If you missed it, here’s Part 1 on how to save a few bucks in the kitchen. These are just some small tips and ideas that I use to stretch a few bucks when I buy and prepare meals and food for my family.

Add something cheap. I don’t mean cheap in quality, but something that’s just usually inexpensive. When we make homemade burritos, I used to have to use two pounds of ground beef to get a decent sized burrito for each of us, but I hated using so much meat for one meal. Now I use one of my …read more

You might have guessed by my post about the wine pairing  app for your iPhone,  that I’m a wine fan. I’m a beginner, no real wine knowledge to speak of, but I’m learning. I joined Raley’s Wine Club a few months back and they send me information about pairings, tips for wine parties, and information on special buys and deals. If you live near a Raley’s, BelAir or Nob Hill, take a look at the company website and check out the wine club.
Some of the Raley’s stores here in California offer tastings.  My local Raley’s doesn’t offer this, but it sounds …read more

You never have it when you need it, when you have it you can’t hold onto it, and when it comes along you don’t know what to do with it. Do you know what I’m talking about? Yup, money. If you’re like most women, money’s probably the biggest stressor in your life. In fact, a 2006 Health magazine article reports that women worry about money more than weight, wrinkles, or relationships — and those are all big stressors! So how can you take charge of your finances and save yourself from all that worry?

This great post over at FemChat highlights the need for folks in their 20s and 30s to start saving for retirement.
Author Michelle Schafer says,
I don’t understand everything there is to know about investments, but I do know this: You need to start saving early and the longer you keep saving, the more money you’ll make over the long term. Maybe Social Security will be there for us (at least if IWPR where I work now, has anything to say about it) but Social Security was never meant to be a complete retirement package—it’s supposed to be combined with employer pensions …read more