Monthly Archives: November 2016

Seat Sale Again!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have been quite lazy recently; maybe things are already taking a toll on me. I hardly opened my emails and I know I should have so I will not be so overwhelmed when I finally check my inbox but I was hard-headed. And after a few hours of sorting and marking, I am finally done! Gaa, if only these things can be left cluttered like that, I will just open my email once in a blue moon.

If there is a good things about me opening my email, that would be the seat sale alert! I am checking where we can go next year for a little vacation. I am trying now to check the fares but I get stuck at the online sale option!

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Food Bill

While we love sharing and experimenting with new recipes, food expenses can add up quickly if you’re not careful. When you’re trying to feed your family a healthy diet with quality food, it can be a challenge to keep costs low. It’s not impossible. Here are five ways to help you save money.

Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Coupon with a twist. Couponing is great but requires a lot of time to search and cut coupons. Do you wish there was an easier way? There is with Groupon Coupons, which offers coupons from thousands of retailers across hundreds of categories. New coupons are added daily, so it’s a good idea to visit frequently. Reduce your expenses with bulk food purchases; grab discounts on kitchen and food prep tools and gadgets; and save money from different categories such as home décor or personal health.

Shop local markets. You might be surprised to know you can save money at local produce markets, where farmers offer fresh food at comparable or reduced prices to usual grocers. You can even find varieties of produce; some of which aren’t offered at your traditional store. Local markets often offer higher quality and better tasting food, which means you won’t waste money buying vegetables or fruits that don’t taste good or that your picky eaters refuse to eat.

Plan ahead. Have you heard the advice of not shopping on an empty stomach? That’s good advice but even more important is to plan your meals in advance. Write down foods for an entire week of dishes for you and your family. Find recipes for foods you already have in your pantry. Check your store’s weekly sales, and plan recipes around one main meat. For example, cook a huge package of ground turkey, and use it in a different, nightly meal. Make turkey meatball spaghetti, turkey and veggie casserole, turkey tacos, or turkey and bell peppers pizza.

Freeze whole or individual portions. When you find a big sale on meats, buy multiple packages and freeze some for later meals. You can also cook all your week’s dishes at one time, or even plan for the entire month. Take a weekend to prepare, cook, and freeze individual serving sizes. You can also freeze fruits, and use them in smoothies, muffins, or pies. Freeze veggies for smoothies, casseroles, or soup bases. To make it easier, buy a home vacuum sealer or freeze-proof containers.

Prepare meatless dishes. Meats are probably the biggest food expense, save for some exotic ingredients that could pop your budget. Prepare meatless meals once or twice per week. Think of some of your favorite dishes with rice or pasta, omit the meat, and add plenty of fresh veggies. One of my recent recipes would be perfect for this: the anchovy fritters and seaweed salad served with brown rice. It’s healthy, full of flavor, and easy to make without a huge cost.

The Art of Flying

Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Taking a trip during the Golden Age of Flying is not all it is cracked up to be. Many people will see photos taken from the flights and think it looks so cute and charming. The reality is, flying back then was for the rich and crazy. Rich because in 1955 it could run you $138 for a round-trip flight from Chicago to Phoenix with TWA, which is equivalent to about $1,168 today. And crazy because well, let’s talk why.

It is obvious and true that flying technology back then was nothing compared to what it is today. In fact, flying today is one of the the safest modes of transportation. Even safer than driving a car or truck. Back then, mid-air collisions and engines falling off were common. Could you imagine boarding a flight knowing that it is possible one of the engines could fall off mid-flight? What is even more disturbing is if one of the plane’s engines fell off and the plane still landed safely, it wasn’t even considered an accident. Yikes!

Besides safety, another large inconvenience (depending on how you look at it) was flying attire. With many, if not all, passengers being wealthy they were all dressed very well. Three piece suits for the men and dresses for the women. It wasn’t necessarily a requirement but you would certainly get looked at differently if you didn’t. That has to be one of the most underappreciated factors of modern day flying. You can board a plane with a nice pair of joggers, comfy sweater, and your freshest kicks and not have to worry about any shade being thrown your way. If you are a traveler that values comfort AND style during your flight, grab some of these Groupon coupons for Eastbay. Revel in your relaxed outfit while the rest of them struggle.

Right now is the true golden age of flight. Movies, decent in-flight meals, and exit row seating deserve more love than they usually receive. Next time you board a plane, think about what you just read and appreciate the fact that you’re wearing Jordan’s and watching that new RomCom. Just try not to think about the engines falling off.