The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook Giveaway
January 8, 2010 | Filed Under Books | 588 Comments
Updated to add: This giveaway is now closed. The two winners are Tracy and Alaina!
This past week I made two recipes from the newly released $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook written by Erin of $5 Dinners. I made the Asian Chicken Wraps and Beef Roast and Potatoes. They were both VERY easy to prepare and delicious. Sure wish I’d remembered to take pictures for you.
The unique thing about Erin’s cookbook though is that out of the 200 recipes included every one of them was made for $5 or less. That’s quite a feet. And while I’m not sure I could match the prices she is able to achieve in her hometown of Dayton, Ohio, since I live up here in Northern Canada where groceries are pretty expensive, I do like that she breaks down the cost of each ingredient so you know exactly how she got to her total.
As you would expect the ingredients are straight forward and not fancy schmancy. I’m not a fancy girl by any stretch of the imagination and definitely don’t have the time to be running all over town trying to find something I can’t even pronounce that is for sure.
Another fabulous take away of the $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook, that I was really impressed with, are the many pages of how-to information at the beginning about strategic grocery shopping, couponing and meal planning. Everything you need to know about these topics is detailed for you in plain English so you can be saving money in no time. Erin does a great job of breaking it all down for you step by step so you too can be a savvy supermarket shopper.
My only disappointment about this cookbook is that each recipe does not include a picture. However several pictures are included in the middle of the book. I do understand though that it’s done this way in order to keep costs down. The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook is currently available on Amazon for only $10.19.
I have TWO copies to giveaway to two of my readers. To enter just leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite comfort food is?
Giveaway closes Tuesday, January 12th at 12:00 pm PST.
Molly’s Money-Saving Digest Giveaway
November 11, 2009 | Filed Under Books | 92 Comments
Updated to add: This giveaway is now closed. The winner is #31 Jessica!
Earlier this year I told you about a terrific 40 page menu planning e-book that you can receive for FREE when you sign up for the e-newsletter at Econobusters.
Today I’d like to tell you a little bit more about the Econobusters site and their fabulous monthly digests. Econobusters is a fairly new blog that started this past January by a group of women whose purpose and passion is to empower and encourage keepers at home during this tough economic downturn. They provide tips on ways to save, frugal ideas, do-it-yourself projects, meals that save time AND money, and so much more. What makes this site unique though is that it is hosted by a fictional character named Molly Green. “Molly” is one smart gal too. My goodness you just have to check out the site to get plenty of ideas and tips on everything from organization to decor to shopping and crafts.
In addition to daily posts on the blog, each month Molly also writes and publishes an e-digest that she offers for sale at the low price of $4.95 each. These money-saving digests include more in depth discussions and articles on topics regarding frugal living. Molly (and her helpful team of course) were kind enough to send me the September 2009 issue so I could see for myself how great these digests are and you know I have to say I was not disappointed.
Each month has a theme and September’s theme was all about frugal decorating. Let me quote Molly herself:
“A lovingly decorated home is not about high price tags, debt, or keeping a set of design rules. It’s about pulling together pieces that work for your family, at a price you can afford, in a way that makes you smile . . .”
—Molly Green
I told you she was a smart girl 
In this 33 page digest I enjoyed reading a variety of articles on many great money saving topics. Here is a sample of what’s included:
- Begin with the Basics: Are you couponing yet? Maybe you’re not convinced that it’s worth the hassle. Listen up with a sensible, step-by-step introduction to why and how coupons really can help your family’s budget. This is the first part in a series by Amy Howard that takes a good, close look at how a real family uses coupons for real savings. If you are tempted to shy away, you need to read this!
- On Sale This Month: Every little bit adds up! What items are usually discounted? What should you stock up on? Find out now.
- Keeping it All Together: Creating a Home Décor Binder—Learn from Kris how to create and maintain your own three-ring binder that will save you time and money, and keep all of your pertinent decorating information in one place! Get organized to ensure that you have what you want when you need it and go on to acquire the fabulous results you envision.
- Feather Your Nest Frugally: How did Virginia help her son find and refurbish a solid wood dining room set for only $135? See this photo transformation!
- Pull up a Chair: There are plenty of interesting reasons to celebrate in September! What should you put on the menu? Get the recipes for Black Bean and Sausage Soup, Paul’s Cornbread, and easy-but-tasty 1-2-3 Cheesecake!
- Parenting that Pays: Todd Wilson, the funnyman of Familyman Ministries, shares a cartoon, and Molly shares some brief, but sound, advice on keeping your family’s decibel level lower. You can have a more peaceful home—within minutes! This advice alone is worth the price of this E-Book!
- Something Old-Something New: What do you have in your home right now that’s just screaming for a li’l update? One of Molly’s favorite bloggers, Tracey Buxton from A Cottage Industry, takes an old calendar frame and gives it a charmingly new 2009 look. Sometimes it’s all in the paint!
- Monthly Feature: Frugal Decorating—With the word count down and the picture count high, you’ll hear from three special guests then go on a “blog walking tour” visiting a dozen additional favorite décor bloggers. These are real women with real families living in real houses and creating lovely home environments on a realistic budget.
My favorite feature was the Something Old-Something New column. I love love love to take something intended for one purpose and turn it into something new and fresh and totally functional. That’s exactly what writer Tracey Buxton did with an old calendar frame. I never would have thought to do this and kick myself now for not having picked one up at the thrift store the other day. What did she do? Well I guess you’ll just have to read the monthly digest to find out
One of you will get a chance to do just that if you win today’s giveaway though. Molly is giving away a copy of the fabulous September issue in e-book format to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment on this post answering the following question:
What’s your favorite part of Thanksgiving?
The question totally has nothing to do with anything but I thought I’d give you something fun to say rather than just “pick me”
Giveaway closes on November 14th at 9:00 pm PST.
PS: If you are interested, you can read about all the past and present digests here. You can also purchase digests through their Pick-a-Pack program which means you can select five digests for the price of four ~all five for $20.00!
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