Sign up for my newsletter and get a copy of my "28 Ways to Slash Your Grocery Budget"

One Hundred Dollars a Month

I am your typical housewife living in high maintenance suburbia. I have a handsome husband, 2 kids and a flock of pet chickens. I try and feed my family with $100 a month. With the help of coupons, gardening and bartering I am able to squeeze the most out of our grocery budget and still manage to have a little fun along the way.


Instagram did not return a 200.

Elf on the Shelf – Ernesto is on Duty

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure
By on · 4 Comments

Poor Ernesto the Elf.  I hope Santa isn’t grading him on this mission.  Convincing a teenage boy that Santa is in fact real, and Elves are Santa’s eyes and ears is a tough gig.  I don’t even think Monkey Boy is looking for Ernesto the Elf anymore.

For the last 3 days Ernesto has perched himself up in the branches above the Nutcracker display. I’m not sure if he isn’t moving because no one has noticed him, or if camping out in front of my office is a good place to spy on people.

Hmmm.  Let’s just hope he wasn’t sent here to watch ME… Because if that’s the case, I need to be on my best behavior if I want Santa to being me a box full of vegetable seeds for Christmas like he did last year.

~Mavis

If you would like to torture your teenagers too this holiday season, hop on over to Amazon* and grab your own Elf on the Shelf*.

*Direct link to an Amazon.com product

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Garden Blog – How to Plant Bulbs in Mass Quantities

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure
By on · 3 Comments

Yesterday afternoon I played hooky from the blog so I could get a few more bulbs planted.  This time around I planted bulbs under our large maple tree.

  • 150 Daffodils
  • 132 Tulips
  • 120 Grape Hyacinth and White Flowers {?}

2 years ago this area was covered in bark.  This past summer it was filled with pumpkins, and this spring, if all goes as planned {and the critters don’t eat my bulbs} we will have a spectacular bulb display.

For some reason, this round went a little easier than my last planting. Partly because I knew what I was doing this time, and also because the wet leaves made a nice border to work within.

2 hours and 402 bulbs later, I was done.

I know this is going to sound weird, but I really want some more bulbs.  What’s wrong with me?  I still have a ton sitting in the garage left to plant, but I think I could fill the whole backyard with color if I had more.

But them there would be no room for vegetables.  So I better stop or I’ll be in trouble {not to mention the HH is going to freak out next spring as it is LOL}.

I suppose there are worse hobbies than gardening.  Right?

Let’s hope it stops raining for a bit so I can get out there and plant the rest of the bulbs today.

Peace Out Girl Scouts,

~Mavis

Fiskars Garden Bucket Caddy* ~ Available on Amazon.com

*Direct product link to an Amazon.com product

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mornings with Mavis – $4.99 Kindle Covers, $1 POM Juice CouponShopVac, Glowing Shoelaces, Dansko Shoes, + More

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure
By on · Leave a Comment

Well good morning, have you had your coffee, tea or cocoa yet?  I’m working on my 3rd cup.

Here are a few deals I spotted this morning for you.

Mornings with Mavis

Today’s Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day is the Shop-Vac Ultra Pro Series 12-Gallon Wet or Dry Vacuum with Detachable Blower for $89.99 Shipped.

  • 12-gallon wet/dry vacuum comes with a detachable blower
  • 2-1/2-inch accessory assortment for wet or dry pick up, easy to reach large on/off switch
  • Includes 8-foot by 2-1/2-inch LockOn hose, 22-1/2-inch extension wands, 14-inch floor nozzle, 120-degree elbow
  • Also includes crevice tool, 8-inch utility nozzle, ergonomic elbow grip, blower nozzle, concentrator nozzle
  • 18-foot power cord provides wide reach, top carry handle, on-board cord storage

 Go HERE for the Shop-Vac Deal

Amazon currently has the Kindle book Christmas Recipes from My Table To Yours available for FREE!  Grab it while you can {I did!}

SODIAL- Led Light Up Flashing Glowing Shoelaces $2.21

It’s a good thing my kids don’t read my blog, otherwise they’d know everything that will be in their stockings this year for Christmas. Ha!  These glowing shoe laces will be a total hit!

Tanga has MEdge Cases for Kindles & Nooks for as low as $4.99 SHIPPED! Go HERE to see all the available choices.

Amazon currently has the Fisher-Price Loving Family Dream Dollhouse for $49.99 Shipped!

Right now on Amazon you can get What A Night! A Christmas Albumby Harry Connick Jr. MP3 for just $5.  This album includes 15 songs {my favorite is #1}. Go HERE to get this deal.

6pm has a bunch of Dansko boots and shoes on sale! Here are a few of my favorites. Head on over HERE to see them all

Dansko – Professional {Cherry Patent}$48.00 Shipped
Dansko – Jute Pro {Blue Denim Embroidered}$48.00 Shipped
Kickers – Roots Boot {Black} $73.15 Shipped

If you have not signed up for Snapfish yet, today would be the perfect time!  Through tonight Snapfish is offering two great freebies for new users – 1 Free 8×11 Photo Book and 100 Free Prints! Wowza, that is a great deal! Go HERE to check out this deal, and remember this offer end tonight 11/30.

Fashion Friday- 11/30/12- $15.95 for 18 stacked bracelets & a cocktail ring

Cents of Style is offering 18 Stacked Bangle Bracelets & Cocktail Ring for $15.95.  This is a one day deal so be sure and grab it if you want it.  Go HERE for this Cents of Style Deal.


There is a new coupon available for $1.00 any Pom Wonderful Juice. Go HERE to Print.


$10.00 off Hot Wheels with $50 purchase $10.00 off 1 Hot Wheels 10-pack AND 1 Trackset

If your kiddos like Hot Wheels then you’ll want to head over HERE and print these $10 off coupons quick!

Discount Mags is offering a 1 year subscription to Lucky Magazine for $4.50 a year when you use code 7339 at checkout.  This deal is valid through midnight tonight 11/30/12 EST. Go HERE to get Lucky.

Alright, I’m off to go eat some cookies for breakfast.

Peace Out Girl Scouts, see you back in a bit.

♥ Mavis

Find More Printable Coupons

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

25 Days Of Christmas Cookies – Gingerbread Man Recipe

The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure
By on · 18 Comments

I posted this recipe last year and I’m posting it again.  Why? Because this recipe is the best one I’ve ever tried for making gingerbread men.

Who can say no to a Gingerbread Man cookie?  I know I can’t.  I’m not sure if it’s my animal instincts or what, but I tend to go for the right arm first. Then the legs.  And once I have eaten all his limbs… I bite off his head.  This is exactly why I don’t like to decorate my cookies.  After all, what kind of sicko wants a helpless Gingerbread Man staring back at her with his mini chocolate chips eyes?

Poor Gingey…It must be terribly traumatic to be a Gingerbread man…

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 stick butter or margarine, softened
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 3 1/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting work surface
  • 2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda {15 Cool Uses for Baking Soda}
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Using an electric mixer at low speed, cream the sugar and butter until thoroughly combined. Add the eggs and molasses and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and combine with a spoon or spatula.

Remove the dough from the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap; place in the refrigerator until firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper (I like to use silpats). Allow the dough to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes, until pliable. Take about 1/2 cup of dough at a time and roll onto a floured board until about 1/8-inch thick. Cut out with gingerbread boy and girl cookie cutters. You can re-roll the scraps. Using a spatula, transfer the cookies from the board to the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes, until just beginning to brown at the edges. Transfer to wire racks to cool. Recipe By Paula Dean

A few of my favorite things…

This post may contain affiliate links. These affiliate links help support this site. For more information, please see my disclosure policy. Thank you for supporting One Hundred Dollars a Month.

Mavis Butterfield Etsy