3liz4 / Flickr
This is a guest post by longtime reader Ellie.
I often bake these in two mini-bundt pans instead of one large one, as it’s easier to cut and serve, as well as for people to eat if they’re standing. I like the wine cake served with fresh fruit, especially strawberries. The poppy seed cake, with its spices, works well for Thanksgiving and other cooler weather holidays. It also works as a coffee cake.
WINE CAKE
Ingredients
1 package yellow cake mix
1 package instant vanilla pudding (I prefer the French vanilla instant)
1 teaspoon nutmeg (I keep nutmegs with my spices, so I can have freshly ground nutmeg.)
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup pale dry sherry
freakapotimus / Flickr
This is a guest post by longtime reader Ellie.
This was originally titled “Russian Easter Eggs” after the classical music “Russian Easter,” which our church choir sang every Easter. We always had a choir brunch between the two Easter services, and this egg dish was usually prepared by 3 or 4 people. The egg dish is now known as Yummy Cheese and Egg Delight, which was renamed after the dish began to be served at baby showers, teas, and other occasions. It became the go-to dish for just about any function. I made it for school potlucks for many years.
Be sure to mix all the ingredients in a (covered) bowl the day before it’s needed, as the flavors will be better blended. That will also make the day of your brunch so much easier, as you’ll only need to put it in the oven!
AMagill/Flickr
I’m taking next week off for a luxuriously long (one whole week!) vacation with my special someone. We’re heading to Vermont for hiking, snowshoeing, massages, and lots of down time. I. CAN’T. WAIT.
See you after Easter!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
How often do you wash your jeans? Credit: dbdrobort/Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
How often do you wash your jeans? Donna Freedman admits how many days she goes between washes on her blog. (Surviving and Thriving)
Think money can’t buy happiness? You’re wrong. (Get Rich Slowly)
Sharper Image to reimburse gift card holders - Got shafted by Sharper Image? Stay tuned. (Wall Street Journal)
15 things our grandparents lived without, and we probably could too. (Frugal Dad)
Expect a better return on your money and better service at a credit union. Here’s how to find one. (Bargaineering)
There are 18 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Today! Free fries at Arby’s – Get free curly fries at Arby’s in celebration of tax day this Friday, Apr. 15, 2011.
HOT! Free Starbucks - Get free coffee or tea at Starbucks when you bring in a travel mug to participating Starbucks on Earth Day, Apr. 22, 2011.
Saturday! Target free bag - Get a free reusable bag at Target Sunday, Apr. 17, 2011. Get there early to get one of the 1 million free 100% recyclable Tyvek bags.
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My latest video with WalletPop is on four car tricks that will save you a lot of money. I made this video partly for my own benefit! I figured the more I know about car repairs, the better I will be at fixing my car myself, knowing exactly what is wrong with my car, and knowing how much a mechanic should actually charge me to do the work. Hope you learn something from this video!
Come hungry, leave full of money-saving tips!
Today we are announcing the third annual Frugal Festival – this time devoted to food!
What – Free food samples, coupon lessons, cooking demos by celebrity chefs, and more!
When – Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where – Canoga Park High School, 6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91303
Online – For the first time ever the event has an online component. Stay tuned for details!
Tickets – Sold exclusively through Goldstar. Tickets are $5 if you bring a canned good donation to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank! We have 50 VIP tickets for $15 each, which sold out last year!
Raffle – Admission includes one free raffle ticket. Prizes range from Starbucks gift packs to $100 gift cards! Lots more details on raffle prizes coming soon.
Get more info – A full post on Frugal Festival Food, including more raffle prizes, activities, and sponsors is waiting for you at FrugalFestival.com. Note, this year it is NOT a swap.
HOT! Get 4 reusable bags from Repax for $10 through Groupon!
This list now includes St. Paul/Minneapolis as per Amanda’s request and Dayton, OH as per Susie’s request. What other cities would you like me to feature?
Here are this week’s hottest Groupon deals, which are generally available for 24-72 hours only. If you live in LA or NYC, which have multiple “social coupon” sites, sign up for Yipit.com, which aggregates all the deals in your town. Get an extra 6% back on the Groupon purchase price when you shop through eBates. And make sure to get the most out of Groupon with these Groupon tricks.
NATIONAL GROUPON DEALS
Better Homes & Gardens – Pay $10 for a two-year subscription. That’s the biggest discount I’ve seen for Better Homes & Gardens!
Reusable bags – Get 4 reusable bags for $10 – man that’s cheap!
Paper – Pay $50 for $100 of high end paper products at Crane Co.
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Huge sale of kids clothes, gear, and toys this weekend in Santa Clarita, CA.
This post was brought to you by printerbox.co.uk – the UK’s official supplier of Canon Photo Paper!
There are 18 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free paper – Get a ream of free paper with this Staples coupon, good in stores only through Apr. 16, 2011. Thanks, Tina!
Free Sam’s Club tastings - Members and non-members are invited to Sam’s Club Apr. 15 to 17 for a free tasting event to mark the launch of the Sam’s Club cookbook, Fresh Fast and Fabulous. Download a free e-cookbook of Fresh Fast and Fabulous when you “like” Sam’s Club on Facebook.
Old Navy coupon - Get 15-25% off at Old Navy. The discount is 25% off on Apr. 14, 2011, 20% off on Apr. 15-16, 2011, and 15% off on Apr. 17, 2011. Use Old Navy coupon code ONSPRING. Ends Apr. 17, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
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Briana is a saver and blogs at 20andengaged.com
Briana is 20, works as an online marketer, and has her mind on money so completely it dictates her every move. We talked about stealing change, how debt happens to savers, and her plan to get on track. I edited and condensed our recent talk.
How the heck did you become so aware of saving money so young? I had a piggy bank when I was younger and was obsessed with getting it really heavy. There was always change lying around so I took the liberty of picking it up myself.
Having to pay for college kick started your quest to save? I was a peer counselor my senior year in high school. One requirement of the class was to apply for three scholarships a month. I applied for over 150 on my own.
You commented on BargainBabe.com that you had a financial plan. What is your plan? [Growing up] we didn’t have a luxurious lifestyle, but we never went without anything we needed. I knew that I needed an emergency buffer, especially because of what happened with my mom. After my mom got sick, I was out of work for awhile so I had use my savings to keep me afloat. I got into credit card debt. I didn’t have the money for my textbooks so I used my credit card. It got really frustrating.
Wait a minute. You’re a saver. How did you get into credit card debt?
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By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
Tony Crider/Flickr
For many kids, the last day of school is the best day of the year. An eternity of summer days ahead. How simply FABULOUS!
For many moms, the last day of school is the worst day of the year. An eternity of summer days ahead. How FRIGHTENING!
Sending your kids off to summer camp can be a great solution. But what if the cost of summer camp is out of your budget?
How about creating your own summer camp at home? Here’s how to:
- If you only have one child, you may want to get other families to join the fun and organization. A summer camp of only one might not be that much fun, but it still could be done.
- Decide on how long your summer camp will run. It could be one day or the entire summer.
- Come up with
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This list now includes grocery deals at Trader Joe’s! Woot woot! Plus, online coupon links below.
Ralphs - The Ralphs prices assume coupon doubling up to $1. Get all the Ralphs coupons later today.
Safeway/Vons - Get all the Safeway/Vons coupons later today.
Albertsons - Get the full list of Albertsons coupons, including Albertsons whole chickens, drumsticks or thighs for $.88/lb (great price), red seedless grapes for $.88/lb, and Bird’s Eye Steam Fresh for as low as $.66 with coupon.
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Ace negotiator Jim Camp says start with no. Credit: falardeau/Flickr
If you end up fighting the IRS over your 2010 tax returns, a skipped return from last year, or another reason why you can’t pay your tax bill in full, it is possible to negotiate a pay as you can plan. Get the best deal possible with these seven tips which I summarized from Jim Camp of Camp Negotiation Systems. His website is Start With No.
1. Do your homework. Instead of reinventing the wheel, gather information from others who have gone through what you are about to. Look for strategies, precedents and tips online, (including the IRS website). Know your rights and your obligations. Take details notes.
2. Schedule face time. When you call the IRS, don’t talk to whoever picks up. Make an appointment to meet with an agent face to face nearby. Don’t answer questions over the phone. Talking in person gives you
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Get a free meal at Panda Express with purchase and a coupon below. Credit: stevendepolo/Flickr
There are 15 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free paint – Get a free paint sample that is 2 ounces (just big enough to make two coats on a 2′ x 3′ patch on your wall) from Benjamin Moore, which is known for high quality paint. Expires June 30, 2011. One per customer. Must be 18 or older. No purchase necessary.
Free perfume - Get a free sample of perfume from Victoria’s Secret. It’s called Forever eau de toilet. Freebie expires Apr. 18, 2011. In stores only.
If you missed the live frugal chat with me on Bankrate.com yesterday, you can read a transcript of it here. We had about 30 people on the chat asking questions about how to reduce your gas bill, the reality of Extreme Couponing, and sneaky ways grocery brands are making more money. Thanks to everyone who tuned in! We hope to do another one again soon.
