Maybe today’s society rewards the hares, or perhaps, it encourages or even forces us to be hares or be left in the dust. When I was younger I could run and get everything done and then collapse at night. When I bought my first car, I had a car payment and then the rent went up and wow, car insurance! I had to get a part-time job — I went to work at…

…Pizza Hut as a waitress so I could afford to eat. Literally, I would get a free personal pan pizza whenever I worked. Usually, I at least made enough in tip money to put gas in my car. Normally, I made a lot more if I got to work on Saturday night.

All my life I have tried to become a turtle (slow and steady), but, somehow my spirit is the hare.  I will say that as a single mom I often felt like the hare. It seemed like never enough time or money. Always in a hurry to get my kid to school and me to work and then back again. Weekends were housework and errands. So by the time I was worrying about saving money for retirement, I was already behind. And then there was saving for college!

I am sure many folks are familiar with the scenario. How do we catch up? What do we prioritize? Some experts have these strict “cash in the envelope” strategies for budgeting and say cut out your morning coffee or breakfast stop. Others are like go cold turkey and sell things, go bare bones, etc. to cut expenses. If you have credit card debt, things are even more dire.

The reality is that the best solution is something that you can and will do. Maybe you need to be the hare for a little while and look at how to do something quick to stop the money leaks — can you stop eating out and cook at home. Maybe buy a Keurig and make coffee at home before you run out the door. Eating out and buying expensive drinks are the common money thieves. However much this saves you, does it really help you catch up. It’s more like the hare starting to get a head but not actually winning the race. How long can you cut back — eventually, you will get tired and stop.

If you have credit card debt, due to the compound interest², you may still be losing ground. Well, of course the first step after stopping the money thieves, is to figure out how to get compound interest working in your favor.

If you haven’t heard of the “snowball” method. How it works, is a bit counter intuitive. You pay more on the card with the smallest balance while paying the minimums on the other cards. The goal is that you pay off the smallest card and then you can put that payment amount on the next card that has the next lowest balance and so on. I used that after my divorce to pay off my credit cards. If you do this while cutting back your spending -this works!

That said, if you need to — you may need a side-hustle (aka second job). Do you have a hobby that you can make some money? It could be as simple as baking cakes (folks at work may pay for a nice cake for a special occasion) or even just making hair bows (yes, someone I knew did this at night while she watched TV). The side hustle may only bring in a small amount of money but it almost counts as double – yes!! It’s money that doesn’t come out of your budget AND if it’s under a $400, you don’t have to claim as income. While $400 may not seem like much, it might cover a new coat or feed your holiday shopping fund.

You get the picture, the hare gets busy fast to make a dent. Next is the where the turtle wins the race. Many folks work at a job where there is a retirement savings plan (e.g. 401(k) or similar). Most companies will put money in if you do– they will match your contributions up to say 5% for example. If you do not contribute enough to get the match, then you are missing the best gift! I have coworkers who have told me they can’t afford to — actually you can’t afford not too! It may be hard at first but it’s literally free money. And you get a tax break on your contributions. Maybe you have to start after you get your credit cards paid or the easiest time to start is when you get a raise. If you get a 3% raise, put in 3% – it’s not the full match but it will be easier – and it’s as if you put in 6%!!. Next year do the same. Here is why even a little makes a difference — compound interest! Really the longer you have money in there to grow, the better. So it’s really best even if it’s only 3% to get started and then just let it grow.

Next you have to decide how to invest. Easiest is to pick a good “Target Date” fund. These are funds that are usually named with a date: Investment A 2050 or Investment B 2065. So which one to choose. Hopefully, your company has several in the fund offerings. Think about how long you plan to work and calculate the date you plan to retire — the earliest date. So if you are 30 and plan to retire at 67 then select one that is 35 years from now. You can change your strategy later if you need. The goal is to get started. The more time you have funds saved — the more time it has to grow. The target date funds will start more aggressive and then slowly move more conservative as it comes time to use the funds. So, as you get older you may want to start contributing to a fund with a later date (10 years or so) to cover your lengthy retirement.

Now, you are like “Hey, wait! What about the kid’s college?! Let’s get into that. Well by now you have your debt eliminated — at least the credit cards are paid. You are saving for retirement. What about a car or house payment? Have you saved money for a house? With the cost of buying house, let’s discuss college funds. Seriously, the earlier you start a college fund the better. A 529 plan can be your best bet. Each state offers one and you don’t even have to pick the one in your state. That said, if you can put some money into one to start the ‘snowball’ growing that is a huge help.

Maybe feeding the college fund is hard. Even $50 here and there will make a difference. Grandparents may even wish to contribute a yearly gift. Your goal of saving the possible $100-200k for each kid may not be practical. That said, if you can save enough for the first year for each kid — that can help them get started. Then help them pay while in school. And, if you can have them only borrow the last year or two of school and then you can pay the interest. This sentence looks simple but it’s not. The biggest issue with student loans is the interest and even though the payments don’t start until they graduate, the interest starts compounding.

If you can get your child the student loan that is the equivalent to a home equity line of credit then it will often allow for interest payments. This is critical to keep the snowball at bay. Let’s say your child borrows $20k a semester for the last 2 years at 7%. The interest is going to really start adding up. However, if while the kid is in school — you may not be able to pay the tuition but you can pay the interest. Therefore, your child’s loan may still be a serious chunk but not nearly as much since you paid the interest.

Rather than feel like you need to save/pay all of your kid’s college costs upfront, please remember your son or daughter can live with you after college. If you can let them live rent free or help with groceries, etc., they can work to pay off loans and save money. That is a huge help. Additionally, many companies offer tuition assistance to repay student loans. Please don’t sacrifice your retirement savings when your child has more options to get ahead. With the real estate market the way it is, saving and buying a home will be a different post!

In the end, your child will be most happy if you can fund a your own happy retirement without having to live with them! And this is a very comfortable place to be.

¹Aesop’s fables are a collection of ancient Greek stories, credited to the storyteller Aesop (c. 620–560 BCE) that teaches moral lessons. They often feature animals with human characteristics and are designed to convey a moral, such as “don’t judge a book by its cover” from The Lion and the Mouse or “slow and steady wins the race” from The Hare and the Tortoise. 

²Compound interest is the interest calculated on the initial principal amount plus any accumulated interest from previous periods. It is interest on interest, causing money to grow at an accelerating rate over time. This can be beneficial for savings and investments but costly for debts, as interest can grow quickly on both the original amount and the accrued interest.  This is why it is compared to a snowball that grows as it rolls downhill.

I am not being paid or sponsored for the mention of any companies or products. These comments are from personal experiences and I am providing links to either my blog or others for reference.

What does that mean? When you borrow money there is always a cost – even if funds are borrowed from family, where the cost may be emotional capital. The primary cost is the interest charged on the loan. It can also be the cost of your time in earning the money, e.g. how many hours did you have to work to pay for the item. Let’s look at interest rate costs and how you may use borrowing money to your best advantage.

While you may think this is “too financial,” as in “I am not good with money,” it is a very important concept to understand. You may already understand the concept but think “it doesn’t apply to me.” When thinking about money and looking at budgets and finances, the “cost” of money now becomes very important. Especially, when you are looking at big purchases or have started accumulating credit card debt.

The “cost” of money is the interest rate and the total amount you will have paid at the end of a loan. How do you know what that cost is? How much more per month do you need to pay off the 30 year mortgage early? Why does it feel like you can’t make progress paying off your credit cards?! How many years will you have to work to pay off these student loans? Using an amortization chart or table can help you calculate the total costs for your loans. There are many calculators out there (yay!) to walk you through the process.

The answers to these questions depends on your credit rating and your needs. If you are trying to decide if you should buy a new car or a used car or if you have a older car should you trade it in to lower the payments. Usually the interest rate on a new car is lower than the rate on a used car. And, a new car usually comes with a good warranty so the maintenance should be less costly.

The real advantage if you owe money on your credit cards and you have an older car to replace, then borrowing the funds for the new car and selling your old car outright could be a better financial decision. If you can pay off your credit card with proceeds from selling the older car, it may be a better financial decision. A new car loan may be at 4% and the credit cards could be at 16%. It may make sense to pay off the credit card and purchase the new car. Or, use the older car proceeds to start an emergency savings account to ensure you don’t have to borrow more money on your credit cards. Or use the funds to help pay for college for your son or daughter.

The main goal is to have your money work for you. Perhaps, you want that new designer purse and the sale price is only $300! So, you think $300 is not too much so you charge it. However, if you are only making minimum payments (like $50), now that $300 gets added to a continually growing balance. In the long run, that purse will cost a lot more than $300 and that is not a bargain.

What if you have more than one credit card with a balance — eek! The Debt Snowball Method is needed! I have used this method when I was younger and it does work. Looking at your options can save you money in the long run. It can be tricky getting out of debt and trying to save for an emergency fund. The emergency fund is going to be critical to eliminate debt. So start saving even $10 per pay period into a savings account — usually credit unions are more favorable for not charging fees on small balances. Once you get a raise, you can up the amount even if it’s only $5. Use direct deposit to automate the savings, even if you think you can’t afford it. You can’t afford not too. You can withdraw the funds if you need to but surprisingly you will get used to it and not miss that $10.

If you are working and have the option to have a 401(k) or similar plan, please take advantage of it. I know it may sound like, how can I save for retirement when I owe on my credit cards? Two reasons! 1) your company match is “free” money and it is actually part of your salary compensation package. 2) Tax benefit! You don’t pay taxes on the contributions to the fund. If you can, contribute the minimum to get the match. If you can’t at first, do the minimum to participate and increase your contributions at the next raise (or once you pay off your credit cards).

Once you have your credit cards paid off, have an emergency fund, and are contributing to your retirement fund at work, you may want to buy a home. Most realtors and mortgage companies will try to sell you a house saying you can afford the payments for the 30-year loan.

However, looking at the amortization tables, BankRate.com, has a nice one, you may find that a 20-year loan at the same interest rate is not that much more and will save you 10 years of payments!! Most lenders are not suggesting the 15-year mortgages and try to steer you to a 30-year loan. And, if you ask about the 15-year loan they will often say, “you can still make double payments and still pay off your loan in half the time.” The issue is that most people won’t make the extra payments. And, some banks will only credit you the real savings if you pay the double payments on the exact due date.

You may ask why does this matter so much? For example, a house with a mortgage of $330,000 for 30 years at an interest rate of 5.27% may not look that bad at a base payment of $1,826 (before taxes and insurance) but over 30 years, that loan/house will cost $657,490. That is literally, almost the same as if you bought “two” houses!! Or the cost of the house and putting a child through a private college. A loan of 15 years will cost $2,656 (before taxes and insurance) is only about $800 more per month and the total cost is $478,128. Yes, this loan will cost about $150,000 more but it’s less than half of the extra $330,000 with a 30-loan. So, when calculating if you can afford a new home, consider a 15- or 20- year loan over a 30-year loan. Of course, there are other factors to consider when buying a home than just the cost of the loan. Making educated money decisions can make for a more comfortable life.

References: https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/amortization-calculator/

It has been a while since I sat down to write an article and I didn’t realize it had been so long!  It feels like some days there is so much to do.  I went to visit my family and saw my niece graduate from high school.  She has done so well and it was nice to see the family.  Interestingly, even though it has been years since I graduated, in many ways, they are the same:  exuberant graduates, relieved and happy parents, supportive and happy friends.  Speeches and pomp and circumstance but now with big screen TVs  — this grad ceremony was held in the Toyota Center! 

So … after the speeches and celebrations, it’s up the graduate to decide the next steps:  college, trade school, working, or maybe a gap-year full of travel?  Big decisions that can be literally life changing! 

College costs have risen so high, it can exclude many students.  However, there can be ways to make college more attainable besides just expensive loans. 

The College-Level Examination Program® (CLEP) can help students achieve college credits for a fraction of the costs.  This can be a good option if someone is good at reading and taking exams.   Many students are very smart and a regular classroom moves too slow.  CLEP exams allow you flexibility to study and take the exams at your pace.

Tuition Reimbursement Programs at private companies can help as well.  Usually, you have to get the class (and/or degree program) approved.  Pay for the first class up front and if you don’t have the funds, this is a good use for your credit card.  Pay the minimum payment until you pass the class with a B or better and then file for reimbursement and use that payment to pay off the first class.

Both of these options together can help a student pursue a degree.  Maybe not as fast as the full-time path but it can be a jump start and you can earn valuable work experience with health insurance!

While it is great to pursue a vocation in an area you love, it may not make a lot of sense to pursue a degree that may leave you with a lifetime of debt.   This is not an endorsement to suffer through college to get a job that is boring and/or you are otherwise unsuited for.   Rather, most colleges have as part of their orientation classes, tests for aptitude, interests and personality to aid in career planning.  Often there may be several occupations or career paths for which you are well-suited.  Therefore, how do you choose?!

Well, one way is to look at the free Government resource:  The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), Occupational Outlook Handbook. They even provide a helpful video to help you in your career search.  I am so surprised that most high schools never mention this free resource.  Well, that said, many adults have no idea that it exists.  Why is this important.  College is one of the most important investments you can make besides buying a house and saving for retirement.   Well, there may be a few more things, but college may be the foundation of your earnings for the rest of your life!

So…when deciding to invest time, money and hard work towards a future occupation, there are things to consider such as:

• Job Opportunities and Locations
• Salaries
• Future growth and/or decline in Occupations and Areas

These are important factors since most students take an average of 4-5 years to complete a Bachelor’s Degree.  If you desire to be a Lawyer or a Chiropractor where are the new job openings?  What is the cost of living in the area?  The job may pay more in NY City but the cost of living may mean your actual money after your bills may be less than if you took a lower paying job in Alabama.  Often cities have higher rent costs than small towns.

When you first go the BLS site, it may be overwhelming.  Another awesome and free resource is your neighborhood Librarian at the Public Library or the College Counselors. All of this information can also be useful for someone going to college, looking to make a career change or to move to a new location. The key takeaway is that investing wisely in you and your future can help you build a very comfortable and rewarding life! Best Wishes to all of the new graduates!

References:

https://clep.collegeboard.org/clep-benefits-for-everyone

https://www.nerdwallet.com/cost-of-living-calculator

https://myscholly.com/50-companies-with-amazing-tuition-reimbursement-programs/

https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

It’s almost Thanksgiving Eve and everyone is making plans. Some are going to cook and host, some will travel to meet up with family or friends and some may just order in take-out and rest! My mom used to make her “Holiday” dinner for all of the special occasions. She would make the pies the night before, get up early to bake cornbread for the stuffing, and make a big Turkey — using up all those weird bits in the bag. We thought that bag was disgusting but she cooked it for stock and flavorings for the best Cornbread Dressing as us Southerners call it. We always had green beans, candied yams and the best mashed potatoes. This was the celebratory meal for Thanksgiving, Christmas and sometimes Easter with the added bonus of deviled Easter eggs! (recipe for the deviled eggs to come later in the Spring).

If you want to cook something delicious but don’t have the skills or the time to pull off a huge “Martha Stewart” dinner, there are ways to still have a warm comforting meal. You can make the infamous TV Dinner or …. there is also an abbreviated version aka a Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner!”

The Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner” is really for anytime you miss having the “Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.” And use these ideas to save time and focus on the family favorites. This is also, a good way to have the variety without the mega-leftovers. Don’t get me wrong, this is more cooking than microwaving the plastic tray for 41/2 min and letting it stand for 1 minute. That said, I think if you can boil water, you can pull this off.

What is this simple to make dinner that will still feel like a feast? Today we have all of the shortcut meals to help! This may or may not be THE healthiest but it is probably healthier than TV dinners! Also, Veggie Trays up the healthy ratio and are an easy appetizer!

Menu:

Chicken instead of Turkey – Plenty of options here

Mashed Potatoes – Use Instant Potatoes

Stove Top Stuffing — your fav flavor

Green Beans — Use the low-sodium version of your favorite canned beans — More experienced cooks may want to make a green bean casserole following the recipe on the back of the Fried Onions.

Cranberry Sauce — The canned stuff!

Candied Yams – the “Southern” brand – I know … you don’t like them so either add marshmallows or you can leave this off the menu – I won’t tell!

Rolls – Crescent Rolls or Hawaiian — this is the Cook’s Choice. Go Fancy and get French bread!

Jar of Gravy — Chicken or Turkey is preferred – tip — buy two jars and only make one for this meal and save the other for the leftovers if any.

Favorite Mrs. Smith’s Pie and Cool Whip or Real Whipped Cream or Ice Cream

The “helpers”

Worcestershire Sauce

Chicken Stock/Broth – low sodium

Butter, Sugar and Cinnamon

Lemon Pepper Seasoning

Optional – Celery and Onions

So the most important decision is which short-cut to substitute for the Turkey. This is important as it impacts the timing. Lots of options: make the MJ Roast Chicken (https://mhockman.com/index.php/2021/01/10/a-chicken-in-every-pot/#more-77) or pickup a Rotisserie Chicken or a pack of Turkey Breasts or Chicken pieces to cook.

Next which pie did you select? Read up on the cooking times. Does it (pumpkin pie?) need an hour and then some chill time in the fridge? Or is it (chocolate or coconut cream or cheesecake) so just thaw and serve? Do you want to serve it (apple pie) warm from the oven? If so you can bake while everyone is eating dinner (or just after everyone finishes).

Set the table now so it’s ready and decide on the bowls and serving pieces you will need. The hardest part of preparing this meal is the timing. The other shortcuts will take very little time. Open the can for the cranberry sauce and put on a pretty dish and put in the fridge. If you are serving Red Wine then open the bottle and let it breathe while you cook.

If you are cooking chicken, it is easy to put a little oil in the baking dish, add chicken, skinless boneless breasts, and salt/pepper – if you like add some Italian Dressing on top to keep them juicy and add more flavor. (note: don’t add salt when using the dressing as it has sodium in it). The chicken may take 45 min or so. Once it’s in the oven, now put the yams in another dish and add pats of butter, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Add a smidge of salt (sprinkle from up high). The salt will keep it from tasting too sweet.

Now open the green beans and put into a medium sauce pan on medium heat. Add a sprinkle of Lemon Pepper Seasoning and a smidge of olive oil or butter. Let these simmer literally on the back burner. bwahaha.

Prep the baking sheet for the rolls. Prep the pans to make the Stove Top, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy. Make sure you check on the Chicken and the Yams (swapping them around in the oven position 1/2 cooking). Once you take out the Yams and Chicken to rest, put the rolls in the oven. You will follow the instructions on the boxes/jar for the last sides. Here are the tips:

Swap the milk and water ratios for the Instant potatoes and add a bit of extra butter (it is the holidays!) and don’t forget the salt and pepper. For Stove Top — substitute Chicken Stock for the water or split it if you are really worried about your sodium. If you want… you can use some butter and saute the celery and onions before adding the Chicken Stock. Once they are softened add the the Chicken Stock and follow the box instructions. Put the lid on set aside.

For the gravy — heat up a little bit (1/3 cup of the chicken stock in your small pan, and add a dash of the W sauce. Heat over medium heat. Add in the jar gravy and add some shakes of black pepper and warm until it bubbles- turn down to medium low. Don’t let this get away or it will scorch. Once it has bubbled for at least 3 minutes, set aside with the lid. Check on the rolls, they should be ready!

Guess what — This meal probably took an hour and a half to prep and cook- something to think about! Which might sound like a lot, however, the full, unabridged version takes hours and hours. While I am a fan of making the full “Mom Holiday” dinner for Thanksgiving, this is often a good version for a cold wintery day in January or Christmas in July! Nothing says lovin’ like something tasty from the oven. You CAN do this! My table had a mix of home-made and shortcuts – see if you can tell <wink>! Have a wonderful time with your family and a Merry “MJ Holiday Dinner!”

Leaves are turning to golden yellows and rusty red and squirrels seem to be everywhere.  The crisp mornings and cooler days mean that Fall is definitely here.  While Halloween has passed, we can still benefit from tricks to enjoy our treats more.  Especially those tricks that help us save money and/or calories. 

I know many people love diet sodas and I love regular soda.   I have tried over the years to love diet and I just can’t get into it.  Here we are heading into the indulgent season and cutting back so we can splurge on the specialty items is prudent.  That said, I am never going to love diet sodas and guess what!  They are not actually better for you.  So …. what is a ‘bubbly’ loving girl to do?!

Join the sparkling water club!  Store brand Club Soda to the rescue!  Purchase the one with no sodium, especially on sale, it is very reasonable.   It is refreshing over ice with a splash of lime!  Lemon works better in plain or flat water.  Lime seems to taste better in the bubbles.  Add a splash of cherry juice too and it is very tasty.  A healthier soda for children as a few splashes of real fruit juice is lower in calories with the added albeit small amount of vitamin C.

I have had several married friends complain their husbands drink way too much regular (not even diet) soda.  I asked, did they serve them the drink in the can/bottle or pour it into the glass with ice? They said the latter.  (Even if you are a modern woman, it is ok to be nice and make a drink for your spouse.)   Anyway, I suggested they think about adding a bit of plain Club Soda to their husband’s soda of choice and over time slowly add more.   Eventually work up to about half Club Soda and half of their preferred.   This means, even if they don’t reduce the amount of soda they are drinking, they will get 50% of the calories from their “Soda Spritzer.”   I especially like to do this with Coke or Dr. Pepper.  I now prefer it with more bubbles and a bit less sweet.

I also like to add Club Soda to Orange Juice to “lighten” it up!  Sort of like a virgin Mimosa!  Orange Juice along with other juices can be high in calories.  I find adding ¼ or more club soda is more refreshing and it is healthier than drinking an actual soda for breakfast.

And, for the parents who have complained the kids waste the sodas by opening them and drinking half and it gets flat.   Here is a helpful trick, just add the flat soda to Club Soda.  It will perk it back up and reduce the calories.  So, while soda may not be the healthiest, you can at least reduce the calories and still enjoy the bubbles.  Bonus, Club Soda is usually cheaper so you can extend your budget and reduce the wasted sodas!

Be inventive and let your kids come up with tasty ways to enjoy the soda treat.  Remember the old-fashioned punches?  Sherbet and soda and fruit juice?  Why not bring back an old favorite for the holidays!  Lighten it up with the Club Soda and add in real fruit slices along with the floating island of fun colored frozen treat.  I haven’t tried it yet as a substitute for Root Beer in Root Beer floats.  Mmmm… maybe an excuse to have a Club Soda Float.  I am thinking it might work best with Chocolate ice cream?  What can be better than an old favorite treat and a money and calorie saving trick!

I remember when my Mom first learned about and made a Tuna Casserole…. My mom was so proud that she had made this ubiquitous 70’s meal!  While we were eager to have something new for dinner and the noodles looked promising…. we were not happy.  We ate it, but that tuna smell.  I actually don’t think my little sister ate it – to this day, she does not like the smell of fish.  Fast forward, my mom realized canned chicken is a great substitute for tuna and Voilà!  That change was the trick to getting us kids to happily eat this dinner!  

Want something warm, comforting, inexpensive and easy? If you have more than 20 minutes – like maybe 30, then you can even do it in one pot (and a colander).  This is also a great dish when you need something easy on the tummy and possibly have leftovers.  Ok, I always have leftovers because I always make a large pot.  I love the leftovers, especially for lunch.  So, what is this lifesaver dish? 

One Pot Chicken Dinner.  And it can be made with all pantry (and freezer) ingredients for the win! 

In my quest for dinner in less than 30 minutes, I have shortened the ‘casserole’ to a one-pot meal and, hence, the name change.  Don’t get me wrong, if you have a lot of time, it is definitely tastier to cheese this up and pop it into the oven for 15 minutes or until bubbly.  The last time I made this dinner, I was quite hungry and it was summer time, so I just stirred in the shredded parmesan cheese until blended.

The basic recipe is really more of a formula:

1 Can of Chicken (if it’s the small can and you want more meat – use two cans)

½-1 Bag/Box of Pasta (penne or elbow) but choose your noodle of preference

Veggies of Choice – I think more mushrooms count

Cream of Mushroom or Cream of Chicken soup – I prefer the chicken flavor

1 Can of milk – you can use the shelf-stable milk if you don’t have the fresh (good, right?!)

Cheese of choice (optional) Seasonings –this is also your choice and I like to season to match the cheese used 

If you are doing the truly one pot dish, use the Dutch oven size pot.   Boil water and cook the pasta al dente minus another minute.  There will be carryover cooking.  Drain in colander and save a bit of pasta water.  Heat the un-drained chicken in the same pot on medium heat and add in the soup and the milk.  I like to add a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce.  Stir and ensure the chicken/soup mixture doesn’t get too hot and scorch on the bottom.  If the mixture gets to boiling too much/too fast, you may need to turn down the heat.

Add in the veggies of choice and I won’t tell your mom if you don’t.  Season with some black pepper and other seasoning of choice, like oregano.  Add in the pasta and stir until well coated.  If need be, add a bit more milk or if you saved any pasta water, add a little.  Add in the cheese of choice and stir until melty and then serve! 

If you want to go the casserole route, pour into a baking dish prepped with cooking spray, oil or butter.  Top with cheese and breadcrumbs (optional).  Bake in a 350-degree oven until bubbly.  Let it rest for a few minutes before serving so the impatient diners won’t burn their mouths.  To be fancy, serve with some fresh veggies on the side and/or fresh herbs.  A nice salad and some biscuits can round it out to satisfy all of the hungry folks! 

Tips:  Mise en place (MEEZ ahn plahs) is a French term for having all your ingredients measured, cut, peeled, sliced, grated, etc. before you start cooking. Pans are prepared. Mixing bowls, tools and equipment set out.  Open all cans while the water is heating to cook the pasta.  Preheat the oven too.  I actually prefer using pasta over egg noodles as the pasta maintains a bit more texture.   If you only have like 20 minutes, boil the water/cook the pasta in different pot.  Use the Dutch oven to start the chicken mixture and drain pasta and add directly to the big pot.  It doesn’t take a lot of corn to add a bit of sweetness and crunch to the dish so I add a few tablespoons.   I like to add some frozen peas but I am putting this last to hide them like I did when I was a kid.

Dinner time!  Planning a meal, healthy or just filling, every night takes time and energy.  Especially, when you want to be frugal and healthy or even if you just want an easy meal that is tasty without breaking the bank.  With so many folks cooped up at home many of us either had to learn to cook or at least break out of our normal routine.  Well that was me, I was getting very tired of my normal routine and yet, it was hard to look at recipes, shop for all these items and then spend an hour learning to make it.   Sooooo…. I decided to try Hello Fresh!  This post is about sharing my experience with this food service.  (full disclaimer – this is truly all based upon my experiences.)

Let me preface this review with one of my life philosophies:  Cook once and eat twice!  If you are going to cook and have to do the dishes, try to make enough to have another meal or two (or at least lunch the next day).  During COVID, shopping was also a bit trying so I was already looking at some of the various services to try.   Christmas came around and I was ordering some flowers as a gift and they provided me a coupon for Hello Fresh which made it very affordable to try. 

I signed up for the 3 meals for two people per week.  It’s a very easy service to use – their website will show you the pictures of the meals and tell you the descriptions.  Based upon your choices, of regular type meals (meat/potatoes or pastas) or vegetarian or gluten-free, you will be given a selection for the week.  It’s easy to change and save for that week as long as you do it before cut-off date/time.  The boxes arrive on the day you select in a box with ice packs.  Meats under the veggies/other items.   It doesn’t take much time to unpack – it’s good to put the instruction sheets in a specific place for reference.   

Here is what I learned:

• Unpack and prioritize the meals based upon the veggies to be used (so you use the most perishable first).
• Review the instructions to also look at how long it takes and if you need to pre-heat the oven – many of the meals call for roasting the veggies in the oven.  This makes them tasty but means you will need to allow a bit more time.
• It saves time in cooking if you read all of the instructions and prep the food per the instructions.
• If you are a (slightly) picky eater, this meal prep allows you to add as little or as much spices per your taste.
• It is really nice that the plan comes with tiny little bottles of the vinegars or comes with little sour creams, or stock or jelly.  Especially, as a single person, this not only helps you have the ingredients, it saves money and waste.
• Also, if you have concerns with salt, this is good as you can control the salt or fat in your diet.

Tips:

• When roasting potatoes, if you have other veggies in the house, e.g. like carrots, prep them and toss them on the pan.  It will add additional health benefits and help reduce your veggie waste and I like more veggies.
• Try to reuse some of the pans – often, the recipe will call for browning and then moving the meat to a baking sheet.  If you can brown in an oven safe pan, you get to keep the pan juices which adds more flavor and reduces cleaning.
• I found that for most of the meals, I portioned out two dinners and often had enough left over for a small lunch to take to work.
• Look at your work/social schedule and energy level, skip the week or reduce the number of meals if you are getting behind in cooking.
• Also, if you are getting the three, or more, meal plan, freeze the meat for the meals that will be cooked later in the week.  This way if you get busy or end up eating out, the meat will keep in the freezer.

So, how hard it is to cook these meals?  I consider myself to be a decent cook who can make some delicious things but I have never had any formal training.  Also, as I was a single mother for quite a while, often my main cooking goal was getting a hot meal, that a picky kid would eat, on the table in 30 minutes!!  With that said, I found that this helped me expand my repertoire and I learned that I can make “pan” sauces and they are pretty easy.  Also, on the website, the meals will identify if they are easy, quick or more advanced.  One of the great things, is you can do the “add-on” for chopped salad kits and pre-cooked individually wrapped chicken breasts.  These are a huge win for saving time for dinner or lunch!

An unexpected benefit is while, it may appear to be expensive for the service, in reality it can be frugal.  Spending an estimated $65-$70 dollars per week sounded expensive, however, it helped me stay on budget.  I also found shopping was easier as I knew for me, I had 5-6 dinners and lunch several times a week accounted for.  Especially, if I had an “MJ” salad too. When I took the leftovers, I saved ‘lunch money’ too as I was not buying lunch in the work cafeteria.  Granted if I cook other meals on my own, I often bring leftovers to work for lunch too.

This service has its perks and makes it easier to cook meals at home since they provide all the ingredients and you just have to have the basics.  The basics are oil, salt, pepper, and butter.  It does still require prepping some of the veggies and washing dishes and after 6 months or so I did get a little bored with some of the meals.  Now, that we can get out more, I am taking a break from the service and planning to cut back to two meals for two for the summer.  

One of the downsides, is the extra boxes and the ice packs to be disposed.  All in all, if you are interested in improving your cooking and your diet, Hello Fresh, or one of the other services, may just push you out of your comfort zone. And this can be a more comforting and delicious place in the long run.

While I was thinking about writing about another food recipe, as food is really one of life’s pleasures, I feel the need to talk dollars and sense.  Money can be a big (and sometimes painful) issue and there are plenty of blogs about money.  I wonder how many people are intimidated by the financial blogs and stock market sites for buying and trading stocks?  I know I was when I was younger, as I found that I didn’t really understand it.

With the food recipes, I focus on delicious and comforting food and that is what I am hoping to do with this money post.  If you think of your household budget as a recipe for nurturing and caring for you and your family, this will make more sense.  I found that budgets can be very confining and really didn’t match up with my time and my goals.  However, a Spending Plan is more realistic and is more fun.  I often hear people who classify themselves or their significant others, as either “savers” and “spenders”.  In reality, we are all a bit of both and it comes down to focus.  Just like with a recipe for great dishes, there are recipes for meeting your financial goals:

– Purchase a House or Car
– Save for College and/or Wedding Funds 
– Purchase that cool pair of shoes!
– Splurge on the new, fancy restaurant
– Save for Retirement

And just like planning a dinner menu:  what do we want to serve and how much should we spend?  Should we serve burgers and dogs or steaks and shrimp?  This ties into your spending plan.  While this may seem like a small thing — just barbecuing for the 4th of July, these small decisions add up.  Maybe you worked hard and were promoted and now you want to celebrate.   This is a great example where you may want to splurge on the Steak or fancy restaurant.  However, unless this promotion came with a HUGE salary boost, you may not want to make the splurge a habit.  

How do you know when you can make this a habit?  First look at your priorities and what are your long-term goals?  Purchasing a New Car or New House?  Then look at your short-term goals?  Maybe a new dress and shoes for your best friend’s wedding?

Where are you with your finances?  This takes honesty and a good look at what money is coming in and where your money goes.  So, hopefully, you are at least covering your bills but … there is a recipe to handle that too but that will be in another post.  

First, are you paying off student loans?  Are you working at a company that has a 401(k) or similar retirement option?  Most companies that have 401(k)s and retirement plans will match the funds, only after you contribute. Please contribute enough to get the match.  Otherwise you are losing some of your benefits and will be shortchanging yourself in the long run.  I have heard so many people say they can’t afford to contribute to their retirement account.  However, saving contributions will reduce your tax burden and the company match is like your account (up to the match) earning double!!  Remember most savings accounts are not paying this much and interest on credit cards can be 12-15% or more).    This small amount may not seem like much, however, the earlier you start saving, the longer your investment can grow.  You really can’t afford not to do this!  

So how do you afford it?  Let’s say you need to contribute 3% to get the matching 3%.  This 3% you contribute will lower your taxes so sometimes you may not notice a huge difference.  Even so, let’s say you make $2000 per month and 3% of $2000 is only $60 before taxes so your check may only be $45 less.  So how to cover the $45 that you are going to save?  Bringing your lunch or being a bit frugal makes sense.  Finding recipes like the roasted chickpeas or making the coffee cake for snacking can be way cheaper than the snacks from the vending machine.

 Even making breakfast ahead, like oatmeal with fun toppings, can be faster, cheaper and healthier than buying breakfast at your favorite coffee shop.  Check out MJs Coffee Cake recipe https://mhockman.com/index.php/2020/04/

Making a delicious roast chicken to have multiple dinners and some chicken salad for lunch will go a long way to help offset the savings.  Making food ahead of time may take some planning and possibly a rainy day.  That all said, it will only take a few paychecks and then you won’t even miss the 3%.  However, you will begin seeing your savings grow and this can be very satisfying and comforting.