, especially since I was breastfeeding. But after this last Christmas, I decided it was time to jump in and get healthy again!

Part of my new healthy lifestyle involves following a new, healthy meal plan. That means doing a weekly shop of all the food I need for each nutritious meal. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Health, Money Tagged With: budget, family budget, healthy eating, save money

5 Saving Tactics & Apps to Help Your Family Budget This Winter

February 5, 2018 by Kathryn 1 Comment

Winter is that time of the year when expenses get a little higher and budgets get a little tighter. Many families need to be a little more careful with savings, so take a look at these fun tips and tricks to save more, easily.

As winter reaches its peak, the energy bills also spike up, forcing you to look for both power and money saving tactics. Here are a few useful and effective savings tactics and apps that will take care of the soaring prices and help you keep a tight lid on your finances. There’s no need for that budget to go haywire as the snow starts piling up!

sheep bank [Read more…]

Filed Under: Articles, Money Tagged With: apps, budget, budget tips, family budget, family savings, money, saving, saving apps, saving tactics, saving tips, savings, winter, winter budget tips, winter saving tips

Anna’s Budget Tips-Save Money with a Weekly Meal Plan

May 1, 2012 by Kathryn 8 Comments

Food generally makes up a large chunk of the household budget, so it is a good target when looking to save money. I have found that I am able to feed my family for a lot less when I create a weekly meal plan.

fresh saladWhen I know what I’m going to be making for dinner it is so much easier for me to get something healthy on the table at a reasonable hour. Takeout is far less tempting and I avoid a rushed trip to the grocery store at its busiest time of day with a young, tired and hungry child in tow.

There is no one “right way” to make a meal plan – some people find once a month is easier than once a week, some find it’s helpful to do a lot of the prep for weekday dinners on the weekend, but I will tell you what I have found (through much trial and lots of error!) works best for me.

At some point during the weekend I sit down and make a list of four to five dinners to have during the week from Sunday to Saturday. This leaves room for a few nights of leftovers or eating out. If I plan seven big dinners inevitably something goes to waste as there will always be a night when we won’t eat at home due to an event, an invitation from a friend or just because we’re all craving pizza.

To make the meal plan, I start by looking in the freezer, fridge and pantry for items we already have and create dishes around as many of them as possible. Then I pull out the binder where I keep all my favorite old recipes and new ones I have clipped from magazines or found online. I might also browse through my unreasonably large cookbook collection for some new things to try.

I feel like I have to mention that this part is really fun for me. I love to cook, test out new recipes and experiment with different ingredients and cuisines. I get way too many cooking magazines and read cookbooks like novels. If this isn’t your thing, there is no reason that your meal plan has to be filled with complicated multi-course dinners. Most online recipe collections have a “quick and easy” section. Seek out meals you can make in a slow cooker with just a few minutes of preparation the morning. Use convenience items from the grocery store such as frozen veggies, side dishes that steam right in the bag they come in, cooked rotisserie chicken, pre-washed lettuce and frozen entrees.

Once I have my list of dinners for the week (which goes up on the fridge) I make the list of ingredients I’ll need to make them (along with what we’ll need for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks) and head to the store. I try to find ingredients that will do double duty so nothing goes to waste. If I know I’ll need half an onion for one dish I’ll plan to toss the rest in the tacos I’m making a few days later. Other good ways to use bits of produce, meats, and cheeses: mix them into scrambled eggs, top a salad with them or make a wrap in a tortilla for lunch.

Each day when I get home from work I know I have a few options of things to cook with all the ingredients ready and waiting for me. I tend not to assign specific meals to each day and instead just choose from the list based on what everyone feels like having and how much time we have. I try to plan a couple of quick meals for crazy days and a few that are more involved for those evenings when I have a little time to breathe.

So – what do you think? Could this work for you? Do you have your own meal plan routine that helps you save time and money? And what’s your favorite thing to cook when you need to get dinner on the table in a hurry?

Anna Platz writes for the popular personal finance blog, Good Cents Savings, which focuses on helping you save money, stick to a budget, and live well on less. She is also the mother of a four year old daughter who is worth every penny!

Filed Under: Anna's Budget Tips, Articles, Features, Money Tagged With: budget, family budget, finance, groceries, meals, money

Anna’s Budget Tips-Traveling With Kids on a Budget

April 1, 2012 by Kathryn 3 Comments

Spring is in the air! That means that spring break is right around the corner (or already here for some) with summer not far behind. If you’re planning a family vacation for one of these times it doesn’t have to be a budget buster. Here are a few tips for making memories without breaking the bank!

summer suitcaseLocation

Your choice of vacation destination will probably have the biggest impact on the cost of the trip. Remember that kids don’t need a fancy cruise, Caribbean resort or whirlwind tour through Europe to have a good time. They might have even more fun camping out at a park 30 minutes from your house – think hiking, learning to fish, feasting on s’mores, and catching fireflies! If roughing it with the little ones isn’t your idea of a good time, check with hotels or resorts near you to see if they offer a local discount. Enjoy being a tourist in your home town and have a relaxing vacation without the stress and expense of travel.

When you do plan to travel some distance from home, price out several means of transportation. Factor in the cost of gas and wear and tear on the car and compare it to flying or taking a bus or train. The train can be particularly fun for kids and it gives you a chance to spend more time together playing games, reading books or just being silly – and less time behind the wheel.

Activities

Seek out low-cost and free activities near your vacation destination. Call the Tourism Office, Visitors Bureau or Chamber of Commerce for ideas and do a search online. Also ask about coupons for discounts to popular attractions and suggestions for kid-friendly activities unique to the area.

Seek out parks and playgrounds, hiking trails, free outdoor concerts, fireworks and festivals. Is there a local college or semi-pro sports team with free or very cheap tickets to games? How about a museum with free admission on certain days?

Food

Constantly eating out while traveling can put a serious dent in your budget and the food will most likely be higher in fat, calories, sugar and sodium than what you serve at home. Bring a stash of healthy snacks, drinks and even meals that can be eaten on the go. Granola bars, trail mix, fruit, cereal, applesauce and nuts all tend to travel well. If you’ve got room for a cooler (and aren’t flying) throw in some yogurt, cut veggies, hummus and other perishables. Just replace the ice as it melts to keep everything cool. Bring reusable bottles to refill with water.

Look for a hotel room with a kitchenette or even just a mini fridge and microwave so you can eat some meals in the room. Cook and freeze dinners ahead of time so that you can simply reheat and serve while on vacation or plan some simple meals that won’t require a lot of time or space to prep (counter space is generally very limited in small hotel kitchens.)

When you do want to eat out, look online for coupons, specials, and “kids eat free” deals.

Souvenirs

Avoid shelling out for treats, souvenirs and gifts at every turn by coming up with a game plan ahead of time. For older kids, consider giving them a set amount of spending money at the start of the trip. With little ones, steer clear of souvenir shops altogether and surprise them at the end of the trip with one special thing to remember the vacation by.

Anna Platz writes for the popular personal finance blog, Good Cents Savings, which focuses on helping you save money, stick to a budget, and live well on less. She is also the mother of a four year old daughter who is worth every penny!

Filed Under: Anna's Budget Tips, Articles, Features, Money, Travel Tips Tagged With: budget, budgeting, family budget, family finance, money, travel on a budget

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