6/30/2008
New Content added to the Homeschool Mom of 2 Website
Posted in The Homeschool Mom of 2 Website Updates
Good evening everyone! I just wanted to let you know that there is an new article on the website called How to Green Your Homeschool Business. I have also updated many of the pages. Please visit at http://www.thehomeschoolmomof2.com.
Thanks!
Shannon
6/21/2008
Science Teaching Products, Resources & Publications
Posted in Education
Thought some of you may be interested in some science materials. Many are free.
http://www.nsta.org/publications/grabbag.aspx
Shannon
10/27/2007
Fwd: Writing Prompts for November 2007
Posted in Writing and Business
This is the second month that I will post prompts. Each month I will post a prompt for each day of that month.
Here are some prompts for November 2007. I hope that they get your minds working. Feel free to email your writings to me at slb725writer@aol.com. I will choose up to three stories to post on A Journey into Writing, credited to the author.
GUIDELINES: Send your name, state, website (writing) if you have one, and the name of the prompt that you use. Please send only 1 story per email. Send *final* drafts only.
Subject line should read: November 2007 Writing Prompt Submission
Feel free to use as many prompts as you like.
DEADLINE: December 1, 2007
Here goes:
1. Discovering autumn.
2. Blessing of the season.
3. The turkey in the field.
4. Pa brought home the turkey.
5. A poem about the colors of autumn.
6. A song about the changing leaves.
7. An autumn essay.
8. A Thanksgiving essay.
9. Celebrating family.
10. Blessings abound.
11. Use these words in a story: candy corn, apple crisp, the smell of cinnamon, and a small child unable to sleep.
12. Your first line: They came from afar.
13. Your last line: Their tummies were full, and so were their hearts.
14. Warm family memories.
15. Weekend blessings.
16. A bountiful Thanksgiving.
17. Write an article on decorating for Thanksgiving.
18. Write and article on Thanksgiving entertaining.
19. Create a craft how-to article for children: Thanksgiving.
20. Create a craft how-to article for adults: Thanksgiving.
21. A Puritan Thanksgiving - requires research. The Puritans did not feast for Thanksgiving.
22. A Native American community/
23. Blessings and bounties.
24. Uses these words in a story: cranberry, orange, maroon, feast, homeless, family.
26. Use your faith in a story of thanks giving.
27. Thanksgiving memories.
28. Blessings at the shelter.
29. Blessings on the children's ward.
30. A recipe for Thanksgiving.
-----------------
Forwarded Message:
*********Post to A Journey into Writing, Authors Den, The Homeschool Blog, and shannonbuck.com *********
This is the second month that I will post prompts. Each month I will post a prompt for each day of that month.
Here are some prompts for November 2007. I hope that they get your minds working. Feel free to email your writings to me at slb725writer@aol.com. I will choose up to three stories to post on A Journey into Writing, credited to the author.
GUIDELINES: Send your name, state, website (writing) if you have one, and the name of the prompt that you use. Please send only 1 story per email. Send *final* drafts only.
Subject line should read: November 2007 Writing Prompt Submission
Feel free to use as many prompts as you like.
DEADLINE: December 1, 2007
Here goes:
1. Discovering autumn.
2. Blessing of the season.
3. The turkey in the field.
4. Pa brought home the turkey.
5. A poem about the colors of autumn.
6. A song about the changing leaves.
7. An autumn essay.
8. A Thanksgiving essay.
9. Celebrating family.
10. Blessings abound.
11. Use these words in a story: candy corn, apple crisp, the smell of cinnamon, and a small child unable to sleep.
12. Your first line: They came from afar.
13. Your last line: Their tummies were full, and so were their hearts.
14. Warm family memories.
15. Weekend blessings.
16. A bountiful Thanksgiving.
17. Write an article on decorating for Thanksgiving.
18. Write and article on Thanksgiving entertaining.
19. Create a craft how-to article for children: Thanksgiving.
20. Create a craft how-to article for adults: Thanksgiving.
21. A Puritan Thanksgiving - requires research. The Puritans did not feast for Thanksgiving.
22. A Native American community/
23. Blessings and bounties.
24. Uses these words in a story: cranberry, orange, maroon, feast, homeless, family.
26. Use your faith in a story of thanks giving.
27. Thanksgiving memories.
28. Blessings at the shelter.
29. Blessings on the children's ward.
30. A recipe for Thanksgiving.
Shannon
Posted in Life
Sledding ~ We can do this free in the next town.
Ice Skating ~ We can do this free at the playground.
Have an ice skating party. Serve hot cocoa and brownies.
Have a sledding party. Serve hot cocoa and cookies.
Cook on the BBQ once a month during the winter months.
Have a snowball fight.
Make snow angels.
Take a ride and see the holiday displays. Do this during the day, then go back at night to see what they displays look like all lit up.
Have indoor picnics.
Have a regular game night.
Have a regular movie night.
10/25/2007
Preparing for Winter
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck - Copyright September 2006
Winter is not far off, and we are beginning to prepare for this now at our home. These are the steps that we are taking this year. Hopefully some of the steps will help to save us a little money.
* My old porch was rotting away. Two of the steps had already broken, and a couple more would have before winter was over. The people who built the porch hadn't done a good job. The porch was also not very big. I recently purchased the materials to build a new one. To save on costs, my stepfather built the new porch himself. He is quite the carpenter, and I just love my new porch. He used good materials, and put it together properly. All I have to do is put the WaterSeal on to waterproof it. I will be doing this next week. The total cost was under $400.00. The porch is safe, and will hold a couple of chairs and a small table next year, as well as a small decorative plant stand and a clothes rack.
My stepfather kept a couple of the better pieces of wood from the old porch. He will be using them to make the back steps sturdier. I will not have to pay anything for that project.
* I purchased plastic for the windows and for banking the trailer at the Family Dollar today. The plastic for the banking was only $3.00 per package, and it was less per package for the window plastic. I also purchased a bundle of wood slats and some nails at the hardware store. We already have some nails and wood slats, and some of the plastic from previous years is still useable. I reuse these types of things as many times as I can to cut costs.
I will have a small section of plastic between the porch and the trailer that I will leave in place permanently. This way I will not have to climb under the porch year after year. I do not like spiders. Before putting the plastic over the rest of the skirting, I will plug in the heating tape under the trailer. This will prevent the water from freezing this winter, which will prevent my pipes from bursting.
When I clean the windows for the last time before winter, I will replace the screening and add a layer of plastic between the inner and outer windows. I will also cover the small bathroom windows with plastic.
All of these things will help to cut our heating costs this year.
* We replaced our old stove this past spring. The other one was old and barely worked. The new one is more energy efficient. We replaced the refrigerator a couple of years ago, and the water heater last spring. However, we purchased a dryer and a dishwasher. I'm not sure how all of these factors will affect the electric bill this winter. I think that I will save money in the long run.
The dishes air dry in the dishwasher. We just open the door when the dishes are done washing. This saves on the electric bill.
The lighter laundry will still be air dried, and the dryer will be used for heavier items. We will still hang laundry during the good weather months.
I am on a payment plan with the electric company. This means that I pay the same amount every month of the year. I am paying $79.00 every month.
* I had to replace the oil tank this year as well. I had a "dog house" built around it so I can still use the #2 oil. Kerosene would be too expensive. I am also on a payment plan for oil.
* I will discuss with my daughters (again) the importance of wearing warm clothing and covering up while watching TV. The heat will not go above 68* during the winter months, unless the temperature outside goes below 10* or 15*. I turn the heat down to 63*-65* before going to bed each night, 68* if it is below 10* to 15*.
This is tricky. We all have warm jammies and slippers, as well as robes. We keep fleece blankets or quilts on the couch and chair for when we are watching TV. We also have warm fleece blankets, quilts and big comfy comforters on our beds. You can get all of these at yardsales and discount stores if you look often enough. Rite Aid has sales on fleece throw blankets sometimes, 3 for $10.00.
* Before winter hits, we will make sure that our shovels are in good working condition, and we will get ice melter for the porch and driveway.
* We are deep cleaning the trailer as well. This includes rinsing the furnace door filter and vacuuming the vents. We will also soak the vent covers in warm soapy water and vacuum the furnace area to ensure that everything can run properly. We do have to replace one of the vent covers. This will not cost more than $10.00.
* Skye and Zowie will cover the picnic table with plastic as well. We have no place to put this during the winter months. They will stack the plastic chairs and cover them with a large trash bag. The will put the wheel barrow and the bikes into our shed.
* I picked up a rug to put in the front entry. This will keep the living room rug from getting wet. I also hope to pick up a runner for my room and Skye's room. We do not have carpeting. I will pick the runners up at the Family Dollar if they have them, which will save a few dollars.
* I am stocking up on food, household items, and personal hygiene items as they are on sale. Sometimes I can even find a good coupon for the items we need. Coupling the sales with coupons is a great way to save money.
* If I think of it, I will purchase some of those outlet plugs that you get when you are child-proofing your home. This is supposed to stop some of those drafts from coming in, therefore reducing the need to turn up the thermostat. I may, someday, add one of those programmable thermostats.
* I use the slow cooker a lot during this time of the year. This uses less electricity, and I can buy cheaper cuts of meat without jeopardizing taste. I start with a potato for each of us, chopped, then add the meat and cover it all with water. When I am about a half-an-hour from serving dinner, I add frozen or canned vegetables. We add our own seasonings when we fill our plates. If I use pasta instead of potatoes, I put the noodles in 5-15 minutes before serving the meal. You can make chowders and lasagna in the slow cooker as well.
Make a list of all of the things that you have to do to prepare for winter, and another of the purchases that you need to make. Starting these and beginning the work now will ensure that you do not have too much to do all at once.
10/25/2007
No Money for Gas (Oh my!)
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck - Copyright July 2007
Well, they say that America is overweight, so this will certainly help some of us with that problem, including me. On average, each adult should be getting about 10,000 steps each and every day. How many of us actually do that? I rarely ever do. Children are supposed to be getting at least and hour of activity in every day. If you are not used to getting in this much activity every day, walking should help you lose some weight right off. Keep it up, and you will lose even more over time.
Start by walking to places that are a mile away, then two...three...up to five miles a day seems like a good goal. How long will this take? It depends on how fast you walk. I can walk almost four miles one to two hours, depending on how fast I decide to walk that day. I plan to be walking five miles, five days a week, by the end of autumn.
So, where can we walk and save gas money at the same time? Everywhere! Bring along your entire family. You can walk to work, to school, to the post office, to the bank, to the playground...Anywhere!
You could even walk to do your grocery shopping. You can purchase enough food so that each family member can carry one or two bags home.
10/25/2007
When you cannot Afford to Purchase a lot of Cleaning Supplies
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck - Copyright July 2007
Believe me, this happens in our household as well. I try to always have a few things on hand:
a large bottle of vinegar (The vinegar smell does not stay in the home that long. Only use a small amount with water.)
a few large boxes of baking soda
salt
dish detergent, purchased at the dollar store with coupons.
What I can clean with these:
dishes
floors - vinegar and water
walls - vinegar and water
tub - baking soda and water/salt if tough grime
toilet - (same as above)
sinks - (same as above)
laundry
drains
As for laundry, just add a squirt of dish detergent to running water in washer. If there are bubbles, add your laundry. If not, add another squirt. You will learn quickly how much to use. It will depend on whether you have hard or soft water.
As a preventive measure you should clean drains once a month. I do the kitchen and bathroom sinks, as well as the tub drain. Put baking soda in the drain, add vinegar, then a pot of boiling water.
If you own a washing machine, be sure to run an empty load once a month with a cup of vinegar.
You can clean your home quite nicely with just these products. You do not have to use a lot of any of the products at one time. And you will save money by doing this.
10/25/2007
Prices are Still on the Rise!
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck - Copyright July 2007
Wow! Prices (on everything) are so high these days! It is hard to plan and budget for things when you cannot afford them.
I was trying to create a workshop for purchasing food on little money, but I had to stop. I am going to have to start over due to the rising prices. For now, I am going to make some suggestions for a pantry list.
These are all of the items that I always try to have on hand so that I do not have to spend a lot on food during a lean week.
flour (All purpose & whole wheat - I mix these 1/2 & 1/2, but I do not fret when I cannot afford whole wheat.)
salt
baking soda
baking powder
baker's cocoa
canola oil (Vegetable oil *only* when I cannot afford canola)
olive oil (I am trying desperately to lose weight. I do not expect you to get this!)
white sugar
brown sugar
confectioner's sugar
cinnamon ($1 or less, as are other herbs and spices. try a 4 store if you have to.)
nutmeg
ginger
pepper
onion salt/powder
garlic salt/powder
paprika
oregano
Italian seasoning
vanilla
food coloring
wheat germ
honey
molasses
yeast
parmesan cheese
assorted pastas
evaporated milk
sweetened condensed milk
powdered milk
vinegar
oats
assorted crackers/pretzels
pasta/pizza sauce
barbeque sauce
teriyaki sauce
soy sauce
sweet and sour sauce
ketchup
syrup
mustard
miracle whip/mayonnaise
raisins
assorted canned vegetables
assorted canned fruits
I try to keep a few dozen eggs in the refrigerator, and cheeses, butter, chicken and ground beef in the freezer.
You can make a lot of foods just by keeping these on hand. I try to buy store brands whenever possible, but watch out! I have noticed that some store brand items are priced the same as name brand items.
Try to shop sales and only use coupons when it will really save you money. For instance, another bread may still be cheaper than the brand you want to use the coupon with, even after the coupon has been applied.
I went to Sam's Club recently and made some purchases. I paid less on these items than I would have at the grocery store: Flour, sugar and pasta in bulk sizes.
Flour should be in the freezer for twenty-four hours, then stored in some sort of container(s). You can freeze after transferring if the containers are freezable. I used to use the plastic ice cream buckets. I only have one of these left. I now use canning jars to store bulk food purchases. Why? Because I received dozens for free. Every so often I have to buy tops. Be aware that it takes a lot of these jars to store 25 pounds of flour. It can take about a dozen jars just to store a bulk package of egg noodles. Where do I keep all of these? Above the bar and the cupboards in my kitchen, as well as above my food pantry. (By the way, my food pantry is just a cheap cabinet with four shelves that sits in my livingroom.)
I buy in bulk when I get the chance, but only if it will truly save me money. And only if I know that we will use everything that I purchase. I will not have to purchase pasta, flour and sugar again for quite some time. The flour will last months. I have whole wheat flour on hand, so I will mix it 1/2 and 1/2 when I am baking.
Get a few recipes for foods that you can make from scratch. Here are some excellent foods that can be made fairly cheaply this way:
breakfast and snack bars
biscuits and rolls
pancakes and waffles
fruit crisps and cobblers
breads and muffins
cookies and cakes
pizza and pastry dough
apple or banana pancakes
omelets
casseroles
soups and stews
I have yet to find a from scratch frosting recipe that I like, and I am seeking custard/pudding recipes as well. I will continue to search out recipes as I have a chance.
10/25/2007
The Welfare Myth Part 1: TANF/AFDC
Posted in Budgeting
by Shannon L. Buck - © July 2007
It seems that there are still many people who believe that people on welfare are living it up, getting everything that they could ever want, without having to work. While on occasion, people have been known to do this, not everyone does. Everyone is not out to cheat the system. Most people are just trying to get by.
I have not received anything other than food stamps and MaineCare since my children were young. Back then, the actual money was called AFDC, not TANF. That was a long time ago. I believe the going rate was $485.00 for a family of three. Big money there. Yeah right! After paying rent, electricity, and phone, there wasn’t much left. During the winter months, there may not have been any money left.
Rent was about 30% of your income. Of course, to get your low-income apartment, you had to pay a deposit. Then, electricity would be anywhere from $25.00 to $400.00 depending on different factors: what time of the year it was, whether you lived upstairs, downstairs, in the middle or on an end, and how many rooms you were trying to heat. The phone was about $20.00 a month, if you didn’t have to call long distance often.
After the bills were (hopefully) paid off each month, you still had other expenses. For instance, you had to keep your home clean. You also had to keep your family clean, and your clothing. We had to use the provided washers and dryers in the laundry room, which each cost money. You had to purchase diapers and baby wipes. Even if you used cloth diapers and wipes, you had to wash these which could get expensive. You also had to clothe everyone in your household. You had to have dinner, silver and cookware. You had to provide bedding and towels, and educational games, toys and books for your children. You needed a crib, a stroller, a high chair. Wow! There was so much more that was needed. The question is, how did anyone get by?
Who knows? We simply lived. We tried not to let things get us down. I did not have a car, so I didn’t have to worry about those types of expenses. I am relieved to say, due to the current condition of our economy, I still do not have to worry about this. I do not drive.
Another myth is that “All women get on welfare so they don’t have to work.” I beg your pardon. What? I was a mom at 18. The father wanted nothing to do with his daughter. I would not have been able to afford to pay for childcare while working. I wouldn’t have made enough money! I raised my daughters and when my second was two I started working part-time. I also went back to school, once for my GED, and once for my diploma. I worked hard for both of those! I was not even getting child support. When my older daughter was five, we finally started getting child support payments. Guess how much they were. $9.00 per week.
In part two of The Welfare Myth, I will discuss ways to stretch your TANF/AFDC. Then, in parts three and four, I will be discussing food stamps.
10/25/2007
The Welfare Myth Part 2: Stretching the TANF Dollars
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck ~ © September 2007
As I mentioned in The Welfare Myth Part 1, it is a myth that welfare recipients have a lot of money to live off. Most welfare recipients really have little money for day to day expenses, once they have paid the bills. That is, if they can pay all of their bills at all.
Part 2 of this 4 part series is going to deal with ways in which low-income families can get the most for their TANF buck. This intent is two-fold:
1. To allow non-welfare recipients a view into the life of a low-income family.
2. To, hopefully, help low-income families.
***
First, let me say that I know this life. I have been there completely, and I am still working to get off the foodstamps and MaineCare even though I know longer receive TANF. I am getting there. I have had many experiences, and even now have little money for bills and such. So, here is my best effort to help people understand our lives, and to help low-income families to live.
I also want to say that I am not encouraging women to get pregnant and live off the state. That is not my goal. My goal is to help people get off the state, even though this is a difficult task for anyone. School and work are important. However, sometimes we need a little help along the way. That is perfectly understandable. Especially for those who do not get child support. Get what you need, and leave the rest for someone who needs it more.
***
1.
The rent. Rent can be very expensive. If you do not have section 8, it may benefit you to look into it.
I lived in low-income housing for may years. I can tell you that it is not necessarily the cheapest way to live. So, I encourage you to look at all of the options.
I also want to mention that low-income apartment complexes are not what they used to be here in my area of Maine. When I first moved into one of the places, it was a nice, quiet place to raise children. Over the years, things go messed up.
Check out a place well before moving in. You may find that you would not like to raise your child there.
2.
The utilities can also be expensive. The only things that are necessary are heat, electricity, possibly gas, water, sewer and a phone. Here in Maine, we can sign up for HEAP (heating assistance). This does not pay for heat for the entire season. It may pay for as little as a month or less. When we sign up for this, we also get a small discount for the phone - not long distance charges.
I recommend that everyone gets on a payment plan for everything that they can: Electricity, oil, gas, etc. This does not give you a discount. It allows you to pay the same amount each month per bill. So, instead of those crazy $200.00+ bills during the winter months, you may pay $80.00 every month of the year. You will likely have to be with a company for a year in order to do this.
If you homeschool your children as I do, you may also consider cable/satellite or something like that a necessity as well. It does come in handy. If you cannot swing this, maybe a family member will allow the use of their television. You may also consider online access a necessity, as I do. We use it for school, plus I use it for work and helping others.
Now, about the phone bill. I have taken everything accept the diagnostic plan off my phone. I have also gotten rid of my long distance provider. I pay 10 cents a minute in state with my phone company, and I do not call long distance often. I also purchase phone cards when they are on sale if I no that I will have to be making numerous phone calls. I do have call forwarding because I work online. My phone bill is only about $8.00 a month.
It is necessary to find ways to save on utilities. For instance, think about ways that you can save money on electricity, water and heat. Here are some steps that my family and I will be taking this winter:
* Keep the thermostat at 68* during the day, 64* or below at night.
* Keep blankets in the livingroom for when we are chilly. Also keep a throw blanket on each bed.
* Wear sweaters or hoodies when inside. Keep them where we can access them easily.
* Wear two pairs of socks or warm slippers.
* I am learning to work on my writing with no background noise from the television. This will save quite a bit.
* Use the laptop more often than the desktop for work and volunteer projects. The desktop will be reserved for homeschooling.
* Limit the amount of time each person can spend in the shower.
* We already replaced necessary lights with the longer lasting florescent lights.
* Plug the heat tape in under the trailer, then bank the trailer.
* Put plastic in windows.
3.
Your town/city hall may be of some help in emergencies. I have used mine once for rent, and twice for food. You will have to keep all of your receipts for this to work in your favor. I am not sure what else they help with, but it may be worth checking out when you have a true need.
4.
The Department of Human Services is a possibility as well. It will likely be called something else in your area. Contrary to popular belief, if a person can physically work, she/he will get sanctioned if you do not have a job or go to school in a reasonable amount of time. I only suggest there services if it is absolutely necessary, because it is not a fair or easy system to work with. There may be better choices. Please check out all of your options before doing this.
Medical insurance is the one thing that I do suggest that you get for your state welfare department. It is too expensive not to do this. Even if you do not qualify, your children will. This is the best thing that you can do for them until you can get other insurance. If your ex has insurance, make sure the children are on it.
If you know in advance that you will be losing insurance, get all of your medical, eye and dental appointments in before they will expire. I would also like to note here that, if you do not have insurance for prescriptions, you may be able to get free or reduced cost prescriptions from the companies that make the medications. Check with your doctor and pharmacist.
Here are some of the services the Department of human services offers in this area:
TANF
Foodstamps
MaineCare
ASPIRE
ASPIRE is a service through the Department of Human Services that encompasses a lot of areas. These are for people who are looking for work, working or going to school, from what I understand. Here are the programs that I am aware of:
A one time payment per year for car repairs.
Help getting a vehicle - you pay for it, but there may be cheaper interest or something.
Your children can get free lunch/milk at school.
Help with childcare for work and school.
Help with textbooks for college.
I am sure that there are more.
5.
The churches in your area may also be able to help you. You do not have to be a member of the church, at least not here. Two of the programs that one of the churches in our area offers are:
food
thrift shop
I have only gotten the food once. A friend new that I had no food in the house at one point when Skye was a baby, so he called his mother, who called the church. He brought me over there and helped me bring the food home. I was so grateful to him, his mother, and the church. I was also a little surprised, because I was not a member of the church.
I am still not a member of the church, but I do go to their thriftshop at least 4 times a year with my children. I have purchased clothes in all baby and children’s sizes, as well as for myself. They also have books, toys, puzzles and household items. I am fond of going there and spending $2.00 a bag on clothing.
5.
At one point, someone signed my daughters up to receive free winter boots through the town. We did not take them, due to the fact that they already had ones that fit them. I decided that those boots should go to someone else.
We bring our old winter coats to Hannaford. They are collected there for people in need. This means that there is a place nearby that gives them to the needy. I think that this is a wonderful program. I believe that the program is called Coats for Kids.
6.
The Salvation Army and the Angle tree programs help to bring happiness to children on Christmas morning. If you are having a particularly lean year, you could contact these or other programs in your area for help. Some of the bigger stores in Bangor do these, as well as churches.
7.
Online, Freecycle is an excellent place to acquire things like clothing and household needs. You will also have to have things to give. For instance, if your baby just grew out of her clothes, you can offer these up to give away. Do this with only the best clothes, not ones with stains and holes. After posting that, you can immediately make a wanted post. Something like: Wanted: Baby Girls Clothes Size 24 months in (your town).
This is a wonderful give and take system.
8.
Ebay.com is also a place where you can sometimes find exceptional buys. A year ago I bid on numerous boxes of teenage girls clothing. We ended up with a couple of dozen each of socks, pants, tops, and brand new underclothes, as well as a couple of jackets. This was an entire new wardrobe for each of my two daughters, and what we could not use went to a friend of theirs, and from her to a neighbor who was sharing clothes with her mother.
When I did the math, I found that I had only paid about $1.00 per article of clothing.
9.
Freebies. My best advice is to take everything that is offered to you. If you cannot use them, someone can. You could give them to the church thriftshop, put them in a yardsale, sell them on ebay, or even offer them as the give away items on Freecycle.
10.
Yardsales, thrift shops and consignment shops are wonderful places to shop, as are flea markets, clearance aisles, and dollar stores. Just make sure that what you pick up is of good quality. A pan I purchased at a dollar store lasted only three washings. One spatula kept melting, but two more are the best ones I have ever had. Just pay attention, and know the prices in other stores.
***
Armed with the above information, you should be able to find even more programs in your own areas. Please look for these. Talk to everyone you know who may have helpful information. I know that it is hard to stretch your money, but there is some relief sometimes. Take what you can get, but help others as well. I sometimes put things out on my front lawn with a big free sign. I have had a lot of help in my life, so I want to give back by helping others. I encourage this.
*****
Shannon Buck is a single mom living in a small town in Maine. Check out her other free resources for low-income families at http://www.thelowincomewayoflife.com
10/25/2007
Prices Are Still On The Rise: Dairy Products
Posted in Budgeting
By Shannon Buck ~ Copyright September 2007
I don't know about all of you, but I am having difficulties keeping up with the rising prices. The prices continue to rise, but my income does not. What is a family to do? We are having to cut back more and more all of the time. Winter is when I make the least amount of money, but it is when I need the money the most.
Here are some helpful hints for purchasing dairy products:
* Milk
My nutritionist tells me that 1 cup of milk 2 or 3 times a day is plenty for any adult. I am not sure what amount a child should have, but it is less than for an adult. Teenagers, especially girls, will likely need the same amount as an adult.
Now, when I say a cup, I do not mean a glass. Literally measure out a cup and see how much that is. It is not near as much as we think it is.
If powdered milk is cheap enough, use it for cooking and baking. This will likely save you quite a bit. Here in Maine, a gallon of milk will soon be $5.00 a gallon. Powdered milk will come in handy for us.
Some recipes that call for milk will likely turn out fine if you have to use water. When in a bind, we have done this with french toast and pancakes.
You could also use half of the milk called for in a recipes, and add the rest as water. This rarely changes the taste of a recipe.
* Eggs
One egg is the limit per person at breakfast. That is all one needs. Have something else with it, such as a biscuit with peanut butter, or a piece of fruit. Too many eggs are not good for a person.
When baking in bulk, you can use less eggs. Say you make a triple batch of a recipe. The recipe will turn out fine if you delete 1 egg. You will also use less electricity when baking multiple batches at once, so you save twice.
Try using medium eggs whenever large eggs are not necessary. They are great for scrambled, boiled and fried eggs. Put one on an English muffin or a large biscuit with a slice of sandwich meat and/cheese for a yummy breakfast.
* Butter/Margarine
I purchase Country Crock with added calcium for butter on pastas and breads/toasts. I am also beginning to purchase the cheapest stick form in a box that I can find. I can throw these in the freezer and take one out the night before it is needed. These will be used in baking. I do not purchase shortening because of the fat. I use butter instead, so I will need to have plenty on hand.
We do not put butter on things like waffles, french toast and pancakes, as we already cook these items in it. This saves a little, as we have these items often.
* Cheese
All I can say here is to cut back the amount of shredded cheese that you use in each recipe. Start by cutting back 1/8 of a cup for large amounts, a tablespoon for smaller amounts.
Even though we prefer sliced cheese singles without the plastic wrapped around each individual slice, we do use them when we have to. One day, I purchased 8 of these for 25 cents each. I put them in the freezer. and they lasted months.
***
Just remember, choose the cheapest brands that you can find that you like. Store brands are generally name brands without the fancy labeling. And it is not always cheaper to use a coupon. Sometimes another brand will be cheaper.
10/25/2007
The Snack Shelf By Shannon Buck ~ © September 2007
Posted in Organization
One thing that makes my life easier at times is creating a snack shelf. I do this for my daughters sometimes. It helps to save me time during the week, which can be spent on educational or family activities.
A snack shelf is easy to create. Do it after you go shopping, while you are putting groceries away. Make sure you have all of the supplies that you may need on hand when you begin. You may need zipper baggies, a cookie jar, reusable containers or other supplies. You will also need a cupboard or a shelf for storing everything.
This is what I do:
I have a box of snack size baggies available, as well as a cookie jar and a large mixing bowl. I also have crackers, nuts and other ingredients on hand.
* I usually have 2 or 3 types of crackers available. Crackers are things that children will eat way to many of, so I look on the box to see what an actual serving size is. Usually, each type of cracker has a different serving size. I put only 1 serving size in each snack size zipper baggie. These are placed in a big mixing bowl on the shelf.
* On rare occasions, I may buy a bag of chips as a treat. This usually occurs during the summer. I use sandwich baggies for these if they are big chips, or snack size baggies if they are small. They may have a bag every couple of days. When children are very active, this helps to replenish salt. They really only need one bag a week, but I do not mind them having a bag every couple of days if they are otherwise eating healthy meals.
* I like to keep a small jar of peanut butter on the shelf so that they can put it on their crackers if they would like.
* I also like to put fresh fruits on the shelf, and any canned ones that are available for snacking.
* The last thing that I like to do is make a trail mix. The amounts and ingredients vary according to what we need (and what is cheap) at the time. Here is the basic recipe:
4 cups of assorted store brand Chex Cereal
½ to 1 cup of nuts
1 small candy per bag
1 cup raisins or 1 dried fruit per bag
1 cup seeds
This makes a generally healthy snack. I store them in snack size zipper baggies and put them into the cookie jar.
It is a good idea to have your children’s first snack of the day be a piece of fruit. I also would not allow snacking for an hour or so before a meal. This could ruin their appetite. You could even set up a set schedule, like snacks at 10:00, 2:00 and 7:00. Whatever works best for your family.
This also makes it easy for grabbing snacks as you are on your way out of the house. It will be cheaper in the long run to do this, because you do not have to keep stopping at convenience stores while you are out.
If you wanted to go a step further, you could dedicate a shelf in the refrigerator for pre-made (by you) drinks in small 1-serving containers. The ones in the store are generally more than 1-serving. For instance, 1 serving of juice is only 1/4 to ½ cup, depending on the type. It is also a good idea to keep water bottles filled during the summer months. These can all be easily grabbed on your way out the door as well.
***
Shannon Buck is a single, homeschooling mom of 2 residing in a small town in Maine. You can visit her sites at http://www.thehomeschoolmomof2.com and http://www.thelowincomewayoflife.com
10/25/2007
Filling the Freezer and Cooking for Easier School Days by Shannon Buck ~ Copyright September 2007
Posted in Organization
Well, it is that time of the year again. The education of our children is in full swing, we are trying to prepare our homes and lives for winter. We are very busy indeed. So, how can we make life a little easier on ourselves without spending a lot of money?
By preparing some food items that we will use on our own, and stocking our cupboards and freezers with them. By doing this, we will save money, energy and time for us and our families. Here are some ideas to get you started.
* Mac and cheese can be made quickly. Add some meats (not tuna!) And vegetables to make this a healthier choice. Freeze in quart size freezer bags in individual servings. Be sure to get all of the air out when freezing anything. You can make numerous boxes of mac and cheese at once, all with the same add-ins or split it into mixing bowls adding different add-ins per bowl. Whatever you do, cook all of the pasta in 1 big pot to save energy and time, and be sure to label before freezing. If taken out of the freezer the day before you need this, they will make great lunches. (I use a homemade mac and cheese recipe that is healthier than boxed.)
* Make an assortment of muffins and wrap them individually with plastic wrap. Bake a bunch of batches, mixing like batches in one bowl. If you have four or more batches being mixed into one bowl, delete an egg. Bake them all at once in the oven to save time and energy costs. You can put the wrapped muffins into gallon size. Get as much air as you can out of the bags, label and freeze. You can take these out the day before you need them. You can have them for snacks with milk, or at breakfast. For breakfast, try these:
1. Muffin, fruit and milk.
2. Muffin, yogurt and juice.
(You can do the same with the pancakes and french toast below.)
* Make up a bunch of batches of pancakes. Freeze in a gallon size plastic bag on its side, between pieces of freezer paper. Label and freeze. You can pull these out as you need them. We sometimes like to top one with apple pie filling, but this is just a treat.
* Make many batches of french toast, flash freeze, cut into thirds and freeze in snack size zipper bags. Then put all of the bags into a gallon size bag. Label and freeze. Pull out to go with your other breakfast items.
* Make freezable casseroles, freeze as individual servings for another lunch choice.
* Freeze leftover vegetables, vegetable and/or pasta water, and meats in separate containers in the freezer. Once in a while, you can pull them out for a homemade soup.
* In the evenings, you can chop and prepare a lot of foods for the next nights dinner. In the morning, you can put everything into the slow cooker and turn it on low. This will make an easy dinner for later.
* Be sure that you make a trail mix for snacks. I put ours into snack size zipper bags with 1 small treat (bagged in the candy aisle). My children are allowed one a day, and can only have the treat if they eat the rest of the mix first. If you do not believe that your children will do that, I would suggest that you do not put the treats in the bag. Instead, if they eat the snack, give them the treat separately. These can be put on a snack shelf.
* Always keep fresh fruits and vegetables on hand for snacks and salads. The vegetables can generally be cut up once or twice a week and stored in individual containers in the refrigerator. I will also make up individual salads every few days to store in the refrigerator.
* You can also freeze lasagna and other pasta meals in casserole pans. Take them out early the day before you will use them, and they can be baked for dinner. Or freeze them in individual servings for lunches.
If you do the things mentioned above, you will have quite the store of prepared foods to make your days easier. You will be able to spend more time running errands, educating your children, and spending time with your family.
***
Shannon Buck is a homeschool mom of two residing in a small town in Maine. You can contact her at
thehsmomof2@aol.com, or visit http://www.thehomeschoolmomof2.com or http://www.thelowincomewayoflife.com.
10/25/2007
Quick Snacks and Meals for Busy Times by Shannon L. Buck ~ Copyright March 2007
Posted in Organization
This week brings softball tryouts for Skye. With a child on any sports team, life gets pretty hectic. First there are tryouts, then finding out if they make the team. Then they are practicing and having games five days a week, and scrimmages some weekends as well as meetings. There is a lot going on.
For those of us who are trying to lose weight, or to maintain their current weight, this can be a bad time. There are ways to combat this. One way is to walk whenever we can. Skye is trying out for softball at the high school in the next town, because our town does not have a high school. I am walking up there with her, walking while I am there, and walking back home with her. I am walking almost six miles a day.
Being gone all of the time poses time restraints on any family. Sometimes this means that we do not eat properly. Instead, we opt for slices of pizza, chips and a soda on the way home from sporting events. This is not good for any of us, and though none of us are perfect and will eat unhealthy things once in a while, we can lessen the number of times we do this throughout the week with a little planning.
Below you will find recipes and ideas that will help your family make better choices during the busy times in your life. The ideal way to go about your planning and preparation is this:
* Do grocery shopping on the weekends.
* Prepare for the coming week on Sunday by doing the following:
~ Prepare a few meals, snacks and other healthy alternatives.
~ Wash out and prepare a cooler. One of the soft side ones that you can carry easily. You may need one for each person. Start out for one day, putting any utensils, wet wipes, napkins, etc. that you will need into the side/top pocket.
~ Prepare enough sets of utensils, wet wipes, napkins, etc. for everyone for the entire week. Have a basket or other container available to put them all into so that you can grab the easily.
~ Prepare quick lunches and dinners for those busy days. Double batches of a few recipes, frozen in individual servings, are a big help. Just thaw over night and heat in the microwave or oven. Each family member can choose what they want, and heat it up when it is convenient for them. I like to do this with manicotti, shepherd's pie, lasagna and homemade soups.
~ Other quick alternatives to lunches and dinners are canned soups with vegetables. The best ones are more expensive, so stock up on them when they are on sale, and be on the look-out for coupons.
~ Make up enough salads for everyone for three or four days. Store them in individual containers in the refrigerator. If your family likes add-ons, store them individually as well. Shredded/cubed cheeses, bacon, cubed meats and dressings can all be stored in individual servings for quick access to add to any salad.
~ Cut up and rinse vegetables; allow to dry. Put into individual servings to be stored in the refrigerator. Do this with enough vegetables to cover snacks and meals for three or four days.
~ Make sure there are plenty of grab and go fruits on hand.
~ Make sure all water bottles are filled and put into the refrigerator. You will need to do this one every night.
~ Make a bunch of muffins or breads for the week. Make fruit or vegetable ones, adding real fruit or vegetables to store bought mixes. Store these in the refrigerator for the week.
~ Keep sandwich needs on hand. I do not make these any earlier than the night before I will need them. I store them in the refrigerator.
~ A trail mix is great. I store the ones I make in snack size baggies in a big bowl.
~ You can store crackers and cheese or peanut butter in the refrigerator for a few days in sandwich bags.
The steps above should be a big help to any family. You have a lot of quick choices throughout the week for when you are at home or out and about. If there will be someone at home when while you are out, start a slowcooker meal so that it will be ready when you get home. Then all you have to bring with you are drinks and snack.
I also try to make sure that each child has a small bag of chips a week. Too many chips are not good for them, but their doctor recommended a bag of chips a week when they play sports. This is to replenish the salt they lose when they sweat.
Here are a few recipes to get you started. You will have to adjust them to feed your family.
Trail Mix:
Wheat Chex cereal
Corn Chex cereal
Rice Chex cereal
pretzels
nuts
dried fruit
raisins
1 or 2 treats per bag - M&M's, Jelly Beans, or something else that is fun.
* Mix everything (except the treats) together in a big bowl. Split the mix among snack size plastic baggies, and add one or two treats to each bag. Wipe out the bowl well, and store the baggies in it.
Shepherd's Pie:
Fill quart size freezer baggies with a serving as follows:
ground beef (cooked in olive oil on lower heat or boiled)
corn/other veggie
mashed potatoes
* Freeze and take out the night or morning before you need them.
Lasagna:
I cook this in the slow cooker. Layer as follows and cook on low all day.
sauce
pasta
sauce
turkey
cheese
* Continue making layers until the slowcooker is 2/3 full. Top with a little extra cheese. Freeze in quart size freezer bags in individual servings. Can be taken out of the freezer the evening or morning before needed.
The Perfect Salad Mix:
(Change to suit your family)
shredded romaine lettuce, or cut up small
shredded carrots
cut up spinach leaves
sliced cucumber
cherry/grape tomatoes
* Also prepare each of the following in individual servings:
dressings
chicken, turkey or ham cubes
cheese cubes or shredded cheeses
chopped turkey bacon
sliced or chopped pickles
*The add-ons will be easy to put on when needed. Store the salad in individual serving sizes in the refrigerator.
Peanut Butter Celery:
Stored in the refrigerator in individual servings.
Wash and cut widthwise into three os four pieces; fill with peanut butter.
***
Shannon Buck is a homeschool mother of two living in a small town with her children. She spends a lot of her spare time writing to help others. You can contact her at thehsmomof2@aol.com, or visit her at http://www.thehomeschoolmomof2.com, http://www.thepampermesite.com, http://www.adventuresinorganzation.com or http://www.thelowincomewayoflife.com.
10/25/2007
Teen Projects: Keeping a Journal by Shannon Buck ~ September 2007
Posted in Education
Keeping a journal can be a lot of fun. You can record what is happening in your life, what your hopes and dreams are, and so much more. Boys and girls can record their feelings, their beliefs, and their concerns. Journaling is actually helpful in sorting things out, even when you are just using a pros and cons list. I realize that some people do not enjoy the writing process. Never fear! You can still journal. Read on for more information.
* A journal or diary can be a great tool. You can purchase one, make one, use a notebook, or even a sketchbook. A journal does not just have to be written entries. You can draw, paint, scrap, or even add photographs. Another idea is to, before beginning your journal, have your friends each write something in it. Or write and entry on each of your friends. Either way, you can also add a photograph or a drawing of each of them on their own page.
* An audio journal can also be fun. You can record yourself talking, as well as others. You can also record poem readings, songs and more. Be creative and see what you can come up with.
* A video diary is a fun idea. Not only can you record yourself, but you can also record friends, family, events and more. Maybe you would like to record yourself doing your own cooking or craft show. Maybe you will get to record yourself scoring at one of your games. This is another creative avenue.
* If you have a computer, you may choose to create an off-line journal in Word Perfect, notebook or notepad. Notebook and notepad are liniting, but you can do different things with Word Perfect. Explore your options.
* A blog is another option if you have a computer. You can choose a private, semi-private, or public one. One of mine is semi-private, for friends and family only. The others are public, so anyone can read them. You should check out all of your options before commiting. They all have their own set of features. Know what you want: A calendar, counter, graphics, video and audio streaming, links, etc. Look around and choose what is best for you. Also, it is important to not give out personal information such as last names, addresses, phone numbers, etc., when you are online. Be safe, and be creative.
Enjoy your journaling efforts, and remember to have fun!
***
Shannon Buck is a homeschool mom with two teenage daughters. She resides in a small town in Miane. You may contact her at thehsmomof2@aol.com.
10/25/2007
Teen Project: Volunteer at a Nursing Home by Shannon Buck ~ Copyright April 2007 - September 2007
Posted in Helping Others
Update: My grandmother passed away on May 1st. She is no longer suffering and is in a better, restful place. Read below for summer activities, as I would like for us to keep this up.
My grandmother was recently admitted to a nursing home on a temporary basis. I notice that there are elderly ladies and gentlemen who are there permanently, who have no visitors at all. My thought was that I could put the word out there to as many teenagers as I could reach. I thought that any teenager would make a great visitor to a nursing home. You could do great things for the elderly, you just have to choose to make a difference in their lives.
Let me say it another way. Let's say that you aged loving your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren dearly. You also loved your friends and extended family. When you needed to be put into a nursing home permanently, everyone visited often. After a while, the visitors started to trickle away to none, and then the same thing happened with the phone calls. You kept trying to call them, but it was only rarely that anyone ever called you back after receiving your messages.
How would you feel? I do not mean to make you feel bad, but this kind of thing really does happen. It is sad, isn't it? In other cases, a person in a home may have no living relatives or friends to visit them.
I have decided that I would offer, here in this space, new ways in which you can help out at a nursing home in your area. Remember to always talk with the appropriate person at the home before starting a new project. Remember, also, to add your volunteer work to applications for work and college. As homeschoolers, you could also turn these into credit hours by adding some studies of elder care and diseases to your routine.
Come back each season for a new idea.
AUTUMN IDEAS:
* See about taking the residents, one or a small group at a time, outside in the common area. Fill the birdfeeders and sprinkle some seed on the lawn. Sit down and watch the birds fluttering about. Discuss the types of birds. Listen to their feelings and their stories about the Old Days. Maybe even take some pictures and scrap them for the residents bedroom walls.
* There stories will make a great basis for a history project.
* You may also like to record them telling their stories, if they don't mind. You could then create a book for each of them with all of the stories, for their enjoyment. You may want to use a bigger font size for easier reading. Not too big, though. This book will later go to their familis, and then be handed down from there. Be sure to keep a copy for yourself, for the staff, and at least a few copies for the social area(s) where people hang out.
* Combining these stories into a book would also be a way to raise funds for the nursing home to use for activities or equipment that they need. Talk with someone about this if it is something that you would like to head up.
~ To learn about this autumn: Another program in your area designed specifically to help the elderly, Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Lupus and physical therapy as it pertains to the elderly.
NOTE: Osteoporosis is not just an elderly persons desease. I was diagnosed with it when I was 23. More research needs to be done in this area.
NOTE: Lupus is not just a woman's desease. Last year my father died of complications due to Lupus. More research needs to be done in this area as well.
SUMMER IDEAS:
* Plan an activity to do with the residents. What might they like? A poetry reading? An ice cream social? A tea party?
Make sure that you have everything that you need, including snacks, beverages and the book! (or whatever else you need)
~ To learn about this summer: Another program in your area designed specifically to help the elderly, a CNA's responsibilities and needed education, nutrition as it pertains to the elderly, and complementary and alternative medications.
SPRING IDEAS:
* We will start out simple. You can do this 1 to 3 times a week for the spring months, then I will give you a new project. Here goes:
Simply visit with the elderly. Talk with them, read to them, put together puzzles with them and join in on their regularly scheduled activities at the home. They enjoy having someone to talk with. At the same time, you should be getting to know the staff, as you want to be around for quite some time. They will be able to help you get set up with the projects that I will list here in coming seasons.
~ To learn about this spring: Alzheimer's Disease, Diabetes as it pertains to the elderly, an RN's responsibilities and needed education, a program in your area designed specifically to help the elderly.
10/25/2007
For Children: Great, Fun Ways to Learn
Posted in Education
* Monopoly Junior
* Help to harvest a vegetable garden
* Go to a farmer's market to learn what is grown in your state
* Write a book.
* Start a nature journal.
* Write a screenplay.
* Math Smarts - Dominoe type card came that teaches -, +, x or division.
* Whiz Kids
* Fraction puzzle games
10/25/2007
For Children: Things to Build with Legos and Other Types of Blocks
Posted in Education
A haunted house
A stage and band
A scarecrow
A wagon from the pioneer days
A skate/(BMX) bike park
A sail boat
A ranch
A playground
A sleigh
A treasure chest
A pirate ship
Furniture for a house that you build
An autumn scene
A scarecrow
Yard furniture to put outside the house you built.
A farm
An apple orchard
A zoo
A cottage
A camp
A boat
Furniture for barbie dolls
A house
A school
A church
A tree house
A ship
The North Pole!
A miniature golf course
A haunted house
A fort (I built one of these for my nephew to play with - he was supposed to be helping. It had a moat and draw-bridge, watch towers, and everything.)
An amusement park (This one took up almost the whole livingroom, and took the whole weekend for my daughters' and I to build. It was a lot of fun!)
A castle
A space ship (We have actually made lots of these.)
10/25/2007
Children, Find Out About
Posted in Education
* How many different kinds of trees grow in your yard?
* How do you make a kite?
* What makes the leaves change color?
* What is a meteor?
* How many constellations are there?
* How do you make a smoothie?
* What are a group of fish who swim together called?
* The life cycle of a butterfly.
*What is a sugar glider?
* What is the most seen bird in your yard? Learn about it.
* What is it like at the North Pole?
* How old is Mickey Mouse?
* What are snow shoes?
* What is sleet?
* Are any two snowflakes alike?
* How big is a Great White shark?
* Are vampire bats real? If so, do they really turn into vampires?
* Why do leaves turn color and fall from the trees during the autumn months?
10/25/2007
The Poem for Teaching the Number of Days in each Month
Posted in Education
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November.
February has twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one.
Except Leap Year; that's the time
When February's days are twenty-nine
Shannon
