We’ve just finished the first week back at school and hopefully, all of you survived! It was certainly an adjustment being back, because I took a year off from College to work and earn some more money to help out with rising costs. So naturally, when it came time to do my school supply shopping, I was look for any way possible that I could cut a few corners and save a few dollars wherever I could. For most of us, we’ve already done the bulk of our shopping, but for those of us who need to spend a week at school, feeling out what we would actually need, there is still some shopping to be done, and that means that there’s still some saving that can be done also!

What do you need?

Sit down and figure out what it is that you exactly need. How many subjects will you be studying? And then ask yourself what it’s going to take to keep you organized for the duration of your semester. For me, I’m studying six subjects, so I need six notebooks, dividers, labels and binders. I also needed an agenda to write down all of my assignments and keep track of any important dates, especially holidays!

Set a budget

Before you head out to shop for anything, you have to set a budget. As a college student, you’re probably not the wealthiest person in the world, and it’s important to save money anywhere you can. So after you’ve carefully created a list of what you need for supplies, cost everything out individually, and then see if you can’t challenge yourself to cut it by 25%. I know that sounds really difficult, but it’s definitely possible.

Reuse anything that you have leftover

Sure, we all love new, but we’re on a budget! So if at all possible, reuse anything you possibly can. College is not a fashion show, despite what we all think, and if you’re walking around with a backpack that’s from the previous year, trust me, no one is going to notice, or care! Any notebooks that you used from the previous year can also be reused. If they have important notes in them, rip the notes out, staple them and file them away. Paper is precious, and expensive, so don’t waste it.

Shop the coupon booklets

Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Save-on-Foods are all stores that regularly send out coupon flyers in the mail up here in Canada, so go through those thoroughly to see what you can find. I guarantee you that you’ll be able to find things like pens, pencils, erasers, notebooks, agenda’s, rules and just about anything else stationary wise in those booklets.

Shop the dollar stores

These stores can be your best friend when it comes to school supplies. And if I think about it, there probably isn’t anything that you can’t buy at the dollar store.  Plus, at these shops, they often sell things in multiples, which saves you even more money.

So hopefully I’ve given you some decent pointers, and if you’re still trying to scoop up those last minute items for class, this list will help you save a few bucks!

I am as new and green to this whole couponing thing as the next person. I think the only difference between me and someone else who has started to coupon for the first time is that I’ve probably done a boatload more research than they have. But that’s what I do. First, I’m a freelance writer, so when I’m writing an article for someone that I’m not too crystal clear on, I research. And second, I’m an anthropology student so researching is a requirement if I want to get decent grades. Thankfully my researching skills have paid off and landed me some pretty decent grades, and a decent amount of money from my clients, but now it was time that I learn now to keep all of that money in my pockets, instead of doling it out left, right and centre. So that’s sort of where the idea to start couponing came from. So my first question in regards to couponing, was where does one go to find these allusive coupons. I mean, I watched the couponing shows on TLC a few times, and all I can remember is women dumpster diving. That’s not exactly something that I was willing to do, there just had to be another way, and thankfully, there is.

So one of the first places I was told to look was in women’s publications. So I did. Before I bought them thought, I’d go to the grocery store and flip through magazines like Women’s Day, Family Circle, and Good Housekeeping, that’s a really good one for coupons. These magazines will often carry coupons directly from the manufacturer and often offer some of the best discounts. So that’s good to know. Another place to look is in the actual grocery store. Pay attention when you’re shopping to all of the retail signage that they have on the shelves. I’m not talking about the sale signs, because those are obvious, I’m talking about those little coupon dispensers that often flash little red lights. Generally they’ll be right underneath, or just beside the product that they’re discounting.

Another great place for coupons is in your junk mail. I don’t know how many times I’ll go to the mail box and there will be one thing of any importance and the rest of it is just glossy, colored paper with a million and one different advertisements on it. But actually sit down and sort through it, because you would be amazed at what you find. I once managed the snag a half off deal to get my oil changed plus a free car wash and detailing package. That would usually cost me upwards of $200, but it only cost me about $39. Hey, for a student on a budget, that’s a hell of a deal, and I couldn’t believe that all these years, I’d been tossing away free money. I could’ve used that extra money to pay my cell phone bill every month! So frustrating.

If you’re someone who doesn’t have all the time in the world to go rooting around in your junk mail, then take a look at some online free grocery coupon sites. Not every store takes them, but there’s almost so much stuff available at discounted prices, it’s kind of overwhelming. It was a bittersweet feeling for me because while I was super excited to find a site that was going to help me save at the supermarket every single time I went there, I was kicking myself for not finding all of this sooner, and I think about all the money I could have saved. Word to the wise, try not think that way! Just move forward and start saving!

Hi there, and welcome back to my newly named blog, Save on Life. I know you’re probably scratching your head wondering how the heck I jumped from food and fantastic breakfast recipes to a blog about budgeting life and couponing (Yes, despite what the dictionary says, I used the world couponing, and for all you English Lit whizzes out there, don’t freak out, it’s a fun word, you should try using it sometime) What can I saw, my interests have changed, and I saw an opportunity to blog about something that is incredibly pertinent to what’s going on in my life right now. I mean, have you been watching the news lately? It’s absolutely terrifying. If you don’t know that Europe is in the grips of probably the worse financial crisis since before the war, you need to get your head out of the sand, because if you think that it’s not affecting your way of life here in North America, you could not be more wrong. Greece is holding what is probably the most important vote that country has ever seen, and the outcome of that vote will directly impact whether or not Greece remains within the Eurozone. I don’t have time to educate you all on what that means, but let’s just say, it could spell out complete disaster for the rest of the world. In fact, the situation is so dire, that nations around the world like Australia have actually pledged large amounts of money to help Greece stabilize so it doesn’t take down the rest of Europe with it!

So what does all of that nonsense have to do with little old you? Well, the the world economy effects us all, doesn’t it. Do you remember in 2008 when the stock market took a nose dive in the United States, and the housing market all but collapsed completely? Here we are four years later and the United States still hasn’t been able to recover fully from that disaster. There are still millions of people out of work, and the rate of unemployment doesn’t seem to discriminate who isn’t bringing home the bacon. Whether you have a forensic science degree, you work for a major law firm, or you flip burgers at the local McDonalds, everyone, in every demographic, in just about every job sector, has been effected by massive job cuts. And this can only mean one thing; It’s time to cut back, and it’s time to start looking at creative ways to save.

This is something that most people don’t like to hear, especially North Americans. We don’t like to be told we can’t have something, which is absolutely absurd since we have so much compared to so many developing countries around the world. We don’t work nearly as hard as someone in a shoe factory in China, yet we are paid more money, and afforded far more opportunities. We just seem forget our place sometimes, and when we fall on financial hard times, we still feel entitled to live a lavish lifestyle. Money is a privilege, not a right, and once your earning potential is taken away, it is your responsibility to replace it, or seek out ways to ensure that you’re not putting yourself into financial hardship. If you just lost your job, you shouldn’t be at the nail salon every other week! If you’re only making minimum wage, than you probably shouldn’t be driving around in a Jag, carrying absurd car payments. This blog is all about living within your means, and living lavishly on a menial budget. So it’s time to get your scissors out, and your pen and paper, because it’s high time that you were schooled on the art of couponing!

I’ve spend most of my life fighting being a grown up. I’ve developed some rules over the years that have helped me win the fight thus far.

1. Be your own fun factory: Do at least one activity a day that fills you with joy. This can range from the absolutely silly kind of fun (blowing bubbles, running through the lawn sprinkler, hula hooping) to the healthy kind (yoga, dancing, going for a long walk).
2. Take the phrase “you’re not the boss of me” to heart: Yeah, be your own boss. It makes things a lot easier to avoid grown up-edness. There’s a difference between having an employer and having a boss. You can be employed, just don’t ever let anyone dictate your life.  It’s easiest to do this if you get a degree, and you don’t have many student loans, so apply for as many easy scholarships as you can before it’s too late.
3. Drink tons of strawberry milk: Like, TONS. The properties in strawberry milk include anti-aging proponents of… Okay, I’m making that up, but it sure makes you feel like a kid again, especially if you whip out a straw and get bubble blowing crazy on it.

Since I had to go dairy-free due to an intolerance to lactose, I thought I would never again be able to partake in rule number three. But one afternoon, I was standing in the kitchen staring into my crystal ball (that’s what I call the fridge), and had one of those light bulb over the head experiences. I knew at that moment that I could make my own strawberry milk from the contents of my fridge. I knew at that moment that I was a genius. I knew then that I could create my own Neverland in a glass.

So this recipe is dedicated to father time, because he’s going to need all of the help he can get to make me grow up.

Strawberry Almond Milk

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almond milk
• 1/2-3/4 cup chopped strawberries
• 2 teaspoons honey or 1 teaspoon agave
• fresh mint (optional)

A few weeks ago, I shared my love of baked grapefruit with you. I let you in on one of the simplest warm breakfast food secrets… You can put grapefruit in the oven and make it awesome. Shhhh. It’s our little secret. And you’re welcome, by the way. But now I’m going to share another secret with you. Baked grapefruit can be soooo much more than just  a simple, warm breakfast. It can be magical, versatile, delicious and complex. The great part is that even though you can make baked grapefruit a fancier affair, it takes virtually the same amount of time as cutting the thing in half and tossing it in your oven or toaster oven.

I just wanted to share one of my favorite recent combos that is inspired by some awesome upcoming life stuff. I’m getting ready to start teaching yoga. While plain baked grapefruit is a great light breakfast coming in at 100 calories for the entire fruit, it would work as a breakfast for tax accountant. But it’s not going to cut it when I’m doing yoga for several hours per day. I’m going to need something a little more substantial. So I’ve been experimenting with different add ons and toppings to bulk it up a little bit.

Enter… The Hearty Baked Grapefruit. With more muscle and flavor than it’s light and airy cousin, the plain baked grapefruit, this heartier version features toasted walnuts and tasty warm chopped figs covered in organic blue agave syrup and cinnamon. It’s by far the tastiest baked grapefruit I’ve ever laid my taste buds on.

Even though this has been my favorite so far, it’s not the only one that made my breakfast loving heart sing. I made a great Spice Girl Baked Grapefruit that was infused with cardamom and cinnamon (by infused, I mean that I rubbed the spices into the top before I baked it). I also made this bomb Jamacan Me Crazay Baked Grapefruit featuring bananas and dried coconut flakes. What can I say? I have fun with names.

What do you add to jazz up your grapefruit?

I guess since the name of this blog is Scratch-N-Cook, I should probably make the peanut butter myself, and go to Tunisia and pick the dates with my own two hands. Then I should probably figure out what part of wheat the oats come from, pluck em off (if that’s possible) and squash them flat with my boot.

Because that, my friends, would be from scratch. But I’m not feeling up to it this week, because I’ve had a severe glitch in my sleep schedule. Perhaps the next time I make these, they’ll be a “slow snack” and I’ll write a post about the continental expedition that was necessary in order to make them.

This week, you’re getting the quick version. I’m just going to head to the grocery store and get whatever they have on the shelves. Then I’m going to spend, like, five minutes mixing them in a bowl, and another five minutes rolling them into little balls. After that, I’ll spend another five minutes eating. them. all.

Should I have said spoiler alert before I told you everything that was going to be in this post? Well… Delayed spoiler alert!

No? It doesn’t work that way?

Oh well. This little mixture is so easy that it doesn’t really deserve to be called a recipe. Then again, I saw a post that someone did about putting grapefruit in the oven. The genius said it was “baked grapefruit” and wrote an entire post about warming up half of a citrus fruit. What has the internet come to?

You’ll only need four ingredients to make these peanut butter snack balls and, in a pinch, you could probably get away with two. You could definitely add tons of other stuff. Nuts, coconut, and cocoa would all make great additions. You could play with variations of dried fruit as well. Man… Why do I keep putting the cart before the horse? I should probably let you know what went into these little bad boys first.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 dates
• 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Method:

• Soooo easy. Mix it in a bowl.
• Soooo easy squared. Roll the mixture into balls.
• Pop them in the fridge for 30 minutes

If you’re super busy completing police officer training, or studying for the GRE, these make a perfect morning, afternoon or midnight snack. Dang it. That should have gone at the beginning, shouldn’t it?

What do you put in your peanut butter balls?

I’ll admit it. I’ve never been a huge fan of grapefruit. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve avoided the fruit like a big round plague. In order to make it even the least bit edible, I’ve always added a billion tablespoons of sugar. My mother eventually stopped buying them because she realized that Coco Puffs probably had more nutritional value than Grapefruit a la Corinne.

So when I randomly got stuck with a grapefruit this week, I was less than thrilled. Yes, I got stuck with a grapefruit. I can honestly say that I have never had a grapefruit forced into my world, so I’ve never been confronted with how much I dislike it. Alas, I don’t have a food wasting bone in my body, so I shoved it in the fridge and tried to gather the courage to eat the giant ball of sour-yuck (the technical term for grapefruit flavor).

The next day, I was trolling the interwebs for some recipe inspiration and I came across this pretty little blog. I eventually came across this beautiful post about baking grapefruit. Warm and sour sounded better than cold and sour. It also seemed like a great winter recipe. Hey, if I didn’t like it, maybe someone in the blogosphere is a grapefruit fiend. Maybe I would be helping them by giving them the inspiration to try their favorite citrus item in a new way.

This was a good cause. I was doing this for the readers of my vegan recipe blog,  for the world, for the future. Maybe that thought would make it a little easier to swallow.

So I grabbed the fruit from the fridge, sliced it in half and scored it. I dumped two teaspoons of brown sugar on the top (an improvement from the aforementioned billion teaspoons) and broiled it in the toaster oven.

I’ll always admit when I’m wrong, even if it means admitting when something I made didn’t turn out. That definitely wasn’t the case with this one. It’s proabably one of my new favorites for breakfast. The brown sugar seeps in and grapefruit is delightful when it’s warm. I was oh so wrong about you, grapefruit. I’m not to stubborn to admit it.

I thought that maybe my taste buds had changed, so I tried to dive into some raw grapefruit… nope. Still gross. So maybe I was kinda right about you grapefruit.

Have you ever baked your grapefruit? Are you a fan?

If you’re going to be on the run tomorrow morning, whether it be running from  to class, to work, or from the “five oh” (that’s what the kid’s call folks with jobs in criminal justice these days), I’ve got a rather quick breakfast idea for you.  If you haven’t concocted the perfect get away scheme, you should at least consider concocting the perfect get away breakfast. Ammirite?

This actually has more to do with planning ahead than just having a quick and easy breakfast recipe. Allow me to explain.

If you make a large batch of polenta tonight, you can use it as a staple grain in several of your meals this week. You could have creamy polenta tonight, make this breakfast tomorrow, add it to some broth and veggies to make some polenta stew for Monday night dinner, fry it up and top it with fried veggies for an awful-for-you late night snack, fry an egg on it for breakfast on Tuesday… Well, I could go on. And perhaps some day I will.

But for now, let’s talk about this sweet and simple breakfast idea that will warm your heart, fill your belly, and satisfy your morning sweet tooth (everyone has a morning sweet tooth, right?).

I fashioned this after my favorite oatmeal recipe from a vegan recipe blog. The polenta gives the dish an earthier taste. Polenta is granier than grits, heartier than oatmeal and cornier than the Andy Griffith Show. Or I guess it would be more fitting to say that Polenta is cornier than that joke I just made about the Andy Griffith show.

If you have the polenta pre-made this will only take you 5-10 minutes. If you’re making it from scratch, you may want to give yourself about 40 minutes from start to finish.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked polenta
• 2 apples
• 1 cup almond milk
• 3 T Honey
• 2 T Maple Syrup
• 2 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t cloves
• 1/2 t cardemom

Method:

• Slice the apples and combine them with the almond milk, honey and spices in a medium sized pot over med heat. Cook until the apples are soft, stirring occasionally.
• Add cooked polenta and turn heat to low. Heat and stir until polenta is smooth and creamy.
• Top with maple syrup.