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Whether you’re religious or not, Easter can be an incredibly fun time of year — delicious candy, beautiful eggs, fluffy bunnies, and pastel everything.
But if you’re not careful, it can also be an expensive time of year.
A lot of things that people love to do to celebrate Easter will come back to bite them in the financial behind sooner or later (most likely “sooner”).
Here’s a quick rundown of things to avoid doing, if you want to keep your Easter under budget:
Hire an Easter Bunny
The world is chock-full of entertainers that will gladly dress up as the Easter Bunny for your child’s party — for a price, naturally.
Usually, this price is a rather hefty one. There is absolutely no need to hire any of these people, even if they’re really, really good at hopping.
Either create your own Easter Bunny costume, find a mall or shop where the kids can get free pictures with the Bunny, or just sit back and fire up some old Bugs Bunny cartoons for an afternoon.
That wascawwy wabbit is the gift that keeps on giving.
Buy Too Much Chocolate
As blasphemous as it may sound, there is such a thing as too much chocolate, especially when that chocolate can run you a pretty penny.
If you buy a dozen chocolate bunnies at five bucks each, that’s $60 on chocolate rabbits alone.
That’s way too much candy for any family (kids should probably just have a few small pieces each, holiday or no,) and that money could easily have gone to other, more important matters, like bills or ingredients for a delicious, homemade Easter dinner.
Hey, speaking of …
Eat Easter Dinner at an Expensive Restaurant
Any restaurant higher up on the food chain than McDonald’s will have an Easter dinner ready for you to enjoy. Of course, it’ll cost you some dough.
Depending on the size of your family, you could easily drop $50-100 on one night’s meal.
What’s the point, when you can just as easily create your own meal at home?
Buy the meat you want, cook it the way you like it, garnish it with whatever sides suit your fancy, and top it off with a dessert that’s bound to be way better (and cheaper) than whatever the local eateries would whip up.
Rent Top-of-the-Line Church Clothing You’ll Never Wear Again
Pastel dresses and formal tuxedos aren’t usually found in your typical closet, and so many people rent them for their Sunday church activities, return them the next day, and not think about it until next year.
Or, until the next credit card bill comes along, either or.
It doesn’t matter how cute or precious your little girl looks in a $90 outfit. It’s still a $90 outfit that ultimately doesn’t matter much.
Most people (well, the good ones anyway) will welcome and embrace you and your family regardless of what you wear to church. Just wear what you normally do and everyone will be happy.
Well, the rented formal wear company probably won’t be happy, but too bad.
Buy a Pet Bunny (if You’re Not Ready)
This could be the single dumbest purchase of your Easter, in addition to being the most expensive.
Unless you were planning to get a bunny for a while, knew what you were getting into, had all the right supplies, and budgeted accordingly for it, bringing home a pet rabbit for Easter is a horrid idea indeed.
The actual rabbit might not cost a lot, but caring for it, feeding it, bringing it to the vet when need be, and just being a good pet owner in general can cost a ton of money.
If you are truly ready to bring a bunny into your world, and have budgeted accordingly, then Easter is a tremendously symbolic time to begin.
But otherwise, just stick with chocolate bunnies. Just don’t get too many, since they’re not exactly cheap either.
Mary Hiers is a personal finance writer who helps people earn more and spend less.
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Eating cheap is easy. Given $10 to buy ingredients for a meal for four, even the most hopeless home cook could whip up grilled cheese and tomato soup or a simple spaghetti-and-meatballs combo.
But putting together a gourmet dinner for under $10 is more challenging. So we asked food and finance bloggers, as well as home cooks, to send in their best suggestions. (We’ve shared them below with recipe details, or, where available, linked to their blogs.)
Now Frugal Foodie has a challenge you: what’s your best super-cheap yet gourmet meal? Post it in the comments, and don’t forget to “like” your favorite submissions.
(All cost estimates are based on non-sale New York City supermarket prices. If it’s a cheap meal inNYC, we figure cooks in most other places in the country will spend even less. Prices are also adjusted for quantity: if a recipe calls for half an onion, you’ll probably find something to do with the other half. Finally, estimates don’t take into account basic ingredients you likely already have, like flour, olive oil or dried spices.)
One Pan Chicken and Rice
by Hilary Allard of Sliced and Diced
Cost: $5.73, or $1.43 per serving.
Allard’s sauté uses one pot and is finished in the oven, minimizing dishes as well as cost. Even better, cooks can swap out Mexican flavors (black beans, cumin, scallions and tomatoes with green chilies) for Indian and Mediterranean variations without affecting their bottom line.
Caramelized Cauliflower Fritatta
by Michael Natkin of Herbivoracious
Cost: $7.08, or $1.77 per serving
Fresh herbs give Natkin’s frittata zing, but can make a big dent in the budget if you’re not already growing your own. (Those who are would pay just $5.59, or $1.40 per serving, and be able to include as many types of fresh herbs as Natkin suggests instead of using just a $1.49 bunch of parsley, as we calculated.)
Monday Spinach Rice Medley
by Katie Clark and Telly Kousakis of More Dough Than Dollars
Cost: $7.15, or $1.79 per serving
Inspired by a kitchen cleanout project, Clark’s meatless dish could easily be upgraded for a few dollars more by adding cooked, sliced sausage (her suggeston).
Strawberry Chicken Salad
by Frugal Foodie of Mint.com
Cost: $8.49, or $2.12 per serving
Marinate a pound of chicken in a little olive oil, lemon juice and ground black pepper. Grill until cooked through, slice and set aside to cool. Tear up a head of romaine, and top with the chicken, sliced strawberries and a slices avocado. For a dressing, puree some of the remaining strawberries with a splash of balsamic vinegar (or alternately, a splash of olive oil and lemon juice) and some black pepper.
Venetian Chicken
by Nina Hoffman of RecipeLion.com
Cost: $8.95, or $2.24 per serving
Go ahead and buy a bottle of wine to add the optional two tablespoons in this slow cooker meal. You’re saving enough cash to justify the splurge.
Classic Turkey Chili
Maris Callahan of In Good Taste
Cost: $8.96, or $2.24 per serving.
Another great one-pot meal, Callahan’s chili could also be prepared in a slow cooker for a super-easy weekday dinner. Prepare it to your taste with different veggies and spices.
Polenta Pie
by Julie Arnheim of Rubbing Nickels
Cost: $9.58, or $2.40 per serving.
Ground turkey, polenta and fresh herbs are the most expensive ingredients in this take on shepherd’s pie, but you can economize further by preparing your own polenta (saves $2).
Cuban Shredded Beef
by Art Ginsberg of MrFood.com
Cost: $9.60, or $2.40 per serving
Shred this slow-cooked beef dish before serving it over rice or on a roll. (Frugal Foodie’s mom makes a version of this that subs out the green bell pepper for a few sliced white mushrooms.)
The key to this kicky dish: a spicy Asian-style marinade. Substitute peanuts for the pine nuts, or eliminate the nuts altogether to cut $3 from the bill.
Taco Salad Bar
Jenetta Lea Penner of Frugal Freebies and Deals
Cost: $9.98, or $2.50 per serving
A family friendly taco bar can easily come in at less than $10, especially if you’re shopping the sales for ingredients, Penner says. Her picks for this version: ground beef (browned at home in your choice of spices), a tomato (chopped), cheddar (bought in block form and grated), a head of lettuce (torn), a can of black beans (drained and warmed) and a jar of salsa. It’s enough that you’ll probably have leftovers, too.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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How to Use Grains for Hearty, Healthy & Cheap Meals
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A $25 face mask may be cheap enough to make it onto a magazine’s “bargain” beauty buys list, but there are less expensive and more effective head-to-toe pampering products to be had in your fridge and pantry.
Even professional aestheticians and stylists turn to household staples like lemons, baking soda or yogurt when it’s time to clear skin of acne, soften rough patches or keep teeth sparkling. “What better way to achieve a natural glow, then from natural products?” asks Lily Morgan, the founder of Lily Organics Fresh Skin Care.
Post your own tips below, and try these beauty uses for common household goods:
Avocado
* Scott-Vincent Borba, the author of “Skintervention: The Personalized Solution for Healthier, Younger and Flawless Looking Skin,” suggests mashing an avocado with the oil from one vitamin E soft gel, a dash of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of honey. Apply the anti-aging mask in a thick coat all over face and neck for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with damp washcloth.
* Gently rub the inside of an avocado peel on your face, says Morgan. Leave the residue on for about 20 minutes for a moisturizing mask.
Baking soda
* Pour a quarter-cup of baking soda in a cold bath to relieve sunburn, Morgan says.
* Jan Patterson, a nurse in Cotati, Calif., makes homemade toothpaste with the contents of two Myrrh capsules, a quarter-cup baking soda, two lid-fuls of hydrogen peroxide and mint or another flavor extract to taste. Mix until fluffy, and then store in a covered container.
* Make a firming mask from a beaten egg and a tablespoon of baking soda, Borba says. Brush mixture onto face and let dry for eight minutes, and then gently wash off with warm water. “Egg yolks are high in skin-nourishing vitamins A, D, and E as well as firming protein,” he says. “Baking soda will tighten and kill bacteria.”
* Mix a tablespoon each of baking soda and raw sugar for a pore-opening scrub, Borba says. Rub gently onto your face, and leave until your skin begins to tingle, at least 30 seconds but no longer than five minutes. Rinse off with warm water.
Coffee
Brunettes can give their hair color a lift with coffee, says Sheri D. of Sé Mō Hair. Make a strong pot of black coffee, then let cool. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the warm coffee on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.
Cucumbers
A true DIY spa treatment: place slices on eyes to de-puff and lighten dark circles, says Sucheta Rawal of “Go, Eat, Give.”
Eggs
To remove hard-water deposits from hair and add shine, Sheri D. uses an egg-oil mix. Separate one egg, and pour an ounce of olive oil over the yolk. Mix. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the egg mixture into your hair, using a large-tooth comb to help distribute it. Leave on for five to 10 minutes. Shampoo your hair again, condition, rinse and style as usual.
Honey
Use a mix of honey and milk as a cleanser to ease acne-prone skin, Morgan says.
Lemons
* Applying diluted lemon juice to acne-prone skin can help. Morgan says it can act as an antiseptic.
* “Cut a lemon in half and rub the open part on your heels to remove stains,” says Judy Woodward Bates, The Bargainomics Lady.
* To add oomph to light-colored hair, Sheri D. suggests making a strong pitcher of lemonade – water and lemon only, no sugar or honey. Shampoo your hair, and then pour the lemonade on. Work it through and leave in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water, condition and style as usual.
Oatmeal
* Fill a mesh bag full of dry oatmeal, Morgan says. Rub your face with the bag for a gentle exfoliation.
* For Borba’s clarifying mask, stir together a cup of lukewarm water, a tablespoon of honey, a tablespoon of chocolate syrup and a cup of oatmeal. Apply the mix to face for 15 minutes. “Lightly scrub the mask off is circular motion to ‘buff’ away dead surface skin cells,” he says.
* To ease sunburn, Morgan recommends applying a compress of cold skim milk mixed with oatmeal.
Olive oil
* Actress Vida Ghaffari says she uses olive oil as a conditioner. “I have to often get my hair styled and it’s the only thing that conditions my hair in the LA elements,” she says. “I put it in my hair a couple of hours before I wash my hair as sort of a pre-conditioner. It’s a bit oily, so I wear comfy clothes I don’t worry about.”
* Mix a quarter-cup with a cup of vanilla sugar for a body scrub, says Megan Moriarty of Savor: The Food Agency.
Shortening
“Many people don’t know that a very common baking ingredient, Crisco solid, can be used as a moisturizer on very dry heels, elbows, knees, as well as around dry, cuticles,” says Risi-Leanne Baranja of “Palacinka Beauty Blog.” In a thin layer, it can also work well as an overnight facial moisturizer.
Yogurt
* Mix a half cup of plain yogurt with a half-cup cornmeal and a quarter-cup grapefruit juice, says Joanna Vargas, the founder of Joanna Vargas Salon, Skin Care Sanctuary in Manhattan. Cool in the fridge to thicken, and then use as a face scrub.
* For a hydrating mask, Vargas mixes a half-cup of plain yogurt with half an avocado and a quarter-cup honey. Apply with a sea sponge.
Frugal Foodie is a journalist based in New York City who spends her days writing about personal finance and obsessing about what she’ll have for dinner. Chat with her on Twitter through @MintFoodie.
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Many set a goal to become a millionaire but fail to make the necessary habit changes to achieve the goal. While many believe millionaires are simply lucky, more often a millionaire’s money is made through grit, âsweat equity,â and financial discipline. Strategies to become a millionaire can be easy to replicate but will also require
The post How To Become a Millionaire Using 10 Simple Strategies appeared first on MintLife Blog.
If you are like most Americans, you spend a big chunk of your monthly budget on food and groceries. In fact, the average American family of four’s food costs around $800 per month. Factor in the holiday seasonâs temptations and staying on budget and a healthy eating plan can feel almost impossible. For many families,
The post Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is: Healthy, Low-Cost Meal Planning appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Welcome to the first of a six-part collaboration between Mint and Brewing Happiness. Iâm Haley, the girl behind Brewing Happiness â a blog about celebrating the small healthy choices we make in our lives, complete with recipes for everybody! As a food blogger, I know a thing or two about how expensive healthy food can
The post 10 Tips to Making (Healthy) Groceries Budget-Friendly appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Welcome to the second of a six-part collaboration between Mint and Brewing Happiness. Iâm Haley, the girl behind Brewing Happiness â a blog about celebrating the small healthy choices we make in our lives, complete with recipes for everybody! Last time we talked about my top ten tips for making healthy groceries budget-friendly. Today we
The post A Health-Centric 7-Day Meal Plan That Wonât Break The Bank appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Welcome to the third of a six-part collaboration between Mint and Brewing Happiness. Iâm Haley, the girl behind Brewing Happiness â a blog about celebrating the small healthy choices we make in our lives, complete with recipes for everybody! In the first two articles I covered grocery shopping on a budget, and provided a healthy
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The weekend is here! Time to enjoy a meal out with friends or hit your favorite restaurant, because after a long week you are just too tired to cook. In fact, Americans spent more than $50 billion at restaurants in January alone. We recently asked Minters on Twitter how they save money when dining out.
The post My Mint Tips: How to Save When Dining Out appeared first on MintLife Blog.
Welcome to the fourth of a six-part collaboration between Mint and Brewing Happiness. Iâm Haley, the girl behind Brewing Happiness â a blog about celebrating the small healthy choices we make in our lives, complete with recipes for everybody! In the first few articles I covered tips on making healthy groceries affordable, cutting food costs
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