Keifer Homemade: It’s been 24 hours and now for the final product. • Spell correctly Kefir as in Freeze dried Kefir starter Kefir a brand name of Kefir milk Homemade Kiefer is the actual fermenting of the milk using Kefir starter grains. Kiefer, Keifer and Kefir are used interchangeably to mean the same thing. Kefer is a misspelling. • Follow the recipe I did not end up with curds. I like to strain my yogurt as I pour it in to the final container for fermenting. That doesn’t work on Keifer (spelled correctly). I think I strained my Kefir starter grains out of the milk. Next time I will strain the cooked milk before I add the Kefir starter. • 1st try successful???? It seems more like my homemade yogurt. It is actually tastier as it does not have that strong fermented taste. It takes less effort than homemade yogurt and I think I will replace my yogurt with this Kiefer drink.

Fair Compensation

What would you consider as fair compensation for sharing your child’s car?
Our negotiations thus far have resulted in my following expenses:
*mileage for gas plus a few dollars
*½ the cost of the new battery purchased on Saturday. (Used the jumper cable kit I purchased at a garage sale Friday!)
*Pick up all trash and personal belongings (It’s her car!).

Single Vehicle Family 2011

Practical Wisdom of a single vehicle family 2011
How does a family use one vehicle?
Three weeks ago my red truck died. My daughter and I are using HER car.
Remember asking mom and dad for the keys?
I now have to ask my daughter for the keys. It makes for interesting discussions between mother and daughter.
Vehicle sanity:
*Coordinate all calendars through December, update when necessary.
*The evening before discuss tomorrow and next week activities, be flexible.
*Plan grocery shopping trips including trips to farmer’s markets, Sam’s Club, bank, and library all enroot. (Serendipity- garage sales along the way)
Any pointers would be welcomed at this point!

Illegal Couponing

Illegal Couponing

Couponing didn’t take a big enough hit with the reality show Extreme Couponing, now we have illegal couponing.

Opening my daily edition of The Advertiser, Friday, July 1, 2011 in bold print are the headlines:

“Woman charged with stealing newspapers”

It seems a though an overzealous couponer was caught stealing the Sunday edition of the weekly newspaper in Crowley, LA.

As she sped away in her hummer she was identified and later issued a “misdemeanor summons”.

Legal Couponing:  Yes there are ways to get coupons legally.

*Go thru the recycling bins in your neighborhood and steal those coupon booklets.  Someone has already thrown them away.

*Ask your neighbors and relatives to leave their coupon booklets for you in a plastic bag, hanging in a convenient spot, back porch, garage, etc

*Join or start a coupon exchange group in your neighborhood, church or at work. www.thebudgetqueen.com meets on the first Tuesday of the month at South Regional Library, public is invited.

*Go to www.thebudgetqueen.com and search for coupons on line.  You can print two coupons for every printer you use.

“Stealing is stealing” so please stick to legal couponing.

Newspaper Problem Solving101

Newspaper Subscription Problem Solving 101 

Couponing has thrust me into a new category of problem solving.  Here are methods I use quite often.

·        Speak to a newspaper representative at community functions when possible.

Rouse’s Grand Opening in Youngsville last year had a local Baton Rouge newspapers sales rep. at the main entrance selling subscription.

Incentive, a $10.00 gift certificate to shop at Rouse’s for signing up.

I spoke to him about the Baton Rouge newspaper Sunday addition I buy at a competitor grocery store in Youngsville, LA.

I looked at him in the eyes and asserted,” I stopped buying the Sunday paper because the coupon inserts were never in the Sunday paper, why should I buy a paper without the coupon inserts!!”

Apologetically and jokingly he told me that it was a “guy thing” strictly, the carrier, a guy, wasn’t putting inserts in the paper.

I signed up for the subscription, I love reading this particular Sunday paper, and received my $10.00 gift certificate promptly buying $10.00 worth of free groceries.

A week later I received a letter explaining I lived out of the delivery zone and could not get the paper delivered to my home.

Moral of my story: I never turn down a gift certificate for something I would purchase anyway.                                                                                                                            

Since my conversation with the rep., the Sunday addition sold locally has all the inserts!

·        Speak to your carrier first.  Try to build a warm relationship with this person.  A friendly wave of hand or just a simple hey!!  I have discovered thru friendly conversations that a lot of problems with my paper delivery are with my local daily newspaper.  Example:  the press is always breaking down!!!!! Getting the morning addition to the carriers in the afternoon.

·        Speak to customer service.  Ask “Who’s in charge?” of circulation.

Your usually given a “Who’s in charge?”Name and voice mail to leave a message.   I find this works better than an e-mail.

·        Be assertive in a positive manner never rude.  Make sure you ask “Who’s in charge?” before asking your questions.

If you are not satisfied with the answer ask again and keep asking until you are satisfied with the answers you are getting.

Let me know if this was of any help.

KEEP US POSTED!

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Have you started using coupons?

Couponing for 2 1/2 years now I am amazed how many new couponers are out there.

While shopping at Target yesterday I found my self continually maneuvering my

shopping cart around customers examining and comparing their coupons to items on

 sale.

I've noticed a huge increase in couponers since the start of

TLC Extreme Couponing 8pm central time on TLC.

I haven't missed an episode yet.
 
However extreme these people are keep in mind a lot of their stock piles are donated

 to  charity, grandmothers, friends, relatives and just people in need.

Have you noticed any similar changes at the supermarket?

$5.00 per gallon for gas

How have you prepared for when not if this will happen?

Please send me your put in place actions to spend less on gas.

This Sunday, by invitation from my friend Barb, we are car pooling to a church in
Baton Rouge.  The minister has given us e-mails for people in the Acadiana area who are
also interested in car pooling.  We will be able to split the bill four ways making it affordable for all!

We will most certainly check with www.gasbuddy.com to find refueling, if necessary on our journey.