Freezer frenzy

Happy Monday, everyone! I hope your Christmas and New Year's were wonderful! I can hardly believe they're already over and we're on to 2011.

If I'm being honest, though, I'm officially beginning the new year next Monday. This weekend I've got a big competition looming over my head. It really belongs in 2010, so that's where I'm putting it. That way I can start Monday officially fresh! It gives me another week to ponder my goals and resolutions, too.

Who says you need a big freezer?

This week, because I'm only home for a few days before taking off again, I am trying to only buy groceries that are absolutely necessary. So I decided to actually go and do an inventory of my freezer and see if there was anything edible in there.

Boy was I surprised! This is what I found:

Frozen meals
1 Moroccan chicken
2 Elk stew
2 Kielbasa stew
1 butternut ravioli stew
1 2/3 c. homemade chicken broth
2 spinach artichoke pasta
1 pkg. Mom's Mexican shredded beef

Fruits
1 pkg. raspberries
7 bananas

Beans and veggies
2 cans black
7 cans Anasazi
3.5 chopped green peppers

Baked goods
2 mini loaves of banana bread
1 loaf of rye bread

Dairy
1 pkg. Mexican style shredded cheese
4 pkgs. mozzarella cheese
2 pkgs. Italian style shredded cheese
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 lb. salted butter

Meats
3 (giant) chicken breasts
3 elk roasts
3 elk stew meat packages
1 lb. ground elk
2 lbs. salmon (8 4 oz. fillets)
7 pork chops
1 whole roasting chicken
1 lb. bacon

Spices
Garam masala
Curry powder

Are you shocked? I was! I didn't know that much food could fit into such a tiny freezer! It's got a few wheels turning in my head, though. In an effort to rotate out the foods that are in there, and simultaneously streeeeetch my budget for January (anybody else hurting after Christmas and with the new semester starting?), I'm cooking up a plan for eating out of my freezer as much as possible during the next month. I've been meaning to post some recipes for you anyway, so here's what I'm considering making:

• Homemade pizza
• Coconut chicken curry
• Blackened salmon
• Poached salmon with horseradish sauce
• Enchiladas
• Street-style tacos
• Chili of some kind
• Homemade croutons
• Pot roast
• Shepherd's pie
• Southwest pork chops
• Roast chicken
• Chicken noodle soup
• or maybe Chicken wild rice chowder
• Chicken laab salad
• Smoothies
• and maybe something wrapped in bacon, because when is that not delicious?

Mmm, I'm getting hungry! Leave me a comment below with your favorites, and I'll post those recipes first!

Free Savings Tracker

How is your couponing and money-saving going? Are you curious how much you've actually saved?

Crystal at Money Saving Mom has put together a free 2011 Savings Tracker to keep track of both your budget and your coupon savings. I think this looks great, and I'm loving the fact that it's available as a Google Doc as well as an Excel spreadsheet!

You can download it here.

Do you use cash to budget?

I can't wait for the new year to begin! 2010 has been an eventful, busy year, and I'm so looking forward to a fresh start. I've been mulling over my New Year's resolutions for the past month or so, thinking about what I want to accomplish in 2011 and who I want to become.

At the top of my list is managing my finances better. I don't think I do terribly, but there is certainly room for improvement. One thing I'm going to put into place beginning January (holy, that's in two days!), is an envelope system of budgeting. I've been turned off by it previously, because I don't like the idea of having to deal with cash all the time, and having to carry various envelopes around with me.

At the same time, budgeting is a weak point for me, because I'm terrible at tracking my expenditures, and because I over-complicate things. For Christmas I received this sweet envelope wallet, though, so I figure now's as good a time as any to try out the envelope budget. I've got the next couple days to get my budget ironed out for January, so I'll give you some kind of update then.

In the meantime, I'm curious if any of you have used the envelope system and have any tips or warnings?

Get 10% off at Target.com

Any Target lovers out there? Here are a few codes you can use on your online Target shopping right now:

     Receive 10% off when you use this code: ON6LKVO9
 
     Use this code to get $5 off a purchase of $50 or more: TGTMBL05 

     You also get free shipping when you spend $50 or more.

These could be combined for some great after-Christmas shopping deals. I've been ogling a couple of cardigans at Target, so I might be cashing in on these codes myself! If I do, I'll be using Ebates, Mr. Rebates, or Cashbaq to maximize my savings. Stay tuned for a future post on these online rebate sites. 

$5 Credit for Amazon Video on Demand

Have any of you ever used Amazon's new Video on Demand service? I'm a Netflix subscriber, so I've never really felt much need, but I'm about to give it a try. Right now, Amazon is offering a $5 credit for Video on Demand! All you have to do is follow them on Twitter.

The (extremely simple) instructions are found at this link.

Basically, all you have to do is sign in to your Amazon account, then click the button to follow @amazonvideo on Twitter. It'll automatically send a tweet about the $5 credit, so you can spread the love to all your Twitter followers.

Then just browse Amazon's Video on Demand department (found here) for something to watch.

I was surprised to see there are a number of free videos/TV shows, including some that aren't available on Netflix yet.

What will you be watching with your $5 credit?

Free MP3 Downloads from Amazon

I've been anxious for some fresh music to put on my iPod, and now here's the perfect opportunity! Right now, there's a free code for $2.00 of MP3 credits at Amazon!

• To redeem your free credits, just head over here and enter the code GIVEMP3S

• Then just head over to Amazon's MP3 downloads page and pick out your music. The credits should automatically be applied.

• Just remember that the credits expire on December 26th, 2010.

I'd love to hear what music you'll all be downloading with this code. Leave a comment below so the rest of us can enjoy your good music taste!

Thanks to Shannon at For The Mommas for the tip!

I'm back!

Well hello! It's been awhile, hasn't it? Welcome back after a looooooong break!

You may have thought I forgot about this blog, and to tell you the truth, I wondered if I should forget about it. Grad school hit me like a tidal wave, and I found myself much busier than expected. But after surviving my first semester, I've got more ideas and tips to share than ever, so hang with me! I want to give this another shot!

Thanks for sticking around, and watch for new posts coming your way!