We had a really nice holiday and I hope you and yours did as well. It was the usual picnic on the deck (with wayyyyyyyyyyyy too much food), sunshine and family. Next year I have promised myself that I will go to the parade and the fireworks. It really isn’t completely the 4th of July unless you do. This year I opted for quiet at home.
I seem to feel that my posts are always a potpourri of different things and this one is no different. During the week if I think of something I want to share I write it down in my notebook. If I try a new recipe, that goes in the notebook too. Also, if I have an interesting experience somewhere and learn how to save money or do something a little more efficiently that goes on the list. Without further ado, here is this week’s potpourri!
This wreath was my last-minute decor for the 4th. I had the raffia and the little star at home. At a household sale a few years ago I had bought the 48 star flag, which was the design of the flag when I was born. All I needed to buy was the grapevine wreath. That I picked up at Joann Fabrics. I saved 20% on that purchase because I signed up for their email notices. It was very cheap and I am always on the lookout for that money-saving angle!
RECIPE
This week I tried Dear Abby’s recipe for meatloaf. I read her column daily. This is an old recipe and a reader recently asked for it to be published again. I thought I would like to try it too. I have always made my meatloaf adding eggs for moisture and as another binding agent. That is the way my Mom taught me. I have never had a complaint but it’s good to try new things. The moisture in this recipe is provided by water and catsup.
-2 pounds of ground beef
-1 cup Italian bread crumbs
-1/2 cup finely chopped onion
-1/3 cup catsup
-1/3 cup water
-1 teaspoon garlic powder
-salt and pepper to taste
I combined all of the ingredients and made a loaf shape in a pan I had sprayed to PAM. I then drizzled catsup on top of the loaf. The meatloaf went into the oven at 350 degrees for an hour.
First of all, it was delicious. Three people shared dinner with me and all had good comments. No one would get into that dangerous area of whether it was better than the one I usually make. Gee, I wonder why! Let’s just say none of them lack intelligence or, for that matter, the desire to remain alive. Anyway, I did do a couple things differently than the stated recipe above. I didn’t have Italian bread crumbs so I added Italian seasoning to plain bread crumbs. I think it worked very well. I also added about 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese. Don’t ask me why! I just wanted to and I could, so I did!
Almost in the oven.
Out of the oven! You may notice this is only 1/2 a loaf. I forgot to take the picture when I took the meatloaf out of the oven so this is the half that remained after dinner. Whoops!
MONEY SAVER!!!!
You may do this already but for those that don’t I wanted to tell you about the Wal-Mart Savings Catcher. I have used it for a couple of years now and have actually earned a couple of e-gift cards. Here’s the premise. You download the app on your smart phone (from iTunes or the Google Play Store) and create an account. When you shop at Wal-Mart you scan the QR code or the SKU on the bottom of your receipt. You submit your receipt to Wal-Mart. If they find a lower price at another store in your area, they give you the resulting credit. So, for instance, if I buy a pack of Duracell batteries and they find them for sale at another store for a cheaper price they add the difference to your Savings Catcher account. You can claim your money at any time and be sent an e-gift card in your email. At the store you just present that at checkout like you would a coupon. Slick! There’s very little effort.
The only hitch I had at one point was that Wal-Mart Savings Catcher decided it didn’t like my road runner email. I called them to find out why I wasn’t getting my e-gift card and they told me they weren’t sure why but road runner addresses weren’t working and if I had another email to use that one. I have a Gmail account as well so I just used that and there was my e-gift card.
If you would like to read more about this program or sign up the link is provided below.
https://savingscatcher.walmart.com/
SUPER SAVER TIPS
I have mentioned in previous posts to sign up for loyalty programs at the businesses you frequent. There are savings!
Here are some more ideas for you to consider.
- If you get a $1 or more coupon for a new product but you’re not sure you will like it, wait until it is on sale. My grocery store periodically runs dollar doubler coupons in their sales flyer. I wait to use the coupon at that time when I can save $2. That way if I am disappointed I haven’t lost that much.
- Buy one, get one free sales are always nice. Now, if you’re a discerning shopper you realize that they increase the price of buying one of the items so that it isn’t that great of a deal for you and they still make money. However, you can play their game too. Here is my for instance. The dog food I buy was on BO/GO. It usually is $4.99 a box. They had upped the price to $5.99 but I still was going to get one free so it was an okay deal. I also had two $1 coupons off one box. So, I used both coupons because I was purchasing two units. At the $5.99 price and a total of $2 off I was getting two boxes for $3.99. That is cheaper than I could buy one for at regular price. I call that a win! Even if you have a $1 coupon of two of some item it helps you save.
- My grocery store runs special deals to get gas points. You buy 6 items from what they have in the group and you get 200 gas points. Sounds good. I do this only under certain conditions. I have to really use the product. I need to have a coupon. I particularly focus on the items that are buy one, get one when I have a coupon for money off of two. The danger here is that you buy things you wouldn’t ordinarily buy and then the store wins. I try never to do that.
