Recycle Your Fruits & Vegetables

Looking for a way to save a bit of money and time? If you find some fruits or vegetables turning soft on you in the fridge, chop them up, toss them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer. When you’re preparing a meal that requires these ingredients, you’ll have them all ready to go. You’ll have to test this on your vegetables, not all vegetables freeze nicely. I have used this trick on onions, peppers, beans and many different kinds of berries. If my strawberries are looking a little less then perfect, I just freeze them and use them to make smoothies or for my oatmeal in the morning. This also works for blueberries, peaches, raspberries. Berries are so expensive, I can’t stand to throw out money like that.

I particularly like to do this with green onions. I never seem to be able to use up an entire package of green onions. So I use what I need then I’ll chop up the rest and freeze for another day. Then when I’m making my homemade chicken soup or spinach dip, I already have the onions ready to go and I use what I need.

List of Favorite Wines Under $20

As you may notice, I have a thing for wines. I love trying new wines and trying to pair them with new and interesting foods. I don’t tend to spend many nights out on the town but I guess this is my way of enjoying the finer things in life without spending too much money. I will literally walk up and down the isles at the wine store and shameless harass the staff for their advice on the best new bottles of wine, preferrable under $20 a bottle. Some times I save them for a special date night with hubby, other times I’ll have a couple of girlfriends over and I let them choose from the stash. Of course this is a great list to pick from if you’re having a party. For me, buying a new bottle of wine to try is as satisfying as some ladies find buying a new pair of shoes. So far, this is a list of my top ten favorites.

1. Lindemans Pinot Noir or Merlot (red)
2. Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio (white)
3. Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz (red)
4. Senorio D Ruios (white)
5. Beaujolais Villages (white)
6. Yellow Tail Shiraz (red)
7. Open Riesling Gewurztraminer (white)
8. Wolf Blass (red or white)
9. Cupcake Chardonnay or Red Velvet (red or white)
10. Inniskillin Merlot (red)

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Slow Cooker Chicken

If you’re looking for a quick, simple and healthy go to meal for supper, this is it!
I usually watch the sales for the whole chickens and stock up. Unless you have a large family, I tend to be able to make two meals out of a whole chicken. Keep it simple of flavour it up. You can put the whoe chicken in the slow cooker frozen in the morning and come home from work to a delicous cooked chicken. Add some quick cooking egg noodles and some steamed veggies and dinner will be on the table before you know it.

4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup onion, chopped (optional)

Mix all the spices together in a small bowl.

Pour 1 cup of water over the frozen chicken, this will allow the spices to stick to the chicken. Place the lid on the slow cooker, set to cook for 10 hours or on low and run out the door for work. Let your slow cooker do the rest.

Make your own shower cleaner

Have you ever ventured into making your own cleaners? I’ve heard alot about them but never given them a try.

I think this will be the first one I try! Thanks Money Saving Queen!

http://www.moneysavingqueen.com/March-2013/DIY-Make-Your-Own-Shower-Cleaner/

Ingredients:

Spray Bottle

1/2 Cup Rubbing Alcohol
1/2 Cup Hydrogen Peroxide
20-25 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil (Tree Oil could also be used)
2 tsp. Liquid Castile Soap

Directions: Mix the ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well. Spray the mixture onto your shower after each use to keep it fresh every single day!

Read more: DIY: Make Your Own Shower Cleaner – MoneySavingQueen – March 2013

Every Day Domestic Chores = Free Hotel Accommodations

Do you like to travel with your family but find the prices of hotels expensive at the best of times? If you collect Air Miles and would like to cash in your points for free hotel accommodations, please read on!

I LOVE to collect Air Miles. I play the system every chance I get. I have my banking through BMO which gives me air miles every time I used my debit card. I also have the BMO Air Miles Master Card – which also lets me earn points every time I use it. (Just make sure you pay off your balance each month!) I also try to buy my gas at Shell where I can use my Air Miles card AND use my credit card. In a sense, I’m double dipping. I’m earning twice the number of points with the same purchase. There are a number of different stores that allow you to do this.

You can also shop online through the Air Miles website. If you know you’re going to place an order online anyhow, look to see if the Air Miles website has a link to your destination web site. You will earn points just by clicking over to your destination web site when you make your purchase.

So now that you’ve worked hard to earn all those Air Miles, what are you going to do with them? First you can start with the Air Miles website and see if you can find free hotel accommodations through their web site.

But you do have alternatives!! You can transfer Air Mile points over to Priority Club. If you do decide to transfer your points, there are a few bonus perks. Hotels have “free rooms” allocated to different reward programs, so if they do not have any rooms for Air Miles, they may have them for Priority Club Reward Members.

Being a Priority Club Reward Member also gives you access to discounted hotel rates on their web site. Another bonus.
Also, but if you transfer over enough Air Miles to your Priority Club Rewards, you’ll earn “Platinum” Member status. I’ve redeemed enough Air Miles for 3 free hotel nights in the past 12 months and am now a Platinum member.
Now, are you ready for this? This Platinum status gives you access to a FREE room upgrade, if it’s available. And you’ll also earn Priority Club points more quickly. But you have to ask for this room upgrade.
There are a lot of other benefits too. You can find them on the Priority Club Reward Member web site.
Another bonus about the Priority Club Reward membership, the points do not expire. Unlike the Air Miles points which now expiry 5 years after you’ve earned them. So start your Air Miles saving and start planning your next trip.

Happy Travels!!