Netflix

OK, so I finally broke down and joined Netflix. My reasoning for this is that my local video store was running out of "appropriate" movies for me to rent. I don't watch rated R movies anymore, and even many of the PG-13 movies nowadays are just out of line, in my book anyhow. And there really aren't a whole lot of PG movies to choose from at the local video store, unless I am looking for kids movies.

I am so glad we did decide to join. We have been members for around 2 months now, and I do really like it alot. We got the package for 2 dvds out at a time, which runs around $13.00 a month. At the video store, we were spending around $20 a month on rentals, so it is a small monthly savings for us. In addition to the 2 dvds a month, they also have some of their movies on instant play through the computer. We have utilized this feature quite a bit as well.

Netflix has alot of interesting documentaries, family movies, tv series, etc. to view that my local video store did not have. They also have exercise and fitness dvds available to rent. Don't get me wrong, I really do like my local video store and the employees, but when searching for things that we feel are appropriate to watch, the selection was getting pretty thin. Plus the fact that every dvd we have rented from Netflix has come in better condition than the ones we rented at the video store. We have had no issues with the dvds skipping or "getting stuck" in a spot the way we often did with the video store.

We do not have cable or satellite TV, but if we did, I would seriously consider cancelling and just going with Netflix. My reasons are that there are no commercials, and you get to pick exactly what you want to watch and when you want to watch it with the instant play feature.

And last, but not least, is the fact that you get to keep the dvds for as long as you want with no late fees. We are very pleased with their service so far, and I really hope we continue to be happy with it.

Cheesy Lentils Crockpot Recipe

Lentils are a great way to stretch a meal budget. For us, usually a one pound package, cooked and prepared, will last us for at least two meals (if we heat up the leftovers). Lentils are a small legume, but pack a big punch nutritionally. They have lots of fiber and iron, and they are very filling. A one pound bag of lentils usually costs anywhere from $1.00-$1.50 around here. Plus, by cooking in the crockpot, it saves money because it uses less energy than cooking on the stove or in the oven.

As for this recipe, it went over well in my house. Lentils usually have mixed reviews around here. My husband really doesn't like them that much, but will eat them when I make them from time to time. Well, he actually liked the lentils last night when I used this recipe. So did everyone else. We will be using this recipe again, and thought I would share it with you. It is different than most lentils recipes. It sort of reminded me of macaroni and cheese, only with lentils instead of noodles. Very yummy!

Cheesy Lentils

1 pound lentils
2 cups chopped onion
2 cans diced tomatoes, with liquid
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
3 bell peppers, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground marjoram
1/8 tsp ground sage
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients, except cheese, in crockpot. Cook on high for around 3 -4 hours. Stir in cheese until melted. Serve topped with additional cheese, if desired.

I adapted this recipe from http://southernfood.about.com/od/beansandblackeyedpeas/r/bl118c20.htm .

Homemade Whole Wheat Bisquick Mix Recipe

I have avoided buying Bisquick for years now because it doesn't come in whole wheat (at least not where I live), contains bleached flour, and it also contains hydrogenated oils (which is where trans-fats come from). Not exactly a healthy food product! I try to avoid these types of food products if at all possible. The downside of avoiding Bisquick is that there are lots of yummy recipes that call for Bisquick. I found an alternative, though! I can make my own Bisquick! And another added bonus is that by making my own, I will also save money over buying it at the store. I tweaked it slightly, but I got this recipe from http://www.grouprecipes.com/25102/homemade-bisquick.html .

Whole Wheat Bisquick Mix

4 Cups unbleached flour
4 Cups whole wheat flour
1/4 Cup baking powder
4 Teaspoons salt
1 Cup shortening or oil
1 1/3 Cups dry powdered milk

In large bowl, blend unbleached flour, salt, and baking powder. Add shortening (or oil) and mix until crumbly. Stir in powdered milk, and then the whole wheat flour. Store in an airtight container, refrigerate if made with the oil.

I made mine using oil instead of shortening. My reasoning for this is that shortenings are usually a hydrogenated oil, and they are REALLY bad for you! I tried this mixture out in a recipe I made for dinner, and it turned out great!

Steam Cleaner Solution Alternative

I love having my own steam cleaner. It makes cleaning up tough messes easier. Since I have mostly hardwood floors, I don't need a full size one. I have a smaller unit that has a hand held nozzle, but it works well for steam cleaning our rugs and the furniture. In the past, I have always bought the cleaning solution from the store. My only problem with that is the smell, the cost, and the chemicals. I finally used the rest of my supply of cleaning solution at home, so I tried something a little different. Instead of cleaning solution, I put an equal amount of white vinegar in the machine in place of the solution. It works great! White vinegar not only disinfects, but it deoderizes as well. Plus it doesn't bother my asthma, and less chemical exposure in my house is always a goal. From now on, I will be using vinegar in my steam cleaner instead of the expensive cleaning solution.

Cut Your Car Insurance Costs

We have used Progressive for auto insurance for a few years now. Our main reason for that is because they have been able to give us the best rate, hands down. I have periodically tried to get quotes from other companies, and they just could not even come close to matching or beating the price Progressive gave to us (like, by several hundred dollars!). I finally checked with a local insurance agency that represents several different brands of insurance. They were able to beat the price of Progressive, by around $40 for six months of coverage. Spread that out over a year, and that is $80 worth of additional savings.

We carry full coverage insurace on our vehicle, a mini van. To break the difference in savings down, when we have checked around on rates before, most places were asking around $450 for six months of coverage. We checked with Progressive, and they offered the same coverage for around $260. Obviously, most places were not able to beat that price! My husband suggested we try a local insurance agency that sells several brands of insurance. We did, and they were able to give us a rate of $220, and that was for slightly better coverage than we had with Progressive.

So, my main point in all of this is to shop around for the best deal. Even better, try a local insurance agency that deals with several insurance companies. They will usually know which company will give you the best rates, or you could get several quotes in one place because they do deal with several companies.

As for a few more ideas on saving on your car insurance, pay up front for all six months if possible. The reason for this is that if you do monthly payments, or some other payment plan, they often charge you an extra fee of around $5 per month for processing. That is an extra $30 added to the quoted rate for six months. Also, many insurance companies will give additional discounts if you carry other types of insurance with them as well, such as home owner's insurance. It may be worth it to switch things around if they can give you a better rate on that. As for us, when they asked what insurance company we insured our home with, they were upfront with us and said they could not beat the rates that company offers.

Hopefully this has given you a few more ideas on how you can save additional money on your auto insurance!

Saving Money On Handsoap

In our family, it seems like we go through alot of handsoap. The good side of that is that it means people are washing their hands and having good hygiene. Going through alot of handsoap can add up quickly, though. We have found a way to have plenty of handsoap to use for around $14 per year for our family of 5. Pretty impressive, huh?

Here's my secret, revealed to the public at no cost, LOL. I go to Sam's Club and buy the four pack of Dial foaming soap dispensers for around $7. Then I get a ginormous (is that even a technical word? I keep hearing all the cool kids saying it.) container of Member's Mark handsoap, also for around $7. When the foaming soap dispensers are empty, I refill them 1/4 of the way with handsoap, fill the rest with water, put the pump back on, and shake to mix the soap and water. The pump will then continue to dispense a foamy soap for hand washing. In our experience, the ginormous container of soap stretches for a whole year before we have to buy a new one.

Workout DVDs On The Cheap

I have been making an effort to be healthier and exercise regularly. Right now, buying a membership to a gym is expensive and inconvenient for me. Plus, I really do prefer to workout in the privacy of my own home. I have discovered an affordable way to change my workouts around to get more variety, but at an incredibly reasonable price. The last few times I have been to TJ Maxx, I have been able to pick up some new workout DVDs for around $2.99-$3.99 a piece. They also have other fitness equipment at very reasonable prices. Their videos are decent ones too. Tonight I picked up two Kathy Smith videos, and a Denise Austin video for around $10 for all three. Every time I go in to the store, they always have a new variety to choose from. Picking up a few new videos here and there keeps my workouts challenging, plus I can't complain about the price!